You know that moment when someone tells you about this great new band – someone you believe in. They’ve told you about seven great new bands before, and their record is squeaky clean. You trust them with your musical tastebuds like a mother trusts another mother to hold their fragile, baby child.
You say, “they sound rad, can you shoot me a link?” but your mate leaves you on ‘Seen’. It’s a little awkward but this band has no music out, however your friend has seen them live and swears by them. Right here, I’m that mate, and the mythical new band is Lionel.
Introducing Lionel, the Sydney newcomers perfecting their craft at a string of captivating live shows.
So what do Lionel sound like? A little bit of indie, a little bit of funk, always a little bit wild. It’s a sound, as they tell us, that’s still being cultivated privately and shaped on the live stage.
“Our sound is still experimental but we definitely have a formula that links our set and writing. We’ve got three Charlie’s in the band so you can shout Charlie and they all turn around.”
The locale for said cultivation is what the band call their Tempe Temple, a share house in, you guessed it, Tempe. You know the drill; empty VB bottles, DIY sound-proofing, but no doubt a strong creative energy. And apparently, a few farm animals.
“The Tempe temple is the home of anything we create. It’s a small mansion we inherited tucked away in Tempe with lots of farm animals and a massive pond.”
To date Lionel have played a string of local shows, hitting support duties for Sydney favourites including Cosmic Flanders and Gypsys of Pangea. Their shows have been slick enough to attract an early following, drawing in more and more of the Inner West crowd with each gig.
Like I said they don’t have any tunes out yet, so I reckon you’ll just have to pop along to the Happy Mag Issue 13 Launch to find out what they’re all about. And after that? Lionel have big, big plans come 2020.
“Write and gig hard. Do heaps of ket. Tour Indonesia.”
Catch Lionel at the Happy Mag Issue 13 Launch, happening Friday December 13th at The Marlborough Hotel in Sydney:
Happy Mag Issue 13 Launch
Wax Witches
Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys
Dave
Australia
Lionel
+more to be announced
Friday, December 13th – The Marlborough Hotel – Free
