Everclear through Alexakis' eyes

Everclear lead singer Art Alexakis "never really wanted to be famous or a big rock star or anything like that." All he wanted was "to make a living from making my own music."

But he got much more, including a Grammy nomination for 1997's "So Much for the Afterglow" and a dozen singles in the top 100.

Alexakis, whose band performs at Lawnparties this Sunday, has overcome adversity in his life, and those past struggles are a "predominant theme" in the band's music, he said.

"I'm 45, and I've learned that life is pretty difficult," he said. As a teenager, Alexakis started using drugs such as cocaine, a reality reflected in the frequent drug references in Everclear's music. A self-described "recovering drug addict," he has been sober for 18 years.

"You have to hope that things are going to be better," he said. "You're going to meet the love of your life, and it will be a fairy tale and that stuff, which doesn't really exist, but people keep looking for it."

Alexakis' 15 years in the band, which he formed in 1992 at age 30, have helped him "become more patient, more accepting of the way things happen," he said. "We can't really control where life takes us. Younger people don't especially like that, but as you get a little bit older you see that life takes you where you need to be."

Though Sunday's festivities will be alcohol-free, Alexakis explained that his band's name was inspired by the popular liquor. "I always thought [Everclear] was a really cool name, and I really liked the way that it looked like water but was basically pure spirits and pure fire," he said. "It looked very benign, very deceptive, but it was pure evil. When Everclear first started, we were more rowdy. I was in my angry, rowdy stage."

The band has seen several changes over the years, including a new record label and a new lineup. The group's members are now Alexakis, bassist Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, drummer Brett Snyder and keyboardist Josh Crawley.

The band's music "has matured with me," Alexakis said, noting that his lyrics have become more intense. "It's been a natural evolution — it's not something I've tried to force."

Alexakis added that he hopes to "put out a record of all the cover songs we've recorded over the years," which he said number about 25.

Though Alexakis will soon take a hiatus from Everclear to write and direct films, he stressed the band's importance to him. "Everclear will always be a priority in my working life," he said. "It's been my life's work, pretty much."

Alexakis, whose fiancee is expecting a baby girl in November, added that he is "very excited" to perform at Princeton. "It's a beautiful school, and it's kind of legendary," he said. "I'd like to see my daughter be able to go there someday."