It's The Lizzies, not Thin Lizzy
Music scene vets turn up the rock
PREVIEW
THE LIZZIES
Friday, September 27
The Night Gallery
Gathered around a table are bass player Vladimir Sobolewski, blazing guitarist Brooker Buckingham, drummer Mike Bressanutti and vocalist Solange McAlister – some of the folks who have comprised a big chunk of the scene over the years. McAlister has been behind the scenes promoting bands at the Ship & Anchor and keeping their thirst quenched with the pub's finest ale. Meanwhile, the boys have played in our city's most beloved bands – Puritans, Fire Engine Red, Lazablasta, and others – groups that have actually garnered positive attention from the outside world.
The difference with this group of people, a rock'n'roll foursome collectively known as The Lizzies, is that their passion for music has only grown. They haven't felt the need to leave a scene that has given them joy through most of their adult years.
The Lizzies started up earlier this year – the boys had been jamming together and knew they wanted a female vocalist. It was an easy decision to snap up McAlister, who had brought the house down with Heart and Fleetwood Mac covers during The Night Gallery's various Moustache Rock weekends. During the first practices with McAlister, the guys knew they had their girl since this one could write lyrics on the spot as she sang along to the music.
"There was only one requirement when Vlad and I and Mike started this band," says Buckingham, "and we just said, 'let's rock,' that was it."
Soon after, they plucked their name out of the movie The Warriors, which features an all-female gang called The Lizzies. Sobolewski can't get enough of the flick and lapses into details throughout the conversation. Well, that is when he's not cut off by Bressanutti gushing all over Whitesnake's album Saints & Sinners. (Don't get either started on their respective topics.)
Despite the outrageously funny personalities in the group, this isn't a wacky band.
"My friends listen to it and they're like, 'Oh fuck, Solange, that's hysterical,'" says McAlister. "I asked them if they think people are going to laugh, and they're like, 'No, but people might not know what to think.' They either get it or they don't. We are being serious – we just honed in on this type of music and we totally dig it."
"And there's as much post-punk or punk influence," says Buckingham, who adds that his friends also hear Zeppelin and Sabbath influences. "I think there's equal influences by Wire and Black Flag, too. It's in there, but we pull it together and bring in riffs. It's very riff based. Maybe that's where the connection is for people ’cause we really pull out the bag of riffs and hammer it home."
Bressannutti starts laughing.
"Are you a carpenter of rock ’n' roll? Pull out the bag of riffs and hammer it home?"
They keep the mood lighthearted, but the band is a serious workhorse. The members have been around, so they know what works and what doesn't. The main plan seems to be to work diligently and follow their instincts.
"There's been a lot of good rock ’n' roll in the past year, and everyone's been beaten over the head with it – The Hives, White Stripes," says Buckingham. "Jack White can go full on Sabbath or full on Pete Townshend or blues and go all over the map, and that's what it's all about. Be open to your influences and just have a good time, write songs, don't think too hard about it. I can't relate to brainy brawny math-rock, y'know? I've listened to it, but I sure as hell don't want to play it." |
