Free Bird! The Gecko Gets A 12-String!

Posted in General with tags , on January 10, 2010 by Matt

This is what passes for news in Lizardland this week, I guess: the Gecko playing guitar in his basement (with bedhead)

I’d been planning to replace my ruined electric-acoustic with a new guitar for a while when I stopped by Don’s Pawn Shop in Dayton to look at his 12-string acoustics…. and this electric 12-string caught my eye. It’s a beauty without even a scratch. Whoever pawned it either never touched it or loved it dearly.

I cranked it up on a Vox Valvetronix in the shop and got everyone over to listen as I played “Turn turn turn.”

What can I say about it? It’s a Dean Boca (I suppose named after Boca Raton, Dean being a Florida company, I believe). The guitar has great action and a bright tone. I had to lower the bridge pickup to tame the beast, though. If I ever modify this guitar it will be to change the pickups, in fact. They don’t quite get the vintage tone of a Rickenbaker. The guitar is also really top heavy from the 12 grover tuners on the headstock. Could use a heavier body to balance things out. But I love the vintage vibe.

Overall, however, this is a cool guitar. I’m looking forward to adding some 12-string sonics to future LFA music.

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Lizards Cover Cuttlefish’s “Canceled”

Posted in Music with tags , , , on December 30, 2009 by Matt

I should have already posted about this since we released this tune last week and it’s already on the Dalecast (see post below), but, well, life being what it is….

Rarely have the Lizards covered a song with permission (we were practically famous in the old days for using songs without the permission of their original groovsters), but our friends from the oh-so-unfortunately-now-disbanded punk group Cuttlefish gave us the thumbs up to cover their awesome tune “Canceled.” Hear the original Cuttlefish tunes, including Canceled on their Reverbnation site (now all tunes available for free download).

I originally intended to do a nice acoustic cover to this song, but somehow as I began working out the music I realized it made a good dance tune. LFA have never done a dance-rock tune, so I took the opportunity. I think it turned out great.

Thanks to Choppernewt, too, for an awesome vocal track. Gordon and the rest of the Cuttlefish crew: you guys rock! (Needless to say I love the lyrics and groove to this tune.)

Hear the Lizards From Afar “House Mix” of Canceled HERE. (Freely downloadable, as always.)

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New LFA on Dalecast

Posted in General with tags , , , on December 30, 2009 by choppernewt

The very dance-friendly “Canceled”, LFA’s cover of the a Cuttlefish hit, has cropped up on the Dalecast. Dude puts out a podcast DAILY. Insane. But good for you, music-hungry public, as it’s free content for your iThing. Go get it!

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Bugcast #89

Posted in General with tags , , on December 20, 2009 by Matt

The guys over at the Bugcast just gave a spin to our punk rock piece “Special Boy” in their episode #89. Amidst the amusing chatter, they play some interesting music (other than our own). To give it a listen, here is their site:

The Bugcast

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We Got Iceland!

Posted in General with tags , , , , on December 10, 2009 by Matt

I noticed that we finally have a hit from Iceland. By the Scandinavian gods, I hope that person also listened to our music.

LFA was on the podcasters’ radar at one point, but we apparently didn’t seize the opportunity (ha!). Now we seem to be doing nuthin’ much. I recently ordered a new microphone stand to mic my new amp, but I’ve noticed when playing guitar the past few weeks that my inspiration levels have sunk to a new low. Can’t imagine what I’ll record that anyone will care to hear. Not at this point. I don’t even want to hear what I have to play.

But, for some reason I can’t fathom, we had 241 hits just five days ago. 241! That’s a huge number for this blog, and I can’t account for it at all. Perhaps some of those hits got to the music, which is what it’s all about anyway. Whatever LFA is doing now, we have some good new stuff out there.

I’ve considered making the old music available again, but I’m not sure who would want it. Probably we’ll keep it “upon request only.” So if there are any old-time Lizards fans still out there who’d like the old tapes on mp3, send us a message here.

Cheers,
the Gecko

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NEW SONG(?): Channeling You (Channeling Lou)

Posted in General, Music with tags , , , on November 5, 2009 by Matt

As I write this post our drummer and lyricist, Sir Pent (aka Bob), is in the hospital. Seems only yesterday we were all dumb college kids in the prime of health and youth. As Heraclitus said, however, all is flux, all is change. And that is at least one of the things this new song is about.

Fans from our college days will undoubtedly remember the long, rambling, and absolutely brilliant improv chant by Gator entitled “Channeling Lou.” Here it is performed live in 1992:

Channeling Lou Video by Lizards from Afar – MySpace Video.

Back when we decided to start recording music again, I immediately proposed a remake of this song. I don’t know why I wanted to do this, and it nearly proved impossible, but somehow I managed–after more than a year–to pull it together.

Of course, another improvisational lyric didn’t make sense, so Gator graciously wrote up a set lyric and I composed various musical treatments for it before deciding upon “the one.” The song, as you will hear, did not exactly turn out to be a remake. It’s more of a riff on the original tune. Lyrically, it is Gator’s contemplation of what those college years meant, and still mean to us now. It is no longer improvisation, but this song is packed with angst, pathos, love, understanding, and misunderstanding. Musically, I played heavily upon the original song and incorporated some of its ideas, but (like all of us) it’s more mature and complex.

After a great deal of cajoling, which eventually degenerated into threats, I got Chopper Newt to do a super backing vocal, small lead vocal part, and rhythm guitar track. He did a great Maggie May-ish solo line in the coda, too. I did a rare (unheard of back in the old days) lead vocal myself along with most of the guitar and bass. Sir Pent, despite his health, delivered the goods with a drum track and contributed a stirring lead vocal on one of the later verses.

We hope you enjoy it, whether you are a new fan or an old:

CHANNELING YOU (Channeling Lou 2009)

Lyrics:

CHANNELING YOU by Gator (aka Ivan)

(Spoken: It was 1993 when we left Bloomington in the safe and solid hands of the spirit of democracy. We knew exactly where we were going and what we each needed to do to make it happen. The world was going to be set on fire from the launching pad of a university in the middle of a god-damned cornfield. We were four kids who were too busy dreaming to keep our eyes on the road ahead.)

I once had a dream, but now my dreaming days are done
I’ve passed the time to my daughter and my son
You can’t call this a day job the tenth year you’re employed
And I never did get out of my hometown in Illinois

There was no road to heaven – only the passage of the years.
There was no band of brothers – only the trail of tears.

The El Dorado’s closed its doors, the old roundhouse burnt down,
Joe Strummer’s gone to Heaven and Warren Zevon’s in the ground.
The corn that grew beneath our feet’s been ripped out of the soil
To rock the casbah’s werewolves, cheap substitute for oil.

Seems like the best days of my life are stuck (in the rear view mirror).
Seems like the things that I love the most have become (ten times as clear).

Took everything for granted and that took me for a ride,
Can’t say I saw it coming but I can’t say I’m surprised.
Thought I was a cynic the day the headman shook my hand,
Still don’t have a clue how much I didn’t understand.

There was no road to nowhere – only the passage of the years.
There was no band of brothers – only the trail of tears.

Seems like the best friends of my life are stuck (in the rear view mirror).
Seems like the one’s I love the most have become (ten times as clear).

So pull yourself together, man, there’s nothing you can do
Now that you’ve had a lifetime you’ve got too much shit to lose.
All the things that you let go and all the people you forgot
Will come slouching back from Bethlehem, ready for them or not.

There was no road to nowhere – only the passage of the years.
There was no band of brothers – there was no trail of tears.

You tell me you’re unshuttering the El Dorado Bar,
I’ll leave behind my grudges if you don’t bring up your scars.
Put the kings back on the chessboard. This time I’ll fade to black.
We may have left our hometown but there’s no harm in looking back.

Seems like the best plans of my life come (in the rear view mirror).
Seems like the dreams that I love the most have become (ten times as clear).

(When all is said and done, there’s more life in doing than in dreaming. I guess that’s true and I guess a smarter man might just accept it as fact, sure, but there’s still more to life than accepting what you’re given. There’s still music in everything and there’s still a reason to look outside ourselves, to pass the lessons we learned on to our children and to love the fact that they know better than we do. There’s still a purpose, even if we’re none of us the men we once knew we were all supposed to become.

There’s still a dream at the crystalline heart of the world.

There’s still poetry in the people we wound up being.

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Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – RCRD LBL Radio

Posted in General, Music with tags , , , on November 5, 2009 by Matt

Lizards From Afar have a new song–actually an old song–that I’m close to releasing, but in the meantime I heard this group on RCRD LBL and thought I’d share. I dig their sound–very typical indie, both pop and melancholic at the same time. What could be better on a Thursday morning.

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the Gecko at Work

Posted in General on October 18, 2009 by Matt

geckostudio

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Review – KISS: Sonic Boom

Posted in Blogroll, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , on October 8, 2009 by Sir Pent

Like most good KISS fans, I hit the store on Tuesday, October 6th to pick up my copy of KISS: Sonic Boom. This is the long awaited (11 years) follow up to the disappointing Psycho Circus. If you believe the interviews, the four current members wrote the songs together AND recorded the songs together AND even played their own instruments. (I say “if” due to 30 years of Gene and Paul promising one thing and then several years later admitting that it wasn’t quite true.) The other promise was that Sonic Boom would be a return to the classic KISS sound, specifically late 70s albums like ROCK AND ROLL OVER or LOVE GUN. Because of this promise I will review the album in 4 sections; Paul Songs, Gene Songs, Impostor Songs & a song-by-song breakdown.

PAUL SONGS:
With all the talk of the classic KISS sound, I was expecting something more in the line of Paul songs like Take Me, I Stole Your Love, I Want You or Love Gun. Instead of that we songs more in the style of 80s material like My Way, Raise Your Glasses and Rise To It. Something happened to Paul Stanley in the mid-80s where his songs became motivational speeches. Songs about how you have to live your hearts’ dream no matter how much the world tries to hold you down. This album is kinda chock full of those kind of songs from Paul.

GENE SONGS:
Gene actually took the classic KISS sound agenda to heart. His songs not only sound almost like remakes of some of his 70s songs, one song is actually an old song from back in the day that never made it onto an album. I don’t think this album catches Gene at his lyrical best. His lyrics from Revenge, Psycho Circus and his recent solo album were more…interesting. (Even when they were musically disappointing or woefully over-produced.) However, the classic swagger more than makes up for some banal wordplay.

IMPOSTOR SONGS:
In order to not look like dicks, Gene and Paul propped up Tommy Thayer (Ace impostor) and Eric Singer (Peter impostor) with their own songs. (You see, if they let someone else have a moment in the spotlight they appear less ego maniacal.) Before you get too upset, keep in mind that Gene and Paul made sure to write the songs FOR Tommy and Eric…and keep the songwriting credit and publishing rights for themselves. They were also sure to keep their songs near the end of the album.

SONG BY SONG:
MODERN DAY DELILAH – The lead song, lead single…and it’s a great one. For me this is the only song that truly bridges the gap between having a classic feel and fresh sound.

RUSSIAN ROULETTE – I disliked this song first listen, but it has grown on me. The style jumps from 70s through 80s Gene.

NEVER ENOUGH – The first of the Paul Stanley motivational speeches. This song could have easily fit onto Crazy Nights or Psycho Circus…but fortunately the production style keeps it from sounding like those over=produced dreks.

YES I KNOW (NOBODY’S PERFECT) – This is classic Gene…down to the fact that it’s actually a song he wrote and demoed back in KISS’ heyday. I love this track. It makes me feel like I’m listening to an old KISS track.

STAND – Motivational speech number two. This is awful. Even as a KISS fan this is hard to defend. Paul and Gene trade lead vocals similar to the old days of SHOUT IT OUT LOUD, but it can’t help this song.

HOT AND COLD – This song is a retread. It not only sounds strikingly similar to Genes’ 70s song Ladies Room, it is lyrically littered with phrases from his other popular songs. It’s not terrible, and upon multiple listens it goes down a lot easier, but there’s something about this that feels like mimicry.

ALL FOR THE GLORY – The first Eric Singer lead vocal on an album. Lyrically and stylistically it sounds like something Paul would’ve written for the 80s album Asylum. It has a little bit of that motivational speech feeling, but not as blatant. Poor Eric really only gets one verse to himself and by the time the first chorus ends they prop up his vocals by layering in some Paul Stanley.

DANGER US – I like songs that have clever or even silly wordplay. (Danger Us: Dangerous) I like this song and was refreshed to hear a Paul composition song that wasn’t giving me a philosophy on how live life to the fullest.

I’M AN ANIMAL – Gene always has some kind of song about how he is something more than just your everyday man. (GOD OF THUNDER, ALMOST HUMAN, WAR MACHINE, UNHOLY, etc.) The only Gene song/composition that doesn’t sound like he was trying to mimic some previous recordings. I love the riff and the groove. Great song.

WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES – I’ve been a Tommy Thayer hater since he joined KISS. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that he doesn’t play like Tommy, he impersonates Ace. Most of his licks sound like rehashed Ace snippets. It just rubs me the wrong way. Having said that, this may actually be my favorite song on the album. Is that wrong of me?

SAY YEAH – The closing track goes to Paul. Stylistically like the 80s album HOT IN THE SHADE, but this one actually works. Catchy as heck and fund to sing along.

Overall it’s a great return to stylistic form for KISS. (It’s a shame they couldn’t have tried this approach with Ace & Peter. Maybe Psycho Circus would’ve been more listenable and they other two guys would’ve stuck around.) I give this an 8 out of 10.

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Review – Ace Frehley: Anomaly

Posted in General, Music with tags , , , , , on September 21, 2009 by Sir Pent

Late last week I was able to pick up the latest offering from Ace Frehley, Anomaly. Twenty years in the making, I was eager to hear what Ace had up his sleeve. Purchasing was quite a endeavor as I had to try 3 retail locations before finally finding a copy at Borders. (I don’t know if that is good news for Ace with copies flying off the shelves or if it’s an EPIC FAIL as his Bronx Born record label and distro company just dropped the ball. I think it’s the latter because a Best Buy associate helped me search the Chicago area stores online to find that only about 10 copies existed.) I have had a chance to listen front to back three times now and will give my song by song reactions:

Foxy & Free:
What a way NOT to start an album, much less one anticipated for as long as this one. An impressive opening riff quickly turns into a patchwork of sounds and ideas that don’t feel fully realized. This could have easily been an 80’s castoff, not quite good enough for his above average TROUBLE WALKING album.

Outerspace:
The first single. Not a way to announce your return to the world. This song is a Rob Zombie reject. With much hype about using Drop D tuning (whatever the hell that is), this song  just doesn’t seem to fit with the album or with Ace. I’m not saying it’s terrible, but with lyrics straight out of an above average High School band and a style that is not his own I have to wonder how this made it onto the album or as the lead single.

Pain In The Neck:
Finally, something interesting. An ode to the girl that drives you wild in the bedroom but drives you crazy everywhere else. The lyrics are goofy, but I think that’s the point. Lyrically it is light hearted, but sonically it breaks out some great riffs and a chorus that will stick in your head. Any yodeling, you ask? But of course! Yodeling is a longstanding tradition for Ace’s music believe it or not, and with this track it helps to underscore that the song is to be enjoyed for it’s goofiness.

Fox On The Run:
Ace has included a cover song on every album since leaving KISS. Ace covering Sweet is like a hand in a glove. It just fits and the song sounds great. It really rocks…but so did the original from which this hardly strays.

Genghis Khan:
A psuedo instrumental that includes a vocal chorus. At six minutes plus, this is one of the longer tracks on the album. For an instrumental that is kinda long, but when you’re listening it just doesn’t feel that way. Great riffs, great solos, great chorus. I really like this track.

Too Many Faces:
Ace has taken a page out of the Gene Simmons playbook and has been hyping this album as akin to his smash 1977 KISS solo album. I couldn’t agree less with the exception of two tracks. Too Many Faces has that classic Ace Frehley in his heyday feeling. It really does have that vibe. Lyrically more mature than most of Ace’s compositions, it’s a very solid song.

Change The World:
I’m never more excited listening to Ace than when he breaks the “hard rock” mold and meanders over to pop. (Hardcore fans of Ace who have collected his unreleased bootlegs will know what I am talking about.) It’s not that I dislike his rock songs, but he seems to experiment more and try different things with his pop compositions. Change The World is a great pop song and, in my opinion, should have been the lead single.

Space Bear:
The second instrumental on the album. For KISS fans, this song is a nod to the instrumentals of KISSs’ youth. It doesn’t really break any ground or provide anything you weren’t expecting from Ace…but I’m guessing that was the point. (ie, to show the world who crafted the music for the early KISS albums…you know, the ones they still play in concert. Not the ones from the 80s and 90s that non-fans don’t care to hear.)

A Little Below The Angels:
The second foray into pop. Something of a ballad, this song is earnest to the point of being saccharine. It has a spoken word conversation between Ace and his young daughter (who’s like 25 now, right?) and it includes a childrens’ chorus on the outro. In spite of all the sugary sweetness, I love this song. This is Ace wearing his hear on his sleeve, speaking of his past addictions, failures and wishes to be a better person. If you love Ace…the flawed human being Ace…then you will love this.

Sister:
This is an OLD song. This comes from the early 90s and I have the bootlegs to prove it. It sounds like something from TROUBLE WALKING, but is actually better than many of the songs on that album. It’s got a great groove, high energy and rocks pretty hard in spots. I’m glad to have a quality recording of this song after so many years…but would have preferred something new.

It’s A Great Life:
A mid-tempo pop-rock song with a great sing-along chorus. Ace once again flexes his creativity and comes up with something that stands out amongst the other songs. I really enjoy this one.

Fractured Quantum:
The fourth installment of Aces’ instrumental Fractured series. I’m bored to death with these. He has stated that this will be the last of the Fractured series. Thank goodness because he should’ve stopped after the first, classtic Fractured Mirror.

I give this album a respectable 7 out of 10 stars. I hope it’s not another twenty years until the next one!

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