Interview with Liar Thief Bandit (2017)

Swedish rockers Liar Thief Bandit are currently on the rampage touring through Europe. Today the german leg starts in Rostock. Further stations will see the band also perform in Lingen on 21.12.2017 at the Bul Bar & Lounge as part of the Lingen Volume concert series. Through the show announcement for Lingen I got to know about them.

My first introduction to their music was the official video for "Lease On Life" and that made me so curious that I asked for a interview to find out more about the band. We had the pleasure to speak with vocalist Mike Jacobson how the band started, how the outstanding vocals changed over time and which unexpected meetings you can have while being on the road...

A bandshot of Liar Thief Bandit, Photo Credit:
Dan Leo Lindeberg
https://photobydan.se

Heavy Metal Underdogs: Do you remember the first time the band did rehearse back in the day? What happened?

Mike Jacobson: I remember the first time we rehearsed. It was a little special because our drummer William and I had started to work on one of my earliest ideas for the song “Moving On” that ended up on our debut album later on. We had gotten to know each other through our former bass player since we both played in his solo project and when he later joined us for our second or third rehearsal the magic started happen and the band formed for real. Those first steps were very important and I am happy that we took them!

Are many of your songs inspired by your own real life experiences or what else inspires you to write songs?

I write all the lyrics and they are inspired by both my own experiences and my own thoughts about things happening in my surroundings but also in the world at large.

The songs doesn’t always represent me but they always represent something I can relate to and I think that is important!



Do you have any anecdote of strange things that happened recently playing a show or traveling around?

We got a last minute show on our first European tour in April this year. This was in Slavonice, Czech Republic on a Sunday and we didn’t expect much. The show was outside a small town on the countryside, the place was like a barn. The show was pretty early in the evening and it was packed with people! Very unexpected, especially when a guy who was introduced to us as "an old punk rocker” came there by horse from his home 20 km away - he smoked some pot and asked if I wanted to trade my Orange guitar amplifier for his horse. I did not, but I loved that we got to meet this unique human being!

The vocals stand out of the sound of Liar Thief Bandit. Do you think your voice evolved and changed over the years?

My vocals have definitely evolved since we started. I have gotten way better at singing and I think it’s mainly because we have played so many shows, it really helps you to find the core of the voice when it’s exposed to so many different situations.

Your website is great - fast and easy to navigate. Was it your intention to go a different way than the usual overloaded websites you can find nowadays?

Thank you! Yes, this was intentional. I think that today people don’t really visit websites as much as before but when they do, it’s important that they find what they are looking for as fast as possible. I think we got that one right.

Futher tourdates and information on Liar Thief Bandit can be found on the band's Facebook page as well as the mentioned homepage.

Interview with Shallow Ground (Thrash, 2017)

We had a longer talk with vocalist/guitarist Keith Letourneau of the US thrash metal band Shallow Ground. They play classic thrash with slightly added elements of the progressive. Discover how the band goes along with today's digital age in terms of release formats as well as social media as a way of talking with fans. It also shows what music means to a heartfelt musician and at the very end he also give's us a glimpse into what you may experience while touring around...Have some music while reading the little interview in the player below.

Heavy Metal Underdogs: How did the band come together?

Keith Letourneau: We started out back in 1992 with a different line up. Took time off when my daughter was born in 98 and reformed in 2009. We just found each other , Thrash is a brother/sisterhood that just finds one another. And it was time Thrash call to you if you play it lol

Which sources do you use as inspiration for writing new songs?

Life both good and bad crap that happens! Look around there is inspiration in everything you see feel and can touch,  Just have to tap into it.

Do you feel that writing and performing music helps you to push on further with your own personal lifes?

Oh 100% yes!! It becomes part of your DNA, make's up your soul. It just makes me happy!

The cover of Shallow Ground's 2015 release "Embrace The Fury", (c) by Shallow Ground, used with kind permission

Social media surely plays a big role in the communication between a band and their fans. Do you feel that fans contact you more or less personally at gigs these days?

Social media is good.  I get a lot of Thrashers from all over the world hitting me up to BS" which i love" ! It diffidently makes it easier to talk to people all over the world. When we play a gig anywhere and someone comes up and says hay I'm so and so, Its awesome to really put a face with a name ! So I guess Social Media helps some people who are not to out going break there silence and enables them to talk to people they normally would not.  

Do you still prefer releasing music on traditional media like LPs, CDs and the like or do you feel the same satisfaction when putting out music digitally?

CD's its a thing you can hold and look at!! Then  use as a beer coaster after you down load it lol  I prefer CD's myself. Dig has its uses for a lot of people, right to phone and take it everywhere you go always have your tunes with u i get it !

Have you ever experimented with other styles over the years and thought about changing?

Well I was playing Thrash in the 80ies left that band. Started Shallow Ground with Tim and we were more of a speed/ power metal band back then ! But my soul swims in THRASH and im back where I belong PLAYING THRASH! As far as changing things up. I am not a flavor of the month kind of guy. if you know what I mean?  Thrash makes me happy I think no other music out there can make me as happy as Thrash does.

The band Shallow Ground,  (c) by Shallow Ground, used with kind permission

Did you come along points where you thought about leaving it all behind? If you reached that point: how did you keep the motivation up to move on?

Quit no lol I did walk away for around 10 years to be the best dad I could be. but I'm back lol .

How did I keep the motivation up to move on? Easy when you love playing !

What was the funniest story that came along your way when you performed live? Or did things happen that you would have never thought of to occur (not only at gigs but maybe anywhere else as well)?

Playing Warriors of Metal open air fest in Ohio. Myself and our old bass player Nick were sharing a hotel room. got woken up by screams and yelling! a hooker was getting beat up by her pimp bad. cops came and the dude got busted but he was saying he was going to kill the hooker to the cop wtf. Cop kept saying sir im going to have to bring you in if you keep saying that. Well he did and cuffed and stuffed the whole time before the cops got there was worried about a stray bullet coming thru the window. Cuz the guy had her pinned up against our window saying he was going to shoot her in the head. Wont forget that one lol

Make sure to stay in touch with the band using their Facebook page or see their website for info and the merch section where you can order their music.