LiquidGeneration Interview: Jonny Lives!

My favorite thing about music is how you never know what's coming next.  Just when you think you've heard everything something new inevitably comes out of nowhere and kicks you in the face like Hunky Dory.  That's what happened to me with Jonny Lives!.  If you read this page regularly, you'll know that I've already thrown some of their music up and gushed about how they're my new favorite.  Well that's still true.  Since then I also had the good fortune of seeing them live and was pleased that they brought the Rock with a vengeance.  Anyway, here's an interview I did with Jonny a couple of weeks ago.  Their full length debut is due this Summer and I have a good feeling they're going to blow up.  Check out their MySpace page to hear some Jams, and I'll have some videos from them next week.  Enjoy!

Jonny Lives - Love Conspiracy.mp3

LIQUIDGENERATION: If you could fight any celebrity past or present who would it be, and why? And the follow-up: If you could party with any celebrity past or present who would it be and why?

JONNY LIVES: I would jello wrestle with Jello Biafra, and the winner would get a lifetime supply of Green Jello- To make it interesting, Betty Paige would tie one hand of mine behind my back, and I’d like it-I would definitely party with Jimmi Hendrix- I’d be interested in the conversation, and the supply list.

LG: We hear a definite influence from the bands of the Brit-Pop movement of the 90s in a lot of your songs.  Do you think this is a fair comparison, and what was your favorite band from that era?  Please don’t tell us it was Menswear…

JL: I think that’s a fair statement- I won’t fight with you, I saw your karate moves- My favorite Brit-Pop band would have to be Muse- Very dense layers of melody surrounding some really cool songs- I love when guitars seem to just float away into space-

LG: What’s the last record you bought borrowed or stole?

JL: The last album I bought was the new Black Rebel Motorcylce Club record- I think it’s very cool when a band shifts gears so effortlessly, and it works out to create an incredible record- It’s very early blues- def- check it out-

LG: LiquidGeneration is a huge fan of your Get Steady EP, but we have one complaint.  There aren’t enough songs!  Any plans to record a full length sometime soon?  May we suggest you call it Jonny Lives…Again.  Yeah, that would like totally be heavy. (Insert tongue into cheek here.)

JL: The 5 songs on the Get Steady E.p are actually off of our full length album- 14 songs which were recorded last summer, and will be released July 11^th- We had an incredible time making this record, and I can’t wait for people to hear the rest- I was thinking Jonny’s Liver- the Saga for the title- We’ll have to discuss over shots-

LG: Who’d you rather?  Ray Davies or Mick Jagger

JL: Ray Davies- But only on a Tuesday

LG: We would like to take this moment to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.  It really is quite sweet of you.  However, it would be all together rude of us if we weren’t to allow you to ask us something.  So feel free.  Ask us anything that’s on your mind.

JL: What would you say if I asked you to go steady with us? We’d give you our ring, and Varsity jacket-

LG: We watched your video for “Get Steady” and we have a couple of questions.  Why are you all staying at that poor kid’s house?  And who’s the hot chick that likes to get crazy with the champagne? Can we have her number?

JL: That video was a lot of fun to make- We shot it at my parent’s house- They love when I have strippers over, and they made us all sandwiches- We found her on craigslist- She was listed under ‘Post-Graduate Existentialist looking for a good time”

LG: We couldn’t help but notice that you have almost 10,000 friends on your My Space page.  Have you thought about some type of campaign to reach this mark?  I really think it would give the band the kind of psychological boost it needs to put you over the edge.  Also, who’s your favorite friend?  You can tell us, we promise not to tell anyone else.

JL: Myspace is a real obsession of mine- I’m totally into the fact that I can carry on with music fans around the world- We were featured on the home page for a feew days, and around 65,000 people listended to our music in three days! My favorite friend would have to be Adam D, the King of New Jersey- He’s an inspiration to us all- New Jersey was in desperate need of a king you know, what with the price of gas these days-

LG: Like a lot of good bands, you started to receive some recognition in the UK before you did here in the States.  What was it like touring over there, and do you find that the vibe at shows is a lot different then playing a gig in New York?

JL: We’ve done about 6 tours of the U.K in the last two years. The most memorable was when we played with The Kaiser Chiefs, and watched our guitarsist Christian Langdon’s band at the time (Kid Symphony) open for Snow Patrol at The Astoria- We played 12 sold out shows in London in 13 days- You just can’t do that many shows in NYC, there aren’t even 12 places that I would play! London is so spread out with it’s different music scenes, that this is possible. The kids really seek out music for themselves, which has finally started to really happen in the U.S. Thanks to Myspace, and publications such as Liquid Generation, and other Indy minded pubs, the young music lovers are able to find out about bands before they make it to MTV. London has been following this trend for several years now. Also, people tend to drink a lot more- which makes for some pretty outrageous shows!

LG: Finally, What’s your favorite bar in New York, and will you please take us there next time we visit?  Thanks!

JL: Black and White on e. 10^th St. Drew Conrad is the best bartender in the universe, Johnny T is the coolest bar owner, period- It would be our pleasure to drink you under the table, and pick up the tab- give us a ring- The challenge is on-, and you better bring the Jello you promised us for this interview!

Best wishes, Jonny D

Comments

[Matt 3:16]

Nixon,
Join their band already.
♡,
Matty

[nixon]

hehehehe...yeah I might have a slight crush on them!