Musician's enthusiasm refreshing

There's nothing like interviewing people who love their job.

That's especially true in the music business.

I've interviewed musicians that are really excited about being musicians.

I've also talked to musicians who don't seem to be that enthusiastic, don't want to be interviewed, who are crabby and throw attitude.

Both types are interesting, but it's great to talk to someone excited to be doing an interview.

That happened earlier this year with Aiden guitarist Angel Ibarra.

Aiden will be playing the Avalon next week, and I wanted to ask Ibarra about the band's new album "Knives," which was released May 12.

Right off the bat, Ibarra was full of enthusiasm, even though the band was taking a day off in Stockton, Calif.

"There's not much here," he said during a phone call. "But there is a Starbucks."

When he found out I was calling from Salt Lake City, his voice raised a timbre.

"I love playing Salt Lake," he said. "We have great turnouts and great shows there. In fact, some of our best gigs have been played there."

Aiden formed in 2003 when Ibarra was 16.

But his love for punk and rock music developed after someone stole his mother's car.

"When the police found the car, there was a dufflebag in the trunk," said Ibarra. "Me, being a nosy 13-year-old brat, rummaged through it and found a NOFX cassette. I put it on and immediately wanted to play guitar like that."

Some six years after the group was formed, Aiden — Ibarra, vocalist/guitarist WiL (with a capitol L) Francis, drummer Jake Davidson and bassist Nick Wiggins — has released its fourth full-length album.

The CD was recorded differently than the band's past CDs, said Ibarra.

"We didn't hire a producer," he said. "Everything was laid back. We didn't stress about money because we didn't hire anyone. And we recorded it in WiL's studio."

The 10 songs, including the single "Scavengers of the Damned," were mostly written on the road last year.

"We did sound-check jams and got some songs ready," said Ibarra. "And we wrote maybe two in the studio."