FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1998 All Rights Reserved.
| MUSIC Visions of Kody with Plaid Tongued Devils A thick cloud of smoke hangs above Patrick Lucas's head. He waves his hand noncommittally to clear the air between us, as he begins to discuss his band, Visions of Kody. There is a buzz of conversation saturating the big orange living room where he sits, and Dan Bern's latest album plays softly from somewhere behind him. There is sporadic crackling from a Lays potato chip bag. "It's a poor man's recording," he says of the band's new CD, Friendly Wandering Companion. "But I think it came off. It's like the shepherd's pie of VOK albums. You won't go away hungry from this one." After nine years together, a cross-Canada tour last spring, and a musical career that thrives on live gigs, VOK have completed their first full-length CD, following 14 months in the studio. Lucas is proud of the album, although he admits to being unsettled about a few things. However, he knows such a conversation is ostentatious, so he doesn't get specific about the recording's shortcomings. "We're an immature band. We have a lot of growing to do," he says humbly. Lucas's band did recently have a growth spurt - from a four-piece to six. With the welcoming of two new members, the band has been confronted with certain changes. He believes that the new additions - which include the accordion, piano, metronome and an entire percussion section - have gone a long way to completing the vision he has for VOK. The album is modestly diverse, with a lyrically driven folk feel, and enough catchy rhythms to provide a seductively discreet pop product. The sound is very honest and boasts enticing lyrics like: "I know I can't write as good as those modernist philosopher poet types/ and when it comes to the beatniks and the realists I'm just plain lost/ but I'll bet you anything that when I'm alone with you/ I can make a dialogue as good as Ernest Hemingway." Despite Lucas's self-deprecating approach to the band's achievements, he is looking forward to promoting the new CD. Being very tour-oriented, VOK would like to do the cross-country thing again, with some financial support from an indie record label. He has modest expectations for the band, but entertains a plethora of ideas for its promotion. "Classic '90s media control - don't give 'em a chance to ask why, and we might be able to pull it off," he giggles, noting that he tries to "fool" the public into thinking VOK is legit, and that the best ideas that develop for the band are by mistake. "That's how this band survives, we take pride in our mistakes." VOK is still growing, still flourishing with adolescent ideas and equally adult musical montages. Lucas believes in the band members' commitment to the complete vision. "As long as we all get along... which won't be a problem, considering we all hate each other now anyway. We bitch and complain like sulky little brothers half the time, though we fake really well live," he says, his eyes wet with laughter. "For better or worse, we fit each other really well. It makes sense that we're together." |