Isn’t it now time? Other bands of less importance than us in the development of a unique rock sound have wikipedia pages. We should have one.
Lizards From Afar featured artist on Inside My Head Podcast
Posted in Blogroll, Music with tags indie, indie music, indie rock, Lindsay Lohan Scram, Lizard, Lizards, Lizards from Afar, Music, podcas, podcasting, podcasts on June 22, 2010 by Sir PentJen, star and proprietor of the Inside My Head Podcast, has dedicated an entire show to our favorite band…us. She does a great job of retelling the history as culled by me, Sir Pent. She spins several of our tunes and interweaves the tale of our exploits from burgeoning college-rock (under-appreciated) geniuses to our glorious rebirth in the new millennium. You also get to hear birds in the background, which is also cool.
Much love and appreciation to Jen and the good work she does to bring music and entertainment to the world.
Check out the podcast here:
http://jen.phantompower.org/2010/06/20/lizards-from-afar/
Luv,
Sir Pent
New Song: WESTWARD
Posted in General, Music with tags garage band, hot sex monkey, independent music, indie, indie music, Lizards from Afar, Rock, True Independent Music, West, Westward on May 14, 2010 by Sir PentBack almost 20 years ago when LIZARDS FROM AFAR were a college band, my friend Chopper Newt was our main songwriter. We all wrote songs, but Chopper had a style that was definitely more advanced and mature than the rest of us. So most of the songs we did were written, co-written, or in some way tweaked by him. You think that would’ve made the rest of us angry, but the truth is that we all clearly understood that his stuff was just better than ours. (Gator may disagree…either way, I was a distant 5th.)
When we got back together 3 years ago to try virtual recording online, Chris didn’t want to write songs. He seemed content (enough) to sing, play guitar and mix the music. This was good news for me because we ended up doing a lot of songs I wrote. I never stopped bugging him to write something, though.
Sometime late in 2009, Chopper sent out an email title “Inspiration Struck”. Enclosed were lyrics to a proposed suite of music. Three songs that were unique, but worked together musically and narratively to tell a bigger story. At first I wasn’t knocked out by what I read because I didn’t understand what the lyrics meant. (What that means is that I felt stupid and inadequate.) A few months later he sent us the music and I no longer cared that I didn’t understand the lyrics because it was just cool.
So, give Westward a chance. It’s a pretty ambitious undertaking for us and I’m very happy with how it turned out.
Also, if you think you know what it all means, please tell me because Chopper will not. (Seriously.)
New Song: I HATE EVERYBODY
Posted in General, Music with tags hate, home recording, hot carl, Indy, indy music, Music on May 4, 2010 by Sir PentOne of the last new songs you will be hearing from the current configuration of LIZARDS FROM AFAR is here and ready for your enjoyment. It’s called I HATE EVERYBODY. It’s an ode to the guy who thinks life has dropped the proverbial hot carl on the chest of his existence. Everything sucks and everyone annoys him.
The Gecko was generous enough to compose some music for it after some prompting. I was forced to sing lead vocals by default of the there not being a real singer available at the time. (I showed them all and sang my frakken ass off!) Then we could barely stop Chopper Newt from adding some bass and backing vocals!
So go ahead and give it a listen here!
http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2633919
As always, we’d love you to download it to play on your Sony Walkmans and what-nots. Just make sure you come back here and tell how great we are!
Sir Pent
Mid-life Crisis Rockers…. No, not LFA, Kurth & Taylor
Posted in General on April 2, 2010 by MattWhen I saw this video, I had to laugh. Of course, LFA never even took rock’n'roll this seriously. We were slackers from the beginning. Still, even in laughter, I found it rather depressing.
New Song: Pickles
Posted in General with tags alternative, downloads, free music, healthcare reform, home recording, indie rock, Lizards, Lizards from Afar, mp3, Music, music download, pickles, recording, Rock on March 22, 2010 by Sir PentAs the current run of LIZARDS FROM AFAR comes closer to an end, we have begun wrapping up some songs we had in various stages of completion. By wrapping up, I mean harassing Chopper Newt until he mixes them just to shut us up. Ya see, Chopper Newt has a knack for taking our half-assed creations and turning them listenable. As Frank says in Father Of The Bride, “He is a genius and we need his mind.”
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of adding the final touches to a song I wrote called PICKLES. This is an incredibly silly song of the order we have not attempted in a long time. Back in the day I was more successful at sliding these ridiculous creations past the guys. Since the reunion the requirements have been more stringent.
Not this time. I caught the Gecko napping and he composed music for Pickles. Music so annoyingly catchy that the song would not be denied. It needed to live, breath and rock. Is it silly? Yes. It’s still fantastic. Give it a try.
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_3614579
And let us know what you think!
Your friend in the mix,
Sir Pent
LFA RIP
Posted in General with tags Lizards from Afar on March 10, 2010 by MattLizards From Afar has officially disbanded… again. Three years after our virtual (can I say it?) regeneration we’ve agreed to crawl back under our respective rocks. There are other things to do in life and I think we proved that even after all this time we still rock with our own distinctive sound.
There are still a couple of new tunes so far along we’ll release them anyway, one being a brilliant “suite” of three songs, in fact, written and composed by Chopper Newt. I had originally thought his contribution of these songs would renew our drive for a new album, but it hasn’t worked, unfortunately.
And for fans of the old days, here’s a remake of a 1993 Gator classic (always on about suicide, Gator!) that I finished up and decided to send forth into the digital world. The original is on our ill-titled 1993 tape “Tantric Pathways” (our overly u2 influenced days). Vive Les Lizards!
In the meantime, this website will remain active for fans of all things Lizards From Afar.
For the future, there is a possibility that Sir Pent and I will form some sort of new musical collaboration.
Gecko Wins A Guitar!
Posted in General with tags Martin Backpacker, The Guitar Syndicate on March 6, 2010 by MattA few weeks ago I received a friend request on FB from a new guitar shop opening in Kansas City called “The Guitar Syndicate.” No, I don’t know how they got my name–could be because of my famous work for the Lizards From Afar. At any rate, I visited their website and saw they had a giveaway going on that week for a Martin Backpacker guitar. I signed up, then forgot about it. But, lo! A week later, they told me I had won the guitar. I received it earlier this week.
Here I am playing it in my living room (with a capo):
I don’t think I’ve ever won anything before, certainly not a guitar. Thanks Guitar Syndicate!
As for the Backpacker, I don’t have much to say about it that isn’t already said on various guitar review sites: it’s a Martin and is quality work. The guitar is surprisingly loud, but doesn’t sound like a normal guitar–it lacks resonance and bass. The action is a little high, but that doesn’t bother me too much. At first I found it incredibly uncomfortable to play, but with some fiddling I figured it out and now I quite like it (so long as I’m standing up. The guitar is impossible to play sitting down). Overall, it’s an interesting little novelty. I imagine it will turn some heads if I ever play it in public.
Block Party on Insomnia Radio’s Daily Dose
Posted in General with tags Block Party, Daily Dose, indie rock, insomnia radio, Lizards from Afar on February 26, 2010 by MattOur song “Block Party” is featured today on Insomnia Radio’s Daily Dose. IR plays a lot of great songs. Other than our own tune (obviously) I recommend yesterday’s Daily Dose “Whaley” by a band called Sentinel. Dreamy stuff!
Here’s what Ivan (aka Gator), who wrote the lyrics to “Block Party,” says about the tune:
“Block Party was written in response to some of Serpent’s (aka Bob Geisert) great work – I think it may have been Just a Girl. I decided I wanted to write a sweeter song than the ones I normally do, and, well–the suicidal absinthe mystic won out again. It’s a depressing little number about a terrible fear and the horrible, crippling guilt survivors often feel. You know, a real party song. I remain amazed that the other Lizards picked up on it and felt as strongly about it as me, but I’m glad they did. I think it’s some of our best work yet.”
