GRABBING LIFE BY THE BALLS
If you haven’t heard of Living with Lions yet, you’re obviously doing something wrong. Originally formed in 2007 in Vancouver, BC, Living with Lions has nearly conquered the entire world with their unique rendition of the pop punk/hardcore variety. The band has featured members from across the scene, including A Textbook Tragedy, Comeback Kid and Misery Signals, and has extensively toured throughout almost every continent. Not only does their music display their hard work and dedication as musicians, but these dudes know how to party. Always putting on a fresh, energetic performance, LWL continues to tour behind their newest album, Holy Shit (2012), that has reached out to fans of punk rock of all ages and tastes. BeatRoute got a chance to chat to bassist Bill Crook about some of the upcoming news from LWL.
BeatRoute: So, it’s been over year since you released an album. What things kept you guys busy over the past year?
Bill Crook: The last year has been a blast! Comeback Kid took us everywhere and it’s always awesome to be with them. We have been home now for a couple months and have been writing a lot. We have a bunch of new songs that we are demoing and (we’re) writing as much as possible in between the upcoming tours.
BR: Since Stu (Ross, vocals) left, do you think it has significantly changed anything about Living with Lions?
BC: The band has drastically gotten better looking. (Just kidding, Stuart.) We obviously sound a lot different. Chase and I have taken over the vocal duties. When Stuart left, it didn’t take us much time to decide we wanted to become a four-piece. After changing lead singers twice, it didn’t feel it was fair to our fans, or to us, to bring another singer into the picture.
BR: You guys have toured with a lot of bigger bands and had a pretty successful career as a band. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment?
BC: Doing Warped Tour this last summer was definitely the biggest accomplishment in my books. The whole experience was amazing. We are also doing Sound Wave in Australia coming up, followed by Japan and some other Asian dates. If we survive that, it will definitely be our biggest accomplishment!
BR: How does extensive touring affect your personal lives?
BC: We tour a fair bit and we do it because we love it. We have all sacrificed a lot to be here, but we all knew what we were getting ourselves into when we started touring: relationships end, bank accounts and stomachs are going to be empty, you’re going to be tired a lot, but we are all fine with that. Working a normal job BLOWS.
BR: Who inspires you guys lately?
BC: We have been really into this band called Mansions lately and the new Title Fight record is amazing. Those records are getting us pumped on writing. I’m really stoked to hear Chase (Brenneman, guitar/vocals) sing on new songs, he is great. We are really inspired and stoked on life right now.
BR: Anything you want to say to fans?
BC: Add us on Facebook and Instagram. We are going to be posting lots of weird pics from our upcoming adventures in foreign lands. Landon (Matz, guitar) is a FREAK and grew up eating pig snouts and feet and stuff, so we want him to try all the candied scorpions and snakes blood and stuff. Shout out to Peter Says Denim for keeping us looking fresh and Steve at Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Be sure to check them out when they swing through with Title Fight on January 15th, at the Orpheus Theatre @ SAIT.
By Sara Mohan
