Friday, October 28, 2011

Locksley


Locksley is a rock and roll band who originally formed in Madison, Wis., during high school. The band moved to New York shortly after to spread its upbeat music.

The band has been influenced by many artists and have been able to perform with them as well.

“We’ve gotten to perform with Graham Smith, Fountains of Wayne, Ray Davies and The Hives,” Jesse Laz, singer and guitarist said.

Unlike many bands, Locksley has many voices, not just one main song writer.

“There are three songwriters in the band, all with different inspiration,” Laz said. “This album was mostly various romantic experiences but there are a few songs about growing up on there.”

Locksley has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

“Jimmy Kimmel was much more relaxed, more like a normal show,” Laz said. “Conan was very professional. The timing they had on that program was unbelievable. Everything was timed and executed so tightly that after we finished I thought I might have forgotten to play guitar.”

The band recently released its self-titled album this past summer.

“It’s really like a Greatest Hits, so it was recorded over years at different times but all at a studio called The Space in lower Manhattan,” Laz said.

One of the most memorable performances the band had was performing the national anthem.

“We sang the national anthem at a memorial for one of the navy seals who died in that Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan,” Laz said. “Maybe interesting isn’t the word, but it certainly felt more moving than anything else we’ve done.”

In the future, the band hopes to make more music and continuing its career.

“We have a lot of new music that we’re trying to figure out release plans for,” Laz said. “One thing I can promise is that after the next album comes out, there will be very frequent releases until the end of our career.”



How did you get your start in music?

Funny, true story: Al gore.

When and how did you find the members of your band?

High school, except for Jordan. Found him in a hospital nursery. He was only a few hours old.

Where did you come up with the name Locksley?

Robin Hood.

Who are some of your influences? Have you been able to perform with them?

There are too many to name but ones we've gotten to perform with are Graham Smith, Fountains of Wayne, Ray Davies and The Hives.

When first starting out, what were some of your goals and places you performed?

I don't remember to be honest. Early on we played at CBGBs. I was actually told that we had the last-ever residency there.

How did you get your record label and make it to New York?

New York happened first and the record label just happened out of necessity.

What is your inspiration for the songs you write?

It varies a lot. There are three songwriters in the band, all with different inspiration. This album was mostly various romantic experiences but there are a few songs about growing up on there.

What was it like to hear your first song on the radio?

Ever seen That Thing You Do? Like that.

If you could be one instrument, what would it be?

I suppose I'd want to be a guitar.

How did you feel playing with acts such as Rooney and The Hives?

Pretty good. Felt pretty good.

What was it like to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien?

Jimmy Kimmel was much more relaxed, more like a normal show. Conan was very professional. The timing they had on that program was unbelievable. Everything was timed and executed so tightly that after we finished I thought I might have forgotten to play guitar.

What is the story behind your self-titled album and how did you come about the recording process for it?

It's really like a Greatest Hits so it was recorded over years at different times but all at a studio called The Space in lower Manhattan.

Is "Oh, Wisconsin!" based off of where you are from? Tell me a little bit about its origin.

Yes it is. If you listen to the lyrics that one's pretty self-explanatory, I think.

What has been one of the most interesting experiences in your career?

Just recently we sang the national anthem at a memorial for one of the navy seals who died in that Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Maybe interesting isn't the word but it certainly felt more moving than anything else we've done.

What are your future plans?

Hard to say. We have a lot of new music that we're trying to figure out release plans for. And one thing I can promise is that after the next album comes out, there will be very frequent releases until the end of our career.

What would you like to say to your current and future fans?

Thank you.

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