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LEMURIA SET TO EXPLORE THE CANADIAN WEST AS UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BRINGS THEM TO BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA; I CHAT WITH DRUMMER ALEX KERNS. No east coast dates this time around, but one can only hope they'll make the trip to the far east and check out what we're all about before too long. Fast and furious are two words that can best describe the run Lemuria have had since bursting onto the scene in the autumn of 2004. Relentless touring, a slew of 7 inch records, a full length LP and another just around the corner; Lemuria are one of the hardest working bands going today and all their hard work is paying off. I had the pleasure of interviewing drummer, singer, songwriter, record label founder and all around good guy, Alex Kerns about the whirlwind that has been Lemuria's rise. Alex, it's been quite the road the three of you have traveled since getting together in '04. Looking at the past year alone you've been touring practically non-stop, you've been putting out 7"s, you signed to Bridge 9 Records, you wrote, recorded and have many eagerly awaiting your next full length record which is scheduled to drop in January, and to top it all off you've worked tirelessly within the punk/DIY community particularly with Art of the Underground. There's no end in sight. Looking back on the past year how are you feeling about everything you've accomplished? Alex: Expelled from reality. I remember when I was young and I would fantasize about being in a band. Before I was into punk. I would slowly be exposed to new music as my older brother would bring home new tapes, and then CD's. I would rap in front of mirrors, which turned into me begging my mom to let me grow my hair out so I could look like the guys on the inlay of a Megadeth CD. Eventually, I was able to dig deeper into things slightly more obscure, getting into bands like They Might Be Giants, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, etc. Then I found Operation Ivy. Inside that CD was a little catalog to Lookout! Records, I started mailordering records to get what I really loved. The past year has been pretty surreal. Jesse Michaels from Operation Ivy wrote me a personal message saying he's a fan of my band, and further on I've released a record for his new band Classics of Love on my label Art of the Underground. Screeching Weasel was another band that really influenced me into being in a band, and now we're regularly opening up for them at shows. Things just don't really seem real. We are now on Bridge 9 Records, and it's great that a label that genre-wise is so out of our element can appreciate something that we are doing. We recorded our sophomore album "Pebble" and it's definitely the best thing I've ever been a part of artistically. I'm very excited and just as much overwhelmed about the things that have happened this past year.
You raise a good point about the Bridge 9 Records signing. I think it left more than a few people scratching their heads at first just because when you think of B9 the bands that immediately come to mind are more on the hardcore side of things. But when you look more closely you can start to see things you share with each other as well; work ethic, attitude, even right down to your personal ethics and commitment to what you believe in. Though you may believe in and fight for different things you do seem to share a mutual drive. Would you please elaborate on your thoughts about the signing? Alex: Everything just made sense. We had talked with a few friends who have worked with Bridge 9 before and they told us that they were a great label to work with. We did the same thing when we decided to release Get Better on Asian Man. We had a couple offers from a few labels that people had mentioned have screwed over bands a great deal. As a band we really try to not jump the gun on anything and we make sure to discuss everything, and research our options so that we don't get tied to anything that'll be unhealthy for the band. Both Bridge 9 and Asian Man are incredible labels because they treat their roster like a family. Both labels aren't releasing records because they think it's going to sell well, they release what they want to support.
In a past interview you mentioned your love of traveling, and how the band really serves as a catalyst for getting you out and about all over the map. Touring of course can have its ups and downs. To steal a page from Plan-It-X's Chris Clavin, I'm going to ask you to share a memorable experience you had on the negative extreme of tour. What was a memorable moment when you just found yourself saying "Tour Sucks" and how did you bounce back? Alex: One of the worst experiences I had was being trapped in Norman, Oklahoma in the middle of summer with a broken down van, no money, and the only sanctuary for air conditioning was a college library. We had contacted a "crash pad" through the Book Your Own Fucking Life zine, and it was great to have people open up their home to us. Although, the home had about 5 dogs, no AC, smelled like puke, and had people shooting heroine on the couch next to where we were sleeping. We didn't really feel very safe, we were exhausted, and we weren't sure how we were going to get home. We eventually got a show set up in Tulsa and used a AAA membership card to keep towing us there. They would tow us 100 miles at a time. Luckily we sold some records, got a little money from the door and we got the van fixed up. It died again, I don't remember where. But we eventually made it home. This was my first tour ever. It was 12 years ago and I was only 15. I was very worried because I didn't think my parents were ever going to let me do this again. Maybe they shouldn't have in the first place. Luckily, that moment didn't eclipse all the other good moments of the tour that motivated me to keep doing this.
I have to ask who the Twin Peaks fan is in the band. I've been eyeing that log lady shirt for way too long. Alex: Max is a big fan of the show, as well as I am. Although, my true TV passion leans toward Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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Thanks again for the interview. Be sure to make your way to our neck of the woods before too long. Final question: In 2008 you released The First Collection which documented the early years of Lemuria's existence. Looking forward a little bit where do you want to find yourselves as a band and what kind of imprint would you like to leave? Alex: I'm the only person in the band who doesn't have tattoos. So I sort of look at Lemuria records as tattoos. They are time capsules that I can return to as I get older and see who I was, how I was feeling, and how I dealt with everything. I don't ever want to stop doing this band. I'd love to have a dozen albums someday. I feel like we're just getting started. Thanks Matt!
Oct 30- Gainesville, FL @ THE FEST 10
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MATT DIXON, Editor in Chief
Feeling down in the dumps in his second year of university Matt Dixon took things into his own hands and started to interview bands, put on little shows throughout his native Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and started this little webzine that could. He likes to listen to rad records and watch films at Charlottetown's only art-house theatre, the beloved City Cinema. Current Listening: Buried Inside, Q & Not U, Tallest Man On Earth, Lucero, The Transit. E- MATT (AT) JUNNNKTANK.COM X |
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