going around. I think that’s the opposite of what our band is; we’re very humble guys, we’re very easygoing, we’re very outgoing. The fact that I get to wake up and play for fans and play music, I’m beyond fortunate. But I’ve met a lot of people who don’t see it that way.”
While AllMusic said Adelitas Way “sizzles with rage, sex, and regret … the band kicks up enough noise to satisfy even the most dogmatic hard rock junkie,” Home School Valedictorian manages to be all that and more. Produced by “Invincible” co-writer Dave Bassett (Shinedown, Josh Groban, Halestorm) and engineered by Tadpole (Disturbed, Finger Eleven), the 11- song CD was recorded in late 2010 at Malibu’s Chateau Relaxo studio, and showcases the band’s lyrical and musical growth. Both DeJesus’ early life in a rough Philly neighborhood rife with drugs and violence, as well as more recent events, inform AW’s songs.
“The number one reason I wrote ‘Sick’ is because I’m a blue collar guy, I come from a working family, I’ve worked my entire life,” he relates. “Sometimes when your hard work is not recognized or you get fed up with everything, with not having any money, it comes to a point where you’re like, ‘I’m sick of this.’ ‘Sick” is an anthem for all the people who are sick of not getting to live the dream that they wanted to live, because I felt that way at one point in my life, despite all my hard work. But fortunately it ultimately paid off for me, but I’ll never forget where I came from, or the hope I have for hard-working, good people.” Like their songs, even the band name came via an emotional real-life experience—from an extreme encounter/adventure at an infamous Tijuana bar/brothel called Adelita Bar in their early days of band-dom.
Another powerfully personal stand-out on Home School Valedictorian is the tune “Alive.” DeJesus notes, “I didn’t want to make a record that was full of negative moments in my life. ‘Alive’ is about the positive moments. It’s about being in love and feeling great, having that feeling where everything feels right, you feel so invigorated.
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