10/26/06 Interview

A video interview with Last Chance to Reason was filmed by Mason Gray and myself at The Kave in Bucksport after the band's performance on Oct. 26. The full video is nearly 13 minutes in length and has currently been passed on to the band for editing. While the final use of the interview has yet to be determined; it may be used as a biography on the band's Myspace page, uploaded on YouTube, or used for other purposes.

Excerpts from the interview include:

"We're going to rework 'Cock Eating Bullet,' 'Tom Brokaw,' and 'Get Awesome,' and also 'Bloody Pie,'" said AJ Harvey, guitarist.

"We'll probably, you know, if somebody wants to still hear [the old songs] live in Maine, we'll probably play them," said drummer Evan Sammons. "But it's kind of like, the [new] album, that's going to be our real first thing as a real good recording and full-length album, and we're going to support that," Sammons said when asked about the fate of old songs like "Mosh Face."

“Our goal as a band has always been the same thing; to make really interesting, challenging music that people can still get into; that anybody can still get into, like it’s still a good time to listen to,” Sammons said.

The band was at no loss for words on the differences between writing with the old lineup, which included vocalist Mike Levenseller and guitarist Dustin Boudreau, and writing these days, as a four-piece with Rob Delaney on vocals:

"Now when we write a riff, it's a Last Chance to Reason riff. It's a riff that you haven't heard in any other band because the melodic structures we use --- I don't want to say them because I don't want to give away our secrets --- but the melodic structures we use, we definitely work out a lot," Harvey said.

"It's not like sitting in practice and going, 'anybody got a riff?' And then somebody just goes, [sings riff and plays air guitar], and we're like 'sweet, alright,' and that's it. There's a lot of thought put into every single one of these riffs. Lots of sitting at a computer, writing it out, reworking it, moving notes around, all sorts of crap," Sammons said.

"We wanna do the same with the vocals, too," Delaney said. "The vocals are processed the same exact way."

"It's a big process with everything. And having Rob in this band has been amazing because he can do that, and he does it awesome," Sammons said.

"Like the chorus of 'Joe Dirt,' [Rob] did it first take and then overdubbed it first take," Harvey said.

Current Events

While fans were excited for weeks for Last Chance to Reason's "big return," the group still remains more or less underground after their quick Oct. 26 appearance at The Kave. Writing and rehearsing in their Belgrade practice space, the band meet with Portland-based vocalist Rob Delaney "once or twice a week," according to Delaney. Other writing is conducted via internet. Drummer Evan Sammons, guitarist AJ Harvey and bassist Chris Corey write and rehearse material and record it in rudimentary form. The material is then sent to Delaney over the internet, allowing him to write and play lyrics and rehearse his vocals. The band unanimously agrees that this is a new process for all of them and it is going smoothly.

This 'write, rehearse, record, repeat' cycle is preparation for a two-week recording session with acclaimed producer Jaime King in his North Carolina-based studio from Jan. 28 to Feb. 16, where Last Chance to Reason will record their first full-length album.

New Song, New Sound, New Face

While Last Chance to Reason fans may remain apprehensive only having heard one new song in recorded form and two additional new songs live, there is no doubt of the surge in popularity the band has received with their new lineup and sound. Take a look at the band's Myspace song plays as of Nov. 20, 2006:

"Joe Dirt" - 4,016
"She's My Bloody Pie" - 24,605
"Put Your Mosh Face On" - 12,040
"Somewhere Between the Bedroom and the Abortion Clinic" - 8,000

"Joe Dirt" was put online almost exactly a month ago. By comparison, "Bloody Pie" went online in February. "Mosh Face," this summer. "SBTBATAC" is arguably the group's most well-known song, which they have a video for, and has been online for an extended period of time; and "Joe Dirt" has more than half the amount of plays in far less time. When these numbers are compared, LCTR's surge in popularity with the new material is almost frightening. The tune received thousands of plays within days of going online. Their return to the stage at The Kave on Oct. 26, their first live show in several months, saw a huge turnout of rabid fans, eager to hear new material. Many fans came solely to see LCTR, despite the fact that they were opening and had a minimal time slot.

Praise of the new material and lineup has been abundant both on the group's Myspace page, by word of mouth, and at the live show.

Madden is for N00bz Review

I've heard a rough demo of "Madden is for N00bz," and...wow. The song is a step beyond "Joe Dirt" in terms of removal from their older material. "Joe Dirt," which was released in October, was the first song to feature the band's drastic stylistic evolution and to feature new vocalist Rob Delaney, as well as AJ Harvey as the now sole guitarist.

"Madden" begins with a memorable riff where the synth, which drummer Evan Sammons has referred to as a "fifth member of the band," is blaringly obvious and right in front. Harvey's guitar is barely audible and takes a backseat to the synth. The guitar was much more prominent in the song's live debut on Oct. 26, but this difference may be simply due to the raw mix, or indeed a deliberate variation between the live and recorded formats. The presence of the drums is well felt and appreciated, particularly in the outro. Delaney's vocals, as on "Joe Dirt," sound evocative of insanity; he screams, roars, and uses his sense for strange melodics throughout the song with original and off-the-wall lyrics.

The song features both hard to follow, start-stop riffs and some catchier sections, as well as an infectious chorus; "It's just the right place, wrong time" Delaney shrieks and growls. Harvey's riffs are vaguely evocative of Meshuggah, while still maintaining originality. The same can be said of the solo, which features some 15-ish seconds of seemingly random, skillful tapping and noodling around the frets.

"Madden is for N00bz" is a great tune in the same vein as "Joe Dirt" and continues to show the extent of LCTR's talent, experimentation and promise in their new direction and lineup.

Why LCTR?

So, why Last Chance to Reason? Why follow and write about a little old band from Augusta, Maine?

For starters, they're one of the most innovative and driven bands in Maine, and I want to be ahead of their inevitable success. I want people to know that there was a local band named Last Chance to Reason. When they get signed to a label, I want people to know that, unlike Nobis and Dead Season, two overly simple and therefore easily accessible metal bands in Maine --- both of whom have been signed to labels and have some level of national distribution --- that Last Chance to Reason is extremely unique and never content to ride current trends. They are innovators, they are full of talent, and they are hell-bent on succeeding with their music.

Last Chance to Reason completed three major tours in the past year. The first went took them through New England and surrounding states, the second went as far as Pennsylvania, and the third had them on a trek down the entire east coast, even playing a few shows in Florida in the middle of sweltering July. They still weren't picked up by a label. The fact that they continue to work together, reinvent themselves, and push forward after such difficulties is one of many demonstrations of the character these four guys possess that makes me so interested to follow their progress. Good things are destined to come to Last Chance to Reason in due time, and I'll be chronicling the success when they do.