By Jim Barber
It doesn’t all the time occur the best way people hope within the fickle world that’s the music enterprise. However generally – simply generally – onerous work, dedication to craft, wonderful inventive abilities and blindingly apparent expertise can result in success and acclaim.
A staple on the Kingston scene for practically a decade, rock band Luscious has put within the time, slogged it out in space golf equipment and made profitable forays into the large, foreboding metropolis of Toronto getting higher with each present. Alongside this journey, the quintet constructed a repute for offering superior leisure because of a blistering reside present, a capability to jot down, report after which carry out wonderful onerous rock songs that not solely are ear wormy, however incite audiences to bounce, sing and shout it out loud.
That repute for each excellence and professionalism has led, during the last couple of years, to some wonderful alternatives for the band. This consists of opening for Canadian music legends corresponding to Kim Mitchell and I Mom Earth and taking part in in entrance of 1000’s of individuals on the annual Empire Rockfest occasion in Belleville opening for The Seashores amongst different prestigious live performance occasions. Later this summer season, they’ll be on the most important stage of their profession, because the band opens for American alt-rock pioneer and activist Tom Morello and probably the most profitable rock bands of the Nineteen Eighties – Def Leppard – at this yr’s Ottawa Bluesfest on Wednesday, July 16.
Alongside the best way, Luscious has hit the studio to report eight tracks of remarkable, memorable, melodically infused, badass rock and roll music which highlights the standard of musicianship of the quintet in addition to the compelling, powerhouse vocal prowess of frontwoman Brielle LeBlanc, the band’s charismatic and infectiously energetic co-founder and considered one of its main songwriters.
The person band members have been all younger musicians and music college students in Kingston when serendipity introduced them collectively in 2016. As youngsters, Brielle befriended guitarist Kurt Paquette and drummer Wyatt McMullin once they all participated within the Rock Academy program placed on by native music retailer Renaissance Music. Brielle then found O’Handley by way of his YouTube channel the place he was exhibiting off his piano and keyboard prowess. On the time, the singer was solely 17, together with her two burgeoning bandmates across the similar age. O’Handley is just a few years older (now 32, in comparison with 26 for Brielle, Paquette and McMullin.) A few bass gamers got here and went over the band’s first half decade, earlier than they actually determined to make it a household affair by inviting Brielle’s older brother Cole, now 31, into the fold.
As a unit, Luscious shows a dynamic and versatile mixture of expertise, cohesiveness and disciplined drive that works onstage and within the recording studio, however simply as importantly, works offstage. Music Life Journal sat down for an old school telephone dialog with the band to speak about their previous, current and future.
“All people has completely different influences, and behind the scenes all people has completely different roles to play. We’ve all performed in different bands and realized quite a lot of musical classes and life classes from these bands, which we’ve utilized right here. And I believe character sensible, we have now a bit of little bit of the whole lot. If we have been all the identical, I don’t assume it might work in addition to it does,” mentioned McMullin, with Brielle including “All of us have a task collectively and I really feel like I’d be nothing with out them. I’m very grateful to have them in my life and I believe they really feel the identical.”
“All of us usher in these completely different types to the band and that’s what makes Luscious the band that it’s. And we’re all there for one another, similar to good pals. We like to hang around and I believe we’ve actually bonded collectively. Since we’re opening for Def Leppard I used to be actually wanting into them and the explanations for his or her success and that’s what’s made them large for all this time – having that bond for years and years, a long time truly. That friendship, it’s extra necessary than the rest. It makes the whole lot simpler. We’re all pals, I’ve recognized all of them since I used to be a child.”
“All people’s completely different from a musical standpoint as Wyatt mentioned. If I needed to drill right down to what all people’s good at, I’d say Kurt is a real riff machine. He’ll simply give you these wonderful riffs after which they arrive collectively so properly as songs. Wyatt might be essentially the most versatile drummer I’ve ever labored with in that he’ll play an element and 99 per cent of the time it’s the precise half we’d like, however the one per cent the place we give him suggestions, he’s very versatile and keen to work till it matches the music completely. He has no ego about these items, regardless that he’s so good. Cole is the opposite one apart from me who has the weirdest style in music within the band. Loads of the much less rock and roll influences come from Cole which balances issues out properly,” mentioned O’Handley.
“Brielle is wonderful at including the lyrics to the songs. Each time we write a music, and we form of write our songs in reverse in comparison with quite a lot of different bands: we are going to simply write the music and never have any type of lyrics deliberate out. We’ll write the instrumental portion after which Brielle will present up actually to the following apply with a lyric and melody to that music. So she’s a grasp at that. And I’m only a musical concept nerd – that’s what I deliver to the desk.”
Brielle is the visible point of interest of the band, together with her boundless effervescence permeating each efficiency, she tasks the right mix of playfulness, confidence and badassery. You understand she was meant to be on the large stage with the seemingly easy manner she will join with heaving plenty of humanity at massive festivals, or eye to eye with these simply a few toes away in a sweaty membership.
Initially named The Brielle Leblanc Band, the vocalist felt uncomfortable with the moniker, as a result of she was adamant that this was a band, not a undertaking for which she was the chief. In order that they selected a reputation that fits the music, one that’s barely cheeky, eminently democratic, however very rock and roll. And Luscious it grew to become.
“Visually and musically, when you take a look at the definition of the phrase, it form of matches our aesthetic, which is rock and roll, and our sonic picture. I all the time say we’re a contemporary interpretation of basic rock. We’re not basic rock. We’re not trendy rock. We’re taking a contemporary strategy to how we play and write the basic rock fashion of music that we grew up with,” mentioned O’Handley.
“I believe we’re type of outdated souls and we have now all these completely different influences and that type of offers us this basic rock really feel, however we’re a contemporary model of these influences,” added Brielle.
These influences embrace the plain ones corresponding to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, but in addition The Tragically Hip (it’s Kingston in any case!) Stone Temple Pilots, Pink Scorching Chili Peppers, Grateful Lifeless, metallic experts like Meshuggah, in addition to Dream Theater.
Should you comply with Brielle’s private social media accounts, she has little hesitation in broadcasting her idols and influences, significantly the long-lasting Debbie Harry of Blondie and Gwen Stefani – significantly her days fronting No Doubt.
“Effectively, I’m all concerning the ladies artists being in a female-fronted band. So I believe these influences come naturally as a result of I’m a lady in rock, and it’s definitely who I’m in comparison with. However I simply love an excellent frontperson whether or not they’re a person or girl. I like Debbie Harry. I like Gwen Stefani however there’s so many others I like from Gord Downie [Tragically Hip], David Usher [Moist] Scott Weiland [Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver] and naturally Joan Jett,” she mentioned.
The entire influences and experiences of the band members come collectively in a cacophony of creativity once they apply and once they determine it’s time to jot down some songs.
“The method is a bit of completely different for each music. And when you actually know our music, once you pay attention to every particular person music you may get a fairly good thought who was the one that began it off, who received the ball rolling and actually deliberate out the music. If it’s a extremely riff-driven music, Kurt can be the one who go issues going. If was a bit of extra various sounding, you possibly can guess it was Cole’s thought. So Kurt’s strategy is that he’ll deliver a riff in and we’ll type of construct the music round it in actual time as a band based mostly on that riff,” O’Handley defined.
“Cole and I’ve just about the identical strategy as one another; we’ll go right into a cave and simply write an entire music after which deliver it to apply, put it on the working desk and let all people make their cuts and do what they should do. After which Brielle, for the music ‘Alone (We Are Not),’ she totally wrote the music acoustically after which we got here in and turned it right into a rock music for the entire band. So, it form of is determined by who had the preliminary thought. However the primary factor is all of us have a hand in it.”
‘Love Youngster’ is among the most emotionally resonant of the unique songs within the Luscious repertoire and has Brielle thrusting her personal ache and disappointment out into the world for the catharsis created by such an unburdening, but in addition to let others going by way of heartache or heartbreak know they’re not alone.
“After I wrote this, I used to be going by way of a really darkish time in my life. I don’t assume I knew on the time how dangerous it was. But it surely was throughout COVID which is a provided that it was a darkish time for everybody. But it surely was actually a low level in my life and I believe it was only a therapeutic method to write about how I used to be feeling. Clearly the lyrics and speaking about ‘the conflict dancing inside my head,’ I believe additionally goes with only a normal societal viewpoint of seeing all of the chaos on the earth,” she mentioned.
“And I assumed ‘Love Youngster’ was a cool manner of expressing it. And we added an incredible riff to it as a result of we needed to make it a significantly rock and roll music. So regardless that it has a darkish theme, it’s very upbeat and really rockin’ and every individual within the band added their components to make it an incredible music.”
“That was one of many songs that began with the guitar riff. If I bear in mind accurately, it was a kind of when the day was executed the entire music was there. After which by the following apply, Brielle had the lyrics and the music was completed. However not all of them are that fast,” added Paquette.
‘Bombshell’ is one other music that you simply couldn’t think about anybody apart from Luscious creating or Brielle LeBlanc singing. It has develop into one of many band’s hottest reside tracks, with its raucousness matched solely by its melodic memorability and sing-along nature.
“That was one other Kurt riff and was one other fast one. I believe once we received to the refrain we have been caught for only a second after which we thought, why don’t we simply play two chords and let Brielle sing the hook,” mentioned O’Handley, with Paquette choosing up the story.
“It’s humorous, as a result of normally I’m the one who’s saying, ‘let’s simply simplify this half or that half, ‘ and Doug’s the one who desires to increase it and add extra components. I believe this was a kind of cases the place it was the reverse, the place I used to be saying, hey let’s attempt to do all these chords and it was Doug who mentioned, ‘let’s simply do two chords.’”
“We needed to maintain this very rock and roll. It’s your basic rock and roll sound. I mentioned this to the fellows the opposite day if individuals name us a rock band, it’s due to songs like ‘Bombshell.’ That’s form of the meat and potatoes of rock and roll. And I bear in mind Cole including a extremely cool bass line to it which put it excessive and I simply cherished it. It’s considered one of my favourites and it went fairly fast as a result of I had many of the lyrics round for years, simply ready for the suitable music,” mentioned Brielle, with Paquette including that there’s some apparent inspiration from the basic Runaways music, ‘Cherry Bomb.’
If there’s one other music which might be added to a time capsule as one which fully epitomizes the angle and vitality of Luscious, it’s the banger ‘Hearth Me Up’ which is among the band’s earliest compositions that made it to the recording stage.
McMullin and Paquette had the riff sitting as a recording on McMullin’s telephone for numerous years earlier than deciding to see if they might do one thing with it.
“We introduced it to the band and I keep in mind that there was considered one of our pals who was all the time coming to our reveals and he would yell, ‘hearth me up!’ We thought it might nearly be like a novelty music to do one referred to as ‘Hearth Me Up,’ due to that. We have been taking part in the bar scene and have been at The Service provider Faucet Home [a Kingston live music venue of some renown] and we had this group of pals that will all the time chant ‘hearth me up.’ In order that’s form of how we conceived of the thought for the music,” mentioned Paquette, with Brielle acknowledging that it’s most likely the band’s hottest music in a reside setting.
“They [the fans] have been an enormous inspiration for us. That music can be a crowd pleaser. I believe the gang actually will get into it once we play it reside. It’s simply made for that interplay with the viewers. There’s a lot vitality going between the band and the gang. It’s a kind of moments in a present the place it simply lifts up the gang and will get individuals going. And I believe that’s why we’ll all the time maintain it in our units. It actually showcases who we’re and what sort of a present we do and regardless that it was considered one of our first songs, it’s nonetheless all the time actually enjoyable to do.”
Taking a look at it at present, it looks as if it was solely a matter of time earlier than Luscious started to reap the rewards for all their onerous work, for his or her capacity to craft superior rock songs, to be so devoted to all aspects of their inventive craft and for conducting themselves as true professionals. But it surely isn’t all the time the case as many failed bands and artists can attest. There may be additionally a facet of getting a eager eye to see when a possibility arises and the fortitude and wherewithal to reap the benefits of these alternatives.
Any time Luscious has been given an opportunity to open for an even bigger identify act, they’ve pounced shifting effortlessly from levels in smaller Kingston venues like The Service provider and The Mansion to performing in entrance of 1000’s at Belleville’s Empire Rockfest (3000-plus in attendance), in addition to bigger indoor venues corresponding to The Ale Home in Kingston and The Bronson Centre in Ottawa. And now, add to that listing the large Ottawa Bluesfest, the place the gang dimension is measured within the tens of 1000’s.
Luscious have put within the time, put within the miles, and put within the sweat fairness during the last 9 years, treating any sacrifices and dues paying as merely the worth of doing enterprise – that enterprise being rising to the higher echelons of the music business, with out compromising their artistry, integrity or their friendship.
“We’re simply actually grateful for these alternatives. It’s essentially the most stunning feeling on the earth to carry out on a stage usually, however to carry out on these greater levels, I believe it actually matches Luscious. I don’t know, I simply really feel so emotional on the market with these guys. I’m nearly crying proper now fascinated about it, as a result of there have been moments once I take a look at them once we’re on the market and assume, ‘wow, this can be a actually stunning second in our profession and we’ve labored so onerous.’ However we’re additionally so grateful. I believe we have been simply shocked in any respect these wonderful reveals we’ve been capable of do, and we’re simply so humbled by them,” mentioned Brielle.
“It doesn’t even really feel actual generally. I’m nonetheless form of fighting the entire course of, questioning if I’m allowed to stroll round backstage, the place can I’m going, who can I speak to. It’s all nonetheless form of registering with me, however like Brielle, I’m completely simply grateful and joyful to be in these conditions and attempt to soak it up as a lot as I can, as a result of, you by no means know if it’s going to go away. So I wish to all the time recognize it,” added O’Handley.
“We don’t take something with no consideration. We take the preparation for all this actually significantly. As soon as we began getting these greater reveals, we had a good friend of ours who’s a part of the sound crew for Bryan Adams are available when he’s not on the street to ensure we’re being introduced in one of the best ways potential. Loads of thought goes into our units, the notes on what we’re going to say in between songs and guaranteeing our crew is skilled as a result of we wish to be sure we’re making the very best impression potential. As a result of, as we’ve mentioned, when you don’t reap the benefits of these alternatives and drink it in, and put your greatest effort into it, then you definitely’re much less prone to maintain it going.”
One of many first large alternatives got here from Mark Rashotte, proprietor of the Empire Theatre in Belleville and promoter of the annual Empire Rockfest sequence of outside reveals in downtown Belleville, Ontario every July. He put Luscious on a invoice opening for the rising band The Seashores in the summertime of 2024. A yr on, and The Seashores are actually considered one of Canada’s most commercially profitable, critically lauded and fashionable bands.
“He was the one who received us on the invoice with The Seashores and it form of led to a snowball impact from there. As a result of after you have a present like that in your resume, so long as you don’t bomb, the phrase will get out within the business and also you by no means know the place that might lead. From there we received the present with Kim Mitchell [later in November 2024], and from that we received I Mom Earth [at the Ale House in Kingston] after which we ended up occurring with Edwin [from I Mother Earth for a solo show at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa]. It’s like I mentioned, the type of snowball impact the place you retain getting greater reveals as a result of every day trip you show your self. So we felt extremely fortunate and grateful that Mark put us on that first present. I nonetheless have the cheque we received from Empire Rockfest, simply type of mounted above our whiteboard in our rehearsal house as a reminder that earlier than that present we have been caught doing solely bar gigs, however he received us out of that,” mentioned O’Handley.
“That exact Empire Rockfest was cool as a result of Brielle, Wyatt and I noticed The Seashores just a few years in the past for the primary time once they have been the opening act [for The Glorious Sons] at Empire Rockfest. After which right here we’re just a few years later they usually’re the headliner and we’re within the spot that they’d. It was like a full circle second,” added Paquette.
So now, the band’s sights are firmly set on Ottawa Bluesfest, one of many greatest musical occasions to occur in Canada every summer season, with internationally famend headliners every night. It needs to be a heady expertise for any younger band to see themselves on a poster or commercial with solely two names above theirs – one being Tom Morello of Rage In opposition to the Machine, and legendary Sheffield UK rockers Def Leppard.
“I texted my oldest brother Dan and informed him we’re opening for Tom Morello and Def Leppard on the primary stage at Bluesfest and he instantly referred to as me and the very first thing he mentioned was, ‘what the ***okay is happening?! How is that this occurring?!’ It’s not misplaced on us how lucky we’re but in addition how loopy that is,” O’Handley mentioned.
Moreover getting ready for Bluesfest and a handful of different upcoming reveals, work continues on new music, with the intention of releasing extra singles regularly with the potential of an album in some unspecified time in the future within the close to future. Among the different reveals embrace taking part in the brand new Line Spike Competition in Frontenac County on a invoice that features the long-lasting Burton Cummings, Sunday, June 29, adopted by a return to Empire Rockfest on July 25 to open for legendary Canadian acts David Wilcox and Trooper.
“There’s a plan down the road to get a vinyl urgent however proper now our schedule is a bit of bit unconventional for what quite a lot of established bands do as a result of once you’re not tremendous established there’s normally stress to maintain releasing new music and have a constant stream of music coming. So, I believe the plan now’s to maintain releasing singles, however then retroactively type of amalgamate these singles into an album that we’d then launch as a bodily product,” O’Handley defined.
“We’ve received 5 unrecorded tracks able to go, and we have now two tracks which can be recorded and prepared for launch. One we’re releasing in July and the opposite one within the fall. I believe the objective is to get a bodily launch for all these new recordings and have an precise album pressed. And hopefully we will do this by March of subsequent yr, which is our 10th anniversary, and have an enormous album launch get together.”
For extra info on Luscious, their new music and tour dates, go to https://www.lusciousband.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Moreover his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising and marketing specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
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