Local alt-rock band Isabella heading to Pointfest on May 21

Over the past eight years, Isabella has established itself as arguably the most popular alt-rock/hardcore outfit in Cape Girardeau, but the members don’t see themselves as a “band on a hill” so much as they see themselves as a band on the cusp.

They talk like underdogs. They’re wary of cliché. And they’re charging into summer with a purpose.

First on their agenda is a coveted slot at the popular St. Louis alternative-rock festival Pointfest next weekend, and the exposure that comes from playing the same festival as headliners Deftones, Bring Me The Horizon and others.

“This year, we’re really the only out-of-town band,” drummer Alex Bettinger said, and they’re definitely the only band from Cape Girardeau.

The festival provides them an opportunity to showcase new material as well. They clinched the Pointfest gig by performing their newest song, “End Game,” the video of which has been gaining traction online. The video quickly broke 20,000 views.

“I’m not saying that’s amazing, but for Cape Girardeau, that’s pretty good. That’s what we want,” Bettinger said.

Over that better part of a decade, they said, they have learned how to be a better band.

“We’ve definitely had the time to realize every way how not to do it,” said lead guitarist Jake Tropf.

Their newest, yet-to-be-released album is marked by an aesthetic consistency and artistic coherence that Tropf said surpass their three previous records.

“In the past, we’ve been a little more hectic,” he said. “We’ve gotten better at just boiling it down and writing better songs.”

The band said while previous albums have been solid on a track-by-track basis, they tend to vacillate between the darkly cathartic, aggressive songs and the lyrical, more melodic songs.

But refining their approach doesn’t mean they’ve redefined their sound.

“I don’t think,” Bettinger said. “It’s not like we’ve gone full-on pop-rock or anything.”

“Or mom-rock,” rhythm guitarist Randy Starnes offered warily.

“We’ve just taken away the extreme pop aspects and the extreme heavy ones,” Bettinger said.

“We’re trying to become more balanced as a group,” Tropf said. “I think the new record is a lot more balanced.”

The result, they said, is an album with all the Isabella feel but that’s far more approachable. In terms of marketing savvy, Isabella seems to punch above its weight.

“There’s no trick to having a huge monster show,” bassist Colt Buehler said. “It’s just playing consistently enough to have people say, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ll come see your band.’”

And while dependability is important, Bettinger said it’s also crucial to keep things fresh.

“We want to play new venues, [play with] new bands we’ve never played with,” he said. “The goal is to branch out from normal anything.”

“We’re hoping that this will be a big push,” Tropf said of the Pointfest show. “It’s definitely a stairstep mentality, and we’re stoking this fire.”

Listen to Isabella’s music and keep up with the band at www.weareisabella.com and www.facebook.com/weareisabella.

Pointfest will be May 21 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights, Mo.