Austin's Achachay making cold hot since 2008

By Julie Armstrong     1/22/09 6:00pm

Who knew even Rice graduates could become rock stars?Anyone acquainted with Rice alumnus Jordan Myska Allen (Sid '08) has been hearing that message for a while. Throughout his college career, the ebullient, long-haired religious studies major persistently proclaimed his desire to be a rock star, even listing "roquerismo" as a second major on Facebook. While most Rice students searched for internships and slaved in research labs, Allen formed the funk rock band Moxie with Evan Davies (Brown '08), Andy Whitten (Brown '07) and Aaron Taffett (Sid '08), acting as a lead vocalist and guitarist. The band went on to win KTRU's Battle of the Bands two years in a row and even tour throughout the United States in the summer of 2007, chugging slowly across the continent in "Funkwagen von Tatkraft," their less-than-dependable tour van.

Since his graduation nearly a year ago, Allen has continued strumming to the rhythm of his own guitar and has managed to pursue his dream. After several months spent traveling through Central and South America and making music with new friends along the way, Allen returned home to Austin, Texas, to further his career as a musician. That's when drummer Ryan Greenblatt and bassist Charlie Carsey joined the story, creating Achachay (pronounced "ah-cha-chai"), a funk rock group whose MySpace profile claims they can "turn cold hot." The motto makes more sense in the context of the their name, which is Ecuadorian slang for "damn, it's freezing."

Before Achachay rocked Willy's Pub last Thursday night - along with former Moxie member Davies on guitar, Sid Richardson College junior Laura Liem on violin and friend Aaron Steinman on keyboard - the Thresher enjoyed a brief interview with Greenblatt, Allen and a pitbull terrier named Denali.

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Rice Thresher: So how did you guys get together?

Ryan Greenblatt: Last year I moved to Austin after Tulane to play music full-time, and Jordan came back from Central America to do the same thing. We have this mutual friend named Zack - like, we both know him really well - who introduced us.

Jordan Allen: We met and just clicked. We started jamming together and ended up playing a 20-minute song. That was at the end of August.

Thresher Ryan, what's your history with music?

RG: I grew up in Houston, and I've been playing drums since I was eight. I had older friends who were into music, and they all had their own instruments. Drums were what was left. My dad kind of thought it would be a phase, but it's been 14 years now. I played in rock and jazz bands in high school and in the Tulane Jazz Combo. And if you asked me whether I'd rather be blind or deaf, I'd definitely say blind. Music is such a big part of my life, I'm the guy who doesn't notice when the light turns green because I'm messing with my iPod.

Thresher: Do you feel overwhelmed as young musicians in Austin?

JA: I think we have an advantage because we're a different genre than usual. There's a lot of country rock and indie rock, but there aren't that many rock funk bands. And we've had good luck with shows, we've played with some great musicians. There are a lot of opportunities. The only problem is that Austin musicians can be flaky and never get back to you.

Thresher: Could you give an example of one of your songs?

JA: "Rock People" is a groovy jam.

"Rock people go to the mall wearing suspenders. / Rock people shop at The Gap. / Rock people are bad lovers, / ask Jenny, she knows. / Rock people rarely call you back."

Our other song on MySpace is called "Why So Serious?" At some point I'd really like to cover "Jizz In My Pants." Or the entire Chili Peppers album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

Thresher: So who plays what?

JA: I play guitar and do most of the singing and songwriting. Casey plays bass. Ryan usually sticks to drums and back-up vocals, but tonight he's singing lead on a song for the first time.

Thresher: How do you guys get around? Has Jordan found a replacement for the Funkwagen?

RG: We have an old school bus called the Ho Bus, because "H" and "O" were all that was left of "SCHOOL."

JA: Her wiring is a little shitty. Every time we have to start the car, Ryan turns the key while I pour starter fluid into the engine and think "Please, God, don't let it explode and rip off my arm."

RG: She can run on vegetable oil, but we have a problem with the solenoid.

Thresher: I like to think clichés are cliché for a reason, so I have to ask: What does music mean to you? Why is it important?

JA: Music should be a way for people to enjoy and share each other's thoughts, movement and energy, and it needs to change with society. As cultures change, they're putting out new messages. We evolve and grow, and music should be growing and evolving, too.

Thresher: Will Rice senior Allee Rosenmayer asked The National, and it's only fair that I ask you. What is your spirit animal?

JA: I'd say I want to be an imaginary animal, but I also want to exist. I used to like wolves and foxes. I like wolves because they're independent, but they also travel in packs, they're social.

RG: I've been told I evoke the wolf. Maybe because I'm hairy. I really like that TV On The Radio song, "Wolf Like Me." The video is sweet.

JA: I think I could also be a dolphin, or an elephant. Dolphins are smart, caring and frequently naked.

Thresher: Anything else you'd like to say? Are you recording? Got any shows coming up?

RG: We'd like to record an EP sometime in the next couple of months, but we want to have the facilities to do a good job, so we're trying to save money for that.

JA: We do have some shows coming up. We're playing on Jan. 29 at the Red Eyed Fly in Austin. We've played there twice before, but this'll be our first Thursday show, which is more like playing a weekend show. Also, you should vote for us in the Austin Chronicle's "Best of Austin" online poll! It closes on Jan. 31.

You can check out Achachay online at myspace.com/achachay.

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