Lorenzo Music

Despite grumblings about the supposedly long lost Madison music scene, new and talented bands keep rising up as if nothing had ever burned or closed down. The better ones, like anywhere else, are those that seem to defy easy categorization. You hear a hint of this and a reference to that, but you can’t pin the group down. Such is the case with Lorenzo Music.

At the core are two musicians who have experienced the changing musical tides here between the lakes. Tod Schwenn spent a good amount of time in Rapscallion during the late-80s and early-90s, around the same time Tom Ray was in Fallacy. After those bands broke up, the two decided to start jamming and writing together. The songs came together so well that they decided to form a permanent band and, after finding the right musicians, did their first gig in March of 1996.

Lorenzo Music explores many areas of sound, going from keyboard- driven, Doors-like jams to lounge swings to power guitars in a single song. The key is that they do it gracefully, at times almost unnoticeably. Most of the keyboards are done on a vintage Rhodes electric piano that Ray bought for $150 when such instruments were out of style. Schwenn supplies the guitar and the two share the vocal work. Every musician in this band has experience: second guitarist Brandon Krueger was in Peep Show, bassist Mark Whitcomb played in Insanity A.D., Carl and Swiggo, and drummer Scott Beardsley also gigged with Swiggo as well as Mindox (which also featured Buddo of Magic 7 & Last Crack).

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Les Paul

‘Upgrade’ is a fairly new term in today’s society, yet it has sparked an international obsession. We need our internet faster, our cars bigger, our celebrities skinnier, and our televisions more…defined? Well listen up, Generation Next, because the man responsible for the original upgrade worked for it… Without the cheat codes.

There is no doubt Les Paul is a living legend of the twenty-first century. He not only invented the first electric guitar, but revolutionized the music industry with countless recording breakthroughs. Les Paul has played for kings, queens and presidents, and is revered by musical titans throughout the world. But one Monday night, on the busiest and brightest street in New York City, this legend sat on a moth-eaten, dusty couch, alone in a cramped dressing room, just a door-swing away from his audience.

A chill ran up my spine. I tried to imagine all the influential people that had gazed into those misty blue eyes, as I was doing. Every inch of his face was brimming with eagerness to talk about the past, perhaps wondering which stories I would conjure. He gently twisted the top of his cane as his eyes darted around before settling on an object across the room, and then back at me.

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Bob Log III

He’s the bastard stepson of a Tucson, Arizona trailer park and the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta. Bob Log III is Fat Possum Records’ veracious slide guitarist/one-man-band that will kick your adrenal gland into overdrive. He matches his de-tuned, f-hole guitars with the endless stomping of his rhythm section   left and right foot respectively on bass drum and kick cymbal. Bob Log is a one-man-band of international acclaim who’s raw hill country guitar and drums are only magnified my his ominous appearance. The sepia-tinted visor on his gray motorcycle helmet obscures his identity, and a microphone cord runs to a mouthpiece on the bottom of a mid-70’s black rotary phone receiver. It protrudes from the front, functioning as his vox.

Maximum Ink caught up with Bob during a tour stop in Rochester, New York for an interview.

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Lucha Libre

Madison hip-hop/reggaeton group, LUCHA LIBRE gives a nod to their home turf in their song, “Midwest Bang” on their new album, The Takeover. With a nod to Coolio’s “Sumpin’ New” (quickly followed by a Buffalo Springfield quote), they chant “There ain’t no party like a Midwest party ‘cuz a Midwest party don’t stop.” It’s an interesting statement. After all, this is Madison, where hip-hop is supposed to be controversial and problematic. Amid that, LUCHA LIBRE is creating their own success in a city where hip-hop and rap fans have complained for years that they haven’t gotten the same respect or opportunities. And with their new record, they’re confident and stepping up.

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Athena

Athena is, without a doubt, one of the best, and perhaps well renowned female drummers. While she’s known as Tommy Lee’s little sister, she is also a great drummer in her own right, being the first female drummer in history to be nominated for the L.A Music Awards. She recently signed on to Rockett Drums Works (owned by Rikki Rockett of Poison) and Regal Tip Drumsticks. Not one to be limited to music, she is also working on the upcoming television show, Ex-Wives Rock and penning her first book. Maximum Ink sat down with her recently to find out what her fans can look forward to next.

Maximum Ink: You have said that when growing up with Tommy, there was never a dull moment. Do you think his outlook on things left a lasting impression on you? What would you say is your fondest memory from your childhood?
Athena: Of course. We were just really weird, funny kids. I have a lot of fond memories. I can remember being in my crib and getting a Lucy (Peanuts) doll for my birthday. I loved that thing and a blue stuffed dog I had forever. He was so ugly and destroyed, but I loved him. I also loved the smell of Halloween, all of it pumpkins, masks, wax lips, candy, and I still do.

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Les Claypool

Conjuring questions for Les Claypool brought forth memories of the past to mind. I quite vividly recall the first time I saw the astounding grand bass flailer. A friend and I drove from Denver to Boulder to hear Primus play. On the way to the show we anxiously listened to a warbled and horribly warn cassette of “Suck on This.” Maybe 100 or so people were in attendance at the bar called “Tulagi’s on the Hill” for the “Suck on This” tour stop. Nothing could have adequately prepared me for what we witnessed and experienced that night. My life has never been the same since.

However, many roads have been traversed since then. Countless tours, numerous albums and incessant musical creativity have brought us to this point. As the summer looms ahead, Les Claypool has seized the opportunity to bring a new spin on entertainment to the people with something dubbed “The Oddity Faire.” In a recent e-mail interview, I asked Les a few questions about the tour, the new album, and movies.

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L.A. Nookie

Singer/Songwriter Lorraine Lewis is probably best known for her work with the rock band Femme Fatale. Since the band disbanded she has released several solo albums in the country, new age, and rock genres. She can currently be found working with the band L.A. Nookie. I recently sat down with Lorraine to talk about her career and influences. She is without a doubt a very interesting character.

Maximum Ink: Since there isn’t really that much about you as a person out there, would you mind telling our readers a little about where you are from?
Lorraine Lewis: I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico best known for awesome green chile, skiing and hot air balloon festivals. I’m 3rd in a family of 6 kids and I taught myself how to play a sloppy guitar on my mom Stella’s acoustic that was hiding in her closet. I used to listen to the Allman Brothers, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young, but it was seeing David Lee Roth in Van Halen that made me want to be a rock star!

MI: Who are some of your influences?
LL: I still consider David Lee Roth my biggest influence, not really for his voice as much as his “I don’t give a Fuck attitude” and “it’s not who you know, it’s how good you look” attitude. I love that! Charo was a big influence on me as well as Tina Turner and The Dvinyls. I also like Joan Jett, Nickelback, Stone Temple Pilots, Motley Crue!

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