by Don Perryman, Bangor Daily News, 03.01.01

Mitch Alden came to a realization a couple of years ago. He was in a rock-n-roll gutter. "I had been doing the music thing for 10 to 12 years. I needed a change," he said.

Alden, fronting the Portland-based band NOW is NOW, will make an appearance at 11pm Thursday during the Homemade Jam portion of Dave Isaac's show on WKIT-FM (FM 100.3). The band also will perform Saturday night at Bangor's Sea Dog Brewing Co. So he's still doing the music thing. But he has changed his approach.

"A couple of years ago I got tired of writing about adolescent anger and girls," he said. Alden transformed himself. The Portland-based pop artist became more introspective in his writing and message. The result was the formation of NOW is NOW and a self-titled five track CD that is refreshing in both its simple style and Alden's storytelling.

"My writing comes from novels I've read that inspire me," he said. "Tom Robbins, Anne Rice, Stephen King. People like that."

In "Other Worlds," Alden looks through the eyes of Roland of Gilead, Stephen King's gunslinger, and sees hope despite his own shortcomings: "I believe there's other worlds than these; this is not the last you'll see of me." And John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath," he found Tom Joad, who inspired "Part of Me," one of two live tracks on the disc. "We never look out to the ocean anymore, we never stop to see the sea, whatever happened to me and you," he laments on it.

"I play pop," Alden said. "It's basic and it's easy. I want to touch the hearts of thousands." For the CD, Alden played guitar and provided the vocals. He used Boston area musicians Chris Hobbick on drums, Jon Bistline on bass, and Ryan Link for additional vocal support. But don't expect necessarily to find the same setup each time NOW is NOW performs. Alden likes to mix things up.

The revolving door that shuttles musicians in and out of the band is intentional. Alden calls it moving away from the "blood band." "The current format utilizes a lot of musicians. If there's a gig available, play it. You get on stage with the same guys for two weeks and everybody's sick of the music. So, I change it around and keep it fresh."

Alden has a couple of goals. One is to get rid of his day job with a computer company. The other is much loftier. "Within a year, I want to be the biggest pop artist in Maine," he said. "I think my music has a lot to offer."

Don Perryman is a writer for The Bangor Daily News, 1-800-432-7964.