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ON THE COUCH WITH: The Lazys

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ARTIST INTERVIEW

Access All Areas.net.au: Hey Leon, hows things?
TL – Leon: Hey mate, just hanging out with the band after a crazy night out in Newcastle, was fun until we had to run out of a 7/11 as it was being held up... but alls well now haha.

Access All Areas.net.au: Well on better things, your self titled EP is being released tomorrow, you guys excited?
TL – Leon: Yeah, its going to be great for us, we’ll be finally getting a cd out to the people which is great. I’ll be going to the local store & buying a copy myself... gotta support the band haha but seriously its nice to get what we’ve worked really hard on out & we can’t wait.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the EP, did you guys spend a lot of time writing the songs on the release?
TL – Leon: Well i spent a fair amount of time writing material & ended up with about 15 songs & went through the task of bringing that down to the 5 we have on the EP. The songs are ones that are really special to me & ones i feel represent our band best & are fun songs too so they work well for us. We had 1 of the songs out towards the end of last year on radio & that was great & now with the EP coming hopefully more songs can make it on there.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the music you guys play, it seems to be a mix of punk & hard rock. Was there a central direction musically you were looking for this EP?
TL – Leon: Well we don’t plan to play music like punk rock or like hard rock, we play what we feel like & what comes out of that. We seem to have crafted a sound that is punk & hard rock, styles we’re all great fans of so we like it & we don’t really see ourselves in 1 specific genre or style, we just play what we like to play & however its interpreted is up to the listener. Hopefully the listeners enjoy what they hear haha but we feel we have worked hard on our music & the people should see that in what they hear & should hopefully enjoy our songs.

Access All Areas.net.au: With recording, the work was done in the Albert Studios, how was this experience for the band?
TL – Leon: This was an incredible experience for us, it was without doubt the best studios we’ve had the opportunity to record in & we really worked hard to get our songs done in the time we had as we didn’t want to waste any time we had in this great place. The studios really showed us what kind of level you can get to with recording & the standards of music that can be produced from a studio, so that was eye opening for us as well. The time in the studios there was fun, we had to work hard of course, but we were able to have fun as we love playing music.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the band, you guys have received some great radio exposure in the last 12 months with airplay on the JJJ & Nova radio networks, was this exposure unexpected for the band & how do you feel it helped you guys?
TL – Leon: This was really great for us, we were able to get the track out to a lot more people than expected, so that was great. We got the nova play through the JD Set we were on & for us to get a spin on the national network like them really opened up doors for us exposure wise with the range of listeners they have. With JJJ they are always supportive to bands like us, so we were appreciative to them for the plays they gave us & overall it was really beneficial to us as we had a lot more people knowing who we were when it came time to playing on the JD Set.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the JD Set tour, how was this for the band?
TL – Leon: This was... well crazy, but we like to drink & party so it was right up our alley. The tour gave us 4 shows across the country & we had the best time doing these shows, the crowds were amazing & the free jack daniels went down well also haha. We really were appreciative to Jack Daniels, they really helped us well on that tour with the funding of the 4 shows so we really appreciate those guys & we hope the support they give us continues into the future.

Access All Areas.net.au: Just curious, is it true that at the Sydney show you did your knee in & had to play the perth show on crutches?
TL – Leon: Haha, yeah its true, i got a little too crazy in Sydney & ended up with a busted knee, but this was our big tour so even if it was a broken leg i was still heading to perth. We had a longish flight over so i could relax a bit with some beverages which helped the pain & i just took it easy with the show & things worked well & yeah my knee is fine now.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the release of the EP, this is the first release you have which will be distributed throughout the country, is this something the band is excited about?
TL – Leon: Yeah, we’re so happy this is possible, with the distribution of the EP this means it’ll actually go into record stores & can be sold to so many more people than our previous stuff. In previous trips, we just sold singles & stuff at the gigs at the merch & we had some great sales, but with the distribution this takes it one level higher as the cd will be out in stores & not just on a merch desk.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now you guys have done some extensive touring in the last 12 months, playing with some great international & local bands, has this been overwhelming for the band at times, or just a step up in gigs for the band?
TL – Leon: Well i guess its a bit of both, we’re always stoked to be able to play a show with a well known artist, we’ve had the chance to play with a number of bands... too many to remember haha but they all have been great to us & given us our spot & we took the chances we were given & things have gone well. Each show which is a step up be it a festival or international support gives us the chance to play bigger venues, which means bigger stage... bigger crowd... bigger ryda haha but seriously we appreciate the oppourtunities we’ve had with our gigs & we’re looking to keep things going well for us in 2009.

Access All Areas.net.au: With 2008, you were able to play both the Come Together & Coaster festivals, many memories from these... or is it just a blur of good times haha?
TL – Leon: Haha, well... its a bit of both i guess... haha na we had some really great times playing these festivals, the sets went off & the crowds at each were really great in the response they gave to us. Backstage, the bands we met were really nice & accommodating to us, even though we were a small band they gave us our place there which was surprising & awesome. We obviously got into some drinks when we weren’t playing & had a great time, but thats what you do no matter if you’re a performer or a punter you drink up & have a good time... with some responsibility i guess haha.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the coming weeks, you are on your EP tour, how’s this tour going so far?
TL – Leon: Well we’ve only had 1 show here in Newcastle so far & the show was great, but almost getting in a holdup wasn’t too good... hopefully things improve with our post-show outings. We have our next show in about a week, which sucks as i really just want to get back to playing, but we’ve got a heap of shows so i’ll be contented.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the tour, you are being sponsored by Jack Daniels again, do you feel things have been made easier tour wise for the band due to the sponsorship?
TL – Leon: Well i don’t think we wouldn’t have not done the tour if we didn’t have the sponsorship, but i will say it makes things a lot easier for us. With the sponsorship comes money to pay for the tour, that includes the promotion & advertisement which is very expensive. Not only that they are behind us for the whole tour which means we don’t need to worry about where we’re staying as its sorted, stuff like that really make your life easier & we really, really thank the JD guys for everything they’re doing for us. We also are kindly being given Jack Daniels for our rydas so thats nice, well nice for me... ant in our band says Jack Daniels tastes like banana bread, but we all just ignore him haha.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the tour, besides the EP tracks, will you guys be playing any old material?
TL – Leon: Yeah, we have a heap of old songs we’ll be playing, people who have seen us before will know all the favourites so we have those & of course the material on the EP, we’ll give that a play to keep everyone happy.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the tour, is it just yourselves or is there a support with you guys?
TL – Leon: We’re actually touring with a really good punk rock band from Sydney called The Shake Up, we’ve seen & love these guys, so we are really excited to have them on tour with us, as 2 young bands just getting out & playing the music we love to play.

Access All Areas.net.au: Just quicly, whats happening for the band in the near future?
TL – Leon: Well we’ve got this release tomorrow which is exciting, then we’re on this tour for a few weeks & then we’re looking to just keep working, playing heaps of gigs & hopefully later this year record a debut record which we hope to put out early next year. Besides that... we’ll just be looking to hopefully get onto a few of the festival circuits & stuff like that to keep playing these as we really enjoyed the festivals we did last year.

Access All Areas.net.au: Well Leon, thanks a lot for speaking with me, all the best for the EP release & hopefully we’ll see you guys at a show near us soon.
TL – Leon: Thanks Ben, its been great to speak with you, if you’re able to make a show come down as we’d love to see you & as many people as we can at the shows so we can rock your night & give you a heap of fun out on the town... anyway, thanks, later.

Interview By: Ben Coby.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Sydney rockers, The Lazys, will release their highly anticipated self-titled EP on May 1, backed by a full national tour – their first since the band’s massive success after the JD Set national tour.

The Lazys burst onto the Sydney scene in 2006, and quickly built a loyal fan base following a national tour supporting Something With Numbers to an estimated 20,000 people.

Since then, The Lazys have been fortunate enough to have graced the stage with many other bands including US Rockers Against Me, UK’s The Answer, Hollywood’s Juliette and the Licks, Grinspoon and After the Fall before scoring coveted billing on the main stage at Come together and Coaster festivals with The Living End, Kisschasy & Cog.

The band took their next step in the studio with producer Phil McKellar (Grinspoon/Silverchair). Double A Single “All Fired up / Union of the Underdogs” was released in July 2008, played on Nova and JJJ. This immediately caught the attention of Australian Music legend Michael Chugg who put the boys forward to Jack Daniels to go on the inaugural JD Set.

After being voted on to the set in record numbers, the band set off around Australia showcasing their renowned live set. When lead vocalist Leon Harrison twisted his knee jumping 20 feet off the top of Marshall cabinets at the Gaelic club they jumped right back on the tour bus headed to Perth, crutches and all, for the last set of the JD Tour. And in November last year after securing more than 8000 votes, Gyroscope and Jabba presented the band live on stage in Melbourne with the Inaugural Jack Daniels Winners award.

With 2009 well on its way things are shaping up for what will be a massive year for the five-piece, with their track “All Fired Up” being licensed for the new Channel 7 series “Thank God You’re Here”.

Recorded in the legendary Albert studios, home of AC/DC, it’s a showcase of the band’s sheer ability. Instantly memorable songs, catchy as hell with huge choruses, thrashing guitar solos, a driving rhythm section and topped with Leon’s howling vocals. There’s nothing out there like it. Unforgettable, hard and edgy you’ll be hearing it in your head long after you’ve turned it off.

www.myspace.com/thelazys

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MY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

Mental As Anything
It's a pretty horrible one actually. On the Australian Made Tour in, it was about 87' - 88'. There was us, there was Barnsey (Jimmy Barnes), The Models, The Divinyls. You know it was a really fun tour actually, and we were sharing a brass section with The Models and the guy... One of the brass players he was fairly frail, he was quite young and he had a pacemaker and he actually collapsed and died during our set which was rather disturbing. It would be the most memorable but, only because it was so unpleasant. I would have to say that one sticks out for me.

What's your ideal festival line-up?
Gee, that's a hard one. It's pretty good these day's they have guys like Neil Young coming out, and it's good. It shouldn't be a real generational thing. There are still a lot of good musicians that have inspired a lot of the younger bands and I think that it's nice that they put these guys on the bill. It's an economic thing, obviously a lot of people want to see them but, I think it's also good for the younger people to see where a lot of this kinda stuff came from in the first place. I think the bills are pretty good actually.

Also, with the older bands and artists playing at shows it's a big thing for the younger ones because they have been inspired by that performer and seeing them play and being able to play along aside them is a big kick.
Yeah, I think it's great and as long as they can still cut the mustard, I've heard that on some occasions they have been a bit disappointing but, they really have got there acts together these guys if they are still doing it. It's pretty obvious when they aren't. I sort of jokingly say "I'm getting the hang of it now", because I sort of am really, It's taken awhile but, you kinda have to be a bit more professional as you get older about doing it because, you need to be. It's amusing to see the 20yr old guys staggering around drunk on stage, that's kinda entertaining. But, when you get older it's not such a good look. You need to start thinking about being a bit more professional and getting your act together a bit.

The fall of the aging rock star.
Haha Yeah, that's your job. If you want to keep doing it you need to stay reasonably healthy. I swim, I try and swim some laps everyday. That's how I occupy myself on tour. I've got to find out where the pool is otherwise I get a bit twitchy if I don't get to do my laps every day. You start to realize if you don't have your health you don't have anything. It's true of anybody but, particularly for entertainers if you let yourself go, your in trouble.

What's your most favourite artist you have seen at a festival?
I would have to say Roy Orbison. I saw him only a couple of year's before he died. I couldn't believe it. He had already had the open heart surgery and, he had a shocking life the poor guy. He's always been a hero of mine. I actually got to see him, which was a big thrill.

What are your tips for attending a festival?
I don't know. My kids are going to them kind of regularly and they seem to have a good time. I think the main thing is you need to get in early if you want to get ticket's to these things, because they seem to sell out really fast. They are really popular and just enjoy them.