More than words: Extreme is back with ‘Six’ and tour stop in Albuquerque at Revel

Aug. 19—Nuno Bettencourt went to bed in Maine.

When he woke up, he was in New Hampshire.

This is part of Bettencourt’s life over the course of the next few months as he travels around the country on tour with his band Extreme.

“It’s like a time machine that keeps going,” he says during a recent interview. “Our first night was last night and it was a good first show. We haven’t done a show in awhile, and it all felt really great. We did five new songs, and no matter how much you think you know the songs, you have to build that muscle memory again.”

Bettencourt is joined in the band by Gary Cherone, Pat Badger and Kevin Figueiredo. The band released the album, “Six,” on June 9. The band is set to stop at Revel ABQ on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

It marks Extreme’s sixth full-length album since its inception in 1985 and its first album since 2008’s “Saudades de Rock.”

Extreme’s popularity spiked in the late 1980s and early 1990s thanks to the albums — “Extreme” in 1989, “Extreme II: Pornograffitti” in 1990 and “III Sides to Every Story” in 1992.

It were the singles, “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted,” from “Pornograffitti” that catapulted the band into mainstream with the singles going No. 1 and No. 4, respectively.

With that success reached, Bettencourt says it’s something the band would welcome again, but doesn’t try to replicate it.

The recording process for “Six” didn’t take long, as the members were working on material for three or four years.

“We came in with the best music that we had around,” he says. “The most basic answer is that we don’t really choose the songs that are our favorites. We ended up with the songs on the album that flow. We are still very much an album band. We want to share our music with the fans and contribute to their experience while on a long drive. From top to bottom, it’s super important. It’s a full body of work to experience.”

Bettencourt says the band works at its own pace and navigates all the ups and downs on its own.

This is the first album in 15 years and everything is new for the band again.

“Ask us in a month how we’re doing,” Bettencourt says. “Right now, we’re in a good space. The new album has helped us get there. We’re on a mission to give the best performances that we can. That’s what artists survive on — the emotion and spirituality of it all.”

Nearly 40 years with the band, Bettencourt admits that he’s not a fan of the recording process and prefers the live shows.

“Recording is tedious because there is a vision for the songs and the band works hard to achieve it,” he says. “What’s amazing about performances is that you have one shot to do it. There’s really something exciting about it that makes it way more rock and roll than just cutting an album.”