Introducing Forty Acres by Courtney Campbell

Okay so you form a band, get invited to play at HFStival and your second show is an opening slot for Buckcherry, sound unreal? Just ask John Allen the frontman for Forty Acres. He’s living it. Although the way it was told, the invite to play HFStival came before the band was formed! Having been the drummer for such bands as Childs Play and SR-71to name just a couple, this is nothing new except this time around, he’s the frontman. Forty Acres is gearing up for some shows before they play this year’s HFStival. John Allen took a little bit of time to catch up with us.

Q: With all of your other projects, you have been behind the drums. What was the deciding factor to be the frontman?

A:I have always sung and I am finally confortable and confident enough to jump out front.

Q: Different genres/sounds with your projects, where do you feel the most comfortable? What is the true John Allen?

A:Being that I was the drummer in all of the other bands I have been involved with - I think there was only so much influence I was going to have. I believe ultimately it lies within the singer and now that falls to me. So, I guess to answer your question - I think this is truly me as far as my voice, writing style and genre/sound. It incorporates everything I love - Rock, Punk and old blues... Ya know like Robert Johnson, the guy from the crossroads...

Q: Where did the name Forty Acres come from?

A:I actually got it from a travel magazine the night before an SR-71 session... I was trying to sleep and there was no TV in my room and only this periodical so I picked it up and saw an article about this neighborhood in Wilmington, DE of all places, called "Forty Acres". I liked the name and the idea of a broken promise (ya know forty acres and a mule) ... I think everybody has a few of those in their lives.

Q:. Forty Acres has a 4 track CD for sale at shows, how much has been written?

A:We are playing 8 of the 12 tracks from a soon to be released full length called "Broken Promise". Additionally, we are working on a few new songs of mine to be added to the live set in the near future. Hopefully, we will play them at FLETCHER’S on April 28th - sorry I had to *plug*!

Q: Many artists move to New York or California to make it, why did you stay here in Maryland?

A:I’m a Baltimore boy! I love this area... The people in Maryland have been great to me - I mean that show the other night at The Recher Theatre was SOLD OUT and on top of that, we sold out of all of the CDs we had for sale! That has never happened in any of my previous bands before!

Q: Maryland has many good local bands but very few make it out in the real world, why do you think that is?

A:We do have many GREAT bands and some go on to great things. Look at GOOD CHARLOTTE. I’d say those are local boys done good! Not to toot my own horn but I have 3 Gold Records and 1 Platinum record due to efforts made by Mitch Allan and myself. Am I satisfied - no. I probably never will feel like I have "Made It" but I guess it’s all how you look at success. Plus, if you leave out NY and LA - I think we may have more bands that have made a splash than many other US cities!