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AUSTIN, TX- I stood in front of the stage at Austin’s legendary music venue, Mohawk, waiting for Everclear to go on. The crowd that surrounded me earlier had gradually been replaced by men over the age of 35. I suddenly felt very short—on either side of me stood six-foot-tall ’90s alternative fans eager for the show to start.
Everclear’s legacy exists quietly under the guise of a lesser-known ’90s one-hit wonder—until you watch them play. What struck me during their set was how much of their catalog I already knew. I found myself screaming lyrics I didn’t even remember memorizing. I was flooded with memories of a lost music industry. It felt like I was driving around listening to mix CDs all over again.
The band walked onto the stage to resounding cheers. The man next to me burst with joy and screamed in glee. I saw over thirty sets at this year’s South by Southwest, but at none of them did I see so many emotional, teary-eyed men. The members of Everclear don’t embody the curated glamour of other rock groups—their physical presence was reminiscent of your dad in a garage band. That’s probably because most of them *are* dads in garage bands. And I mean that as the highest compliment. I think this relatable “everyman” image is what’s kept them connected to fans for over thirty years. Everclear has managed to remain refreshingly grounded despite nostalgia tours, radio play, and accolades.
While the set delivered everything fans could want, I found the most moving moments came from lead singer Art Alexakis’s intermittent commentary.
The members of Everclear live in Los Angeles. During the catastrophic January fires, Art’s family was affected by the Altadena blaze and had to move out of their home. A few songs into the set, he shared that they had finally moved back in after months of smoke damage. As a fellow Angeleno who also evacuated during those fires, I teared up hearing him talk about it. Tragedies of that magnitude have a way of uniting and simplifying the human experience. Hearing about Art’s family being displaced made it all feel painfully real—far more impactful than watching it on the news. I appreciated him using his platform to be so candid about how the fires affected his life.
Art also opened up about something else close to his heart—his battle with MS. Diagnosed in 2019, he shows no signs of slowing down or stepping away from the stage. I can only imagine how powerful it must be for someone living with multiple sclerosis to see a musician like them jumping around with a guitar, still giving their all. The entire set was threaded with emotional confessions and deep gratitude. Art spoke openly about his sobriety and mental health struggles. He dove into the band’s history and the stories behind their most iconic songs—even touching on their very first SXSW appearance in the ’90s, which gave the performance a powerful full-circle feeling.
They opened with “So Much for the Afterglow,” and I surprised myself by recognizing it the moment the chorus hit. They played all the hits: “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You a New Life,” and “Santa Monica.” Normally, when legacy bands perform, the audience waits anxiously for the few songs they know, tuning out the rest. That wasn’t the case here. The crowd clearly knew Everclear’s catalog—and even those who didn’t were fully invested. I saw multiple men belting out every word to lesser-known tracks like “Local God” (from the *Romeo + Juliet* soundtrack) and “Heroin Girl.”
I haven’t even mentioned how sharp the rest of the band sounded. Everything was pitch-perfect, just like the record—a testament to instrumentalists Davey French, Freddy Herrera, and Brian Nolan. Bands that have played the same songs for decades often feel energetically flat. Not Everclear. The band bounced around the stage joyfully, singing harmonies pulled straight from the studio versions. Every person on that stage looked grateful to be there. You could feel their connection—to each other, to the past, and to the legacy they’ve built over the years.
The secret to Everclear’s lasting success is obvious in person. They reflect the everyday person experiencing the highs and lows of life. There’s nothing frilly or overproduced—no backing tracks or costumes. I knew it the moment I saw a man around my father’s age shed a tear during “Father of Mine.” It was deeply moving to watch men of a certain age so unguarded with their emotions, even if just for an hour.
Everclear is evergreen—relevant not because they chase trends, but because they *feel* like someone you know. During their Mohawk set, Art announced that they’re working on their first new album in decades. I’m excited to see this enduring legacy of music continue into the next generation of listeners.
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LIVE CLIPS
Everclear Honors 30-Year Legacy with Powerful SXSW Set at Austin’s Mohawk
