Someday Rome

By Fred Grandinetti | Photo courtesy of Someday Rome

“Every now and then we have those nights where we get together and have that dreamer discussion going. You get that look in your eye and think someday this will be alright. I’d be pretty darn content just being able to play music with these guys the rest of my life and live this way,” said Allen Hull, leadsinger of Medford-based Someday Rome on WBZ’s “The Jordan Rich Show.” Someday Rome consists of Hull (lead guitarist), Matthew Ryan, Giuseppe Tarara on drums and Sean MacAlpine on bass

guitar. The group’s radio interview was in addition to several print and web based media outlets featuring Someday Rome. Since last summer, articles on the band’s original music and their efforts to promote water safety (both Hull and Ryan nearly drowned as young children) have kept their name visible.

“The media attention and the hits on our MySpace page correlated pretty properly with the amount of gigs we’ve been playing now,” said MacAlpine shortly after the group performed at the “No Contracts Needed” concert at The Somerville Theatre last March. Their live performances include appearances at The Burren, Copperfields, and The Abbey Lounge.

Someday Rome began when Hull and Ryan met while rehearsing with an improvisational acting troupe at Middlesex Community College in 2004. “I had to bring a guitar for a joke skit,” Hull recalled. “I was supposed to cover John Mayer’s ‘Your

Body Is a Wonderland’ and mess it up. I didn’t play guitar at the time, it wasn’t hard to do.” Ryan, who has been playing guitar since he was 16, gave Hull his guitar for the skit. They immediately hit it off. “Matt started to play Dave Matthews’ ‘Grey Street’ and I started singing the lyrics,” said Hull. “We decided to get together and jam.” The pair soon started playing cover songs and six months later focused on writing original music and lyrics. Someday Rome’s initial songs were written by guitarist, Jon Ball

with MacAlpine on bass guitar and the occasional drummer. Ball left the band in mid 2007 when he married and moved to Prince Edward Island. Hull picked up the guitar and Tarara joined the band as a permanent drummer.

When asked how the band comes up with their original songs, Ryan said, “There is no set process but we all have different influences and music we listen to. Our inspirations stem from growing together as a band.” Hull added. “It’s a very collaborative

environment when it comes to the words. As for the music, you just hear it. You could be sitting down and then out of nowhere something happens. For me the lyrics reflect whatever I’m going through at that point.” Tarara added, “Growing up, I played

certain kinds of music like Hendrix and Zeplin. I didn’t want to jump into a 1980’s hair band. Our style is upbeat-pop, reggae, R&B — and I get along with the guys.” When asked of other influences, the work of Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, John Mayer

and Jimi Hendrix sprung to mind.

While Hull and Ryan were rehearsing in the green room at The Somerville Theatre, it was not uncommon to hear fellow musicians comment favorably and inquire about their original songs. Upon concluding their performance on stage at The Somerville Theatre, shouts of “one more song” roared loudly from the audience to which the band complied. Someday Rome continues to perform live in and outside of Massachusetts. Hull and Ryan will also be continuing to promote water safety in 2008 which originated

last summer. Both musician’s near fatal drowning incidents (Hull in a pool and Ryan on a dock) were documented on community access television’s “Drawing with Fred” series.

As for the future, “We’re not going to quit this,” said MacAlpine. “You have to be true to yourself like getting behind a water safety campaign, that’s something which is important to us,” said Hull. “You can’t follow a formula because what works

for one person isn’t going to work for another.”

www.myspace.com/somedayrome