THE ACTUAL Lead singer hoping to expose the truth about pop rockers

Max Bernstein is following in his father's footsteps.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Leave it to The Actual lead singer Max Bernstein, son of Carl Bernstein (yeah, of Watergate journalism fame) and Nora Ephron (yeah, of "When Harry Met Sally" fame) to call out all of the emo posers holding rock radio hostage.
"I think the people are getting especially tired by so much blood-letting and the incredibly sort of almost self-centered emo bands that are starting to weigh pretty heavy on a lot of people," said Bernstein, calling from his home in Los Angeles. "I think there's a big appetite for a good pop rock band."
Just like his father, Bernstein is hoping to expose the truth, only this time it's not an excessive abuse of power but banality -- lots and lots of banality taking over the airwaves. The singer-guitarist is hoping his band can lead a coup d' & eacute;tat of sorts.
Unlikely partner
Helping Bernstein's endeavor to change the musical world is perhaps the unlikeliest of partners. Last year the Los Angeles trio was recording in its hometown with producer Doug Grean when erstwhile Stone Temple Pilots frontman and current Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland entered the picture. It turns out Grean is songwriting partners with Weiland. After hearing a few of the threesome's tracks, the Crackerman wanted in on the project.
In fact, in addition to releasing The Actual's still untitled sophomore album on his own label -- Soft Drive Records -- this spring, Weiland produced the disc. If it seems odd that this indie pop-punk act is putting all of its eggs into a somewhat slithering basket of corporate rock, the incongruity isn't lost on Bernstein.
"I definitely do see that," said the 26-year-old singer. "But at the same time, Guns N' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, at the end of the day, they're all just bands based on having good songs."
Whether or not Bernstein is talking out of both sides of his mouth is irrelevant. You can't blame the guy considering The Actual's 2003 debut album, "Songs on Radio Idaho," was critically acclaimed as the anti-Sum 41 or Good Charlotte album of its time but was largely unrecognized by the mainstream, which was too busy pogo-ing to Simple Plan anthems. An incessant touring schedule took the band across the nation without much fanfare.
Taking an interest
So when a notable rock star, albeit an aging rock star whose drug habit has overshadowed the majority of his career, takes an interest in your struggling band, you do what you have to do to open the next door.
As for that next album, Bernstein likes what he's hearing, which is naturally a small leap for the band but a giant leap from their debut.
"Sonically, our last record is really one-dimensional, but this one, we really spent more time in the studio, had more experienced producers and we had a whole bunch of amps to play with and really mapped everything out a bit more," Bernstein said.
"So this record, I'd say there has been a big growth sonically, a big growth lyrically and also just the growth that comes from touring together for three years."
If there was goal for the band as it approached the new record, it was to not be dull or sound dumb. Those are some steep expectations, but Bernstein believes the band can pull it off. The band has a gig Jan. 19 at Nyabinghi.
"People should expect a live show with far greater honesty and intensity than they're getting from the emotional rock bands that are on FUSE and the bands claiming to be punk bands on FUSE," Bernstein said. "And they should be expecting great songs delivered with intensity and gusto."
And what about a Stone Temple Pilots song or two?
Said Bernstein, "I don't think anybody will be expecting us to cover 'Sex Type Thing.'"