WITH THEIR FRONTMAN SHIPPING OFF TO WAR, AND THEIR DRUMMER SIGNING TO A LABEL... THE QUESTION OF THE DAY IS; WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO JACKSONVILLE’S PREMIERE INDUSTRIAL BAND
ELARA
ELARA seem to always be on our pages, in part because they are the reason for the formation of Movement “Frequencies,” our own local music support group. But mainly because they are constantly working to better themselves and weather change. With the inacurate pigeonholeing four-letter-word “Goth” being flung around to define a genre, a small and growing Industrial-dance scene is fueling an entirely new generation of Darkwave fanatics and breathing new life into a nearly 20 year old broken and bitter scene. Locally ELARA has been leading the pack with numerous shows and a brilliant ten song CD that has nearly sold out across the city. Their efforts and intensive dedication paid off when they landed a spot on the Planet Radio 93.3 locals only CD release “Native Noise 3.”    The rippling effects of the tragic last half of 2001 however still continue to remold and reshape the destiny of this band. After a long and hard bout of soul searching lead singer Jose Figueroa made a critical decition and joined the armed forces. On January 12th ELARA played their final show with lead linger Jose and drummer Jack Ringca whose much sought after talents were finally inked to COLUMBIA records via Jacksonville natives Ten High. So where does that leave the brightest hope for the Jacksonville Industrial-Dance pioneers? We called up Perry Safer, the center of the ELARA storm, and asked him how he envisioned the future of the band;    “From the time I joined ELARA in 1997, I knew it would be successful. When I first joined Jose and Rik Marston were already in the band, but I helped take it to a new level. I brought in Chris Caldwell along with me, a great guitarist, and he took it to another level. Then Rik and Chris left and along came Josh Jackson (on keyboards) and yet another level emerged. Then came Jack on drums. Josh left. Soon after along came Franko Carino added more keyboards. Then Moot stepped in on guitar. Yet even more levels formed when finally Ken Roy joined on bass; a different level was achieved. Now Jose is gone to war and Jack is gone to Los Angeles with Ten High to pursue superstardom...” he pauses, “...but its not over! ELARA is as strong as ever! Yet another level will be achieved in the nearfuture. We are moving ahead, and embracing the changes for the betterment of the entire band. We’re down to four: myself, Franko, Moot and Ken. Franko will be the full time drummer, since he's been playing them for the last 10 years. We will hire a new singer, one in the works already (if he pans out it will blow your mind), but no matter who comes on board it will create an entirely new level of the ELARA experience! Jose and Jack’s last show on the closing night of HALO at the Imperial and it was a great end to something that was extraordinary for all of us. But like HALO, ELARA will have it's new beginning... we will not be gone for too long! ‘Rebuild, take it to the top, and make ears bleed!’ says Franko. That pretty much sums it up. We will miss Jose, he is like family. We admire him for for making such a noble decision. We will also miss Jack, another member of our extended family and we wish him nothing but success with Ten High. Both of them will always be a part of this ever building empire, the ELARA-empire.” www.elaraempire.com