Nothing Less releases debut CD

After much anticipation, the band Nothing Less is releasing its first feature-length CD, "Beyond Therapy" tomorrow with a full-blown release party in Anchorage, complete with the debut of a music video shot in conjunction with the CD.

The band, comprised of Wasilla High School graduates Tommy Dowell and Henry Hartman and Anchorage's Tim Waters, recorded the CD last July in California.

"I'm really proud of this album," Waters said. "To me, it is like a diary of the first two years of Nothing Less. It has it all, from ballads and Sublime-style ska-reggae, to straight up pop punk."

The band already has quite a following, as their live shows have entertained Alaskans for two years. They also have a couple of demo CDs with a few tracks on each. They have also played with national acts like Flying Blind and Presidents of the United States of America in the past.

The "Beyond Therapy" CD release party is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The party is free, and CDs will be available for $10.

Along with Nothing Less, several Alaska musicians will be on hand, including Kelly Roberts of Driveline, Erik Braund of Jeb, Martin Yi and Scott Norman of Unknown Citizens and Gena Gastaldi.

The CEO of Alcatraz Records, the band's label, will also be on hand.

"We're making the release party big because, well, we can. Not enough effort is being poured into Alaska's music scene and that is why it lacks recognition, even to its own residents," Waters said. "We are continuing to raise the bar by putting on quality shows. This won't be your ordinary 'six bands running everything out of one amp rec-center show.' This is a real concert."

At the release party, people will also get to see the video for "Record Store," one of 12 songs on the CD.

The video was shot and produced by Sean Morris of Alaskan Nomad Productions.

The video was filmed over six days at venues including a bowling alley, a skating rink, a boxing ring and a hospital.

The three band members spent quite a bit of time brainstorming about the video, and Morris made it happen.

"After we talked to the guys in Nothing less, we had a general feeling of what they were after," Morris said in a press release. "They were looking for something funny, fast, stylized, self-deprecating humor, vibrant colors, happy and energetic, a lot of things that are also characteristics of their music."

A 20-minute behind-the-scenes movie will also be presented.

The "Beyond Therapy" CD goes on sale in stores on Dec. 23.