It’s never been easy to be a musician, and these days it’s tougher than ever. Lucky for music fans, there is a seemingly never-ending wave of up-and-coming talent willing to take their chances for the brass ring. One of the most effective ways to get a group noticed is via a package outing like the five-band Alternative Press (AP) Tour, stopping in at the House of Blues on March 25. Based around five groups with the seal of approval of music magazine Alternative Press, the evening’s music will be provided by up-and-coming indie rockers Black Veil Brides, I See Stars, Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, VersaEmerge and Virginia-based quintet Conditions. Formed in 2006, Conditions, featuring singer Brandon Roundtree, guitarists Jason Marshall and Alex Howard, drummer Ryan Tinsley and bassist Corey Thomas, is a veteran of numerous road trips, both in the U.S. and Europe. Perenially on the road, they’ve earned opening spots on the Vans Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos, Bamboozle Festival, and SXSW Music Conference. They’ve also shared stages with New Found Glory and Good Charlotte. After releasing a pair of EPs, the band is promoting its debut album “Fluorescent Youth,” and will spend seven weeks with the AP Tour. The members of Conditions would prefer to eventually stage their own shows, however they’re more than happy to take the bottom of the bill, as openers on a tour like this. “Typically the last few tours we’ve done, we’ve tried to do support stuff,” Howard said. “Just to try to get out to some broader audiences.” Some might see being the opener as a difficult spot, but Howard sees it as a positive challenge. “We’re kind of used to being the first band on the bill and only playing for about 30 minutes, making it short and sweet, while doing everything we can to capture those people in such a short amount of time,” he said. Although the emphasis on this tour will be on their latest album, the band plans to mix up the set list with material from earlier EPs. “We are going to rotate in one or two songs that we haven’t played on the last few tours,” Howard said. Though many would consider the day-in, day-out grind of touring in a van to be less than glamorous, Howard remains enthusiastic. “I love traveling,” he said. “We’re only going to be in San Diego overnight as we have to play in Las Vegas the next day, but it’s really cool to get out there and go to a bunch of places that I’ve never been to. Even though, because you’re working a lot of the time you don’t get to see a whole lot, it’s an awesome experience.” Conditions opens the AP tour at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 25 at the House of Blues, 555 Fifth Avenue. All ages. Tickets range from $15 to $25. For more, visit www.myspace.com/conditionsband.
