BY CONOR GLEASON
ACIDIC singer and rhythm guitarist Michael Gossard says his band's live shows are a little like "the Tasmanian Devil with no shirt on.
"Our energy is really raw and kind of unadulterated," he said. "We rock out, but there is a sense of maturity up there."
The energy of the Los Angeles-based alternative rock band will be on display at 7 p.m. Friday at the 3rd Wheel in Lewiston.
Gossard said ACIDIC's style is reminiscent of Green Day and the Foo Fighters, but the band's newest album, set to be released early next year, reminds him of the Arctic Monkeys and Imagine Dragons.
Formed in 2008 by Gossard, the band has since released four full-length albums. The title track off its new album, "Copper Man," garnered praise from Mötley Crüe front man Nikki Sixx.
" Killer track. Just picked it as my Sixx Pick for the show ... " Sixx tweeted.
"Copper Man," arguably ACIDIC's most popular song, is about the band's travels across the world, Gossard said.
"We've had a chance to go to a lot of really cool places and see a lot of really cool people and I really wanted to characterize that at least in the lyrics," he said. "I wanted to give an homage to this great country that we've had a chance to go on tour around."
Gossard said Sixx's recent praise and other positive reviews have encouraged him to be more humble.
"Every band wants to be on top," Gossard said. "But it was a great honor to get a nod from a person like Nikki Sixx. To go to shows and seeing people singing our lyrics, that's all been amazing."
ACIDIC has appeared on the same bill as notable alternative bands like Yellowcard, Trapt, Bowling For Soup and Candlebox. The band opened for Hinder in June 2013 at Boomers in Lewiston. This time, however, ACIDIC is headlining the tour.
"We live in the van and in the hotel rooms and go meet a couple hundred people every night," Gossard said. "Then we go on stage, put on a few guitars, and strum out a few songs and get off stage to meet new people. The most important part is just hanging out with people and reaching out your hand, saying 'My name is Michael, how was your day?' "
The band consists of Gossard, drummer Matt Whitaker, lead guitarist/vocalist Josh Bennett and bassist Max Myrick, its newest member.
"(Max) just joined a few months ago and he's rocking out," Gossard said. "He was a friend of my cousin, who is our road manager. We needed a new bass player and my cousin called him up and he came over for practice and fell in love with the project and he's been on tour with us ever since."
IF YOU GO What: ACIDIC When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: The 3rd Wheel, 1702 Main St., Lewiston Cost: $5 and $10, can be purchased at the box office on the day of the show
