Citizens Approach Studio, Stage Differently
by Chris M. Junior
Recording projects sometimes take on a life of their own, and that was the case with the first Citizens album. What began as a solo effort by singer/keyboardist Mark Lesseraux ended up as the New York band's Are We There Yet?, released in 2004.
Lesseraux asked guitarist Thom Loubet, who played with him in 2002 in the avant-garde group Earthdriver, to play on some of his material. "During the process of recording those songs, I met our drummer and bass player," recalls Lesseraux, referring to John Bollinger and Jason DiMatteo, respectively. "We decided when the album was almost three-quarters done that we would make it a band. It started to develop its own collective chemistry as opposed to being just my album."
Lesseraux adds, "It's a tricky album. We were finding ourselves as we were making that record."
Keyboardist Katherine Miller was added to the lineup prior to Post Cro-Magnon Drift, which was released last year on the band's own Yellow Ball label. "She's our bass player Jason's girlfriend," Lesseraux explains. "She was someone who came to our gigs and appreciated the music. We were putting together a big show at Lyceum in 2005, and we thought it would be cool to have someone who worked with a laptop and keyboard, and Katherine was an obvious choice. She's a really good musician."
Post Cro-Magnon Drift is full of mood shifts, expressive vocals and different textures. "For the most part, the music is very sculpted," says Lesseraux. "It is meticulously put together. The parts are all written out. But live, we purposely put sections in our songs where we go for it and improvise."
The Citizens will perform Feb. 9 at Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. Showtime is 9 p.m. Call 212-505-3733 or visit www.pianosnyc.com for more information. To learn more about The Citizens, go to www.citizensmusic.com or www.myspace.com/citizensmusic.
Scatterbrain, Ludichrist Reunite
Patience is important when trying to reunite a band.
For years, bassist Guy Brogna wanted to get Long Island's Scatterbrain back together but says singer Tommy Christ was reluctant to participate. "I would be able to get most of the guys together," says Brogna, "but Tommy was always the holdout."
Christ changed his tune about six months ago, when he saw a Crumbsuckers show in Manhattan. Not only did it inspire him to finally revive Scatterbrain, but on the same night, he and Brogna also will play as part of Ludichrist, the hardcore band that preceded Scatterbrain.
"The last time we played as Ludichrist was in the late 1980s, and the last Scatterbrain show was probably early 1994," says Brogna. "The reason why we wanted to do this again is we loved what we did, and now that we're back together again, it brings back a lot of memories."
The double-reunion show is set for Feb. 23 at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, and the lineup for both bands will be the same: Christ and Brogna, as well as guitarist Paul Nieder and drummer Dave Miranda. "We have to [rehearse] 40-something songs," says Brogna. "We haven't played in all these years, and now we have to play two shows back to back."
Doors open at 6 p.m. on Feb. 23, and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 in advance and $34 day of show. The B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is at 237 W. 42nd St. For more information, call 212-997-4144 or visit www.bbkingblues.com.
They're Jammin'
It's only natural that Virginia Coalition recorded its two-disc live album at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. "We grew up down the street from the place," says singer/guitarist Andrew Poliakoff. "There's a certain inherent nostalgic quality to that place, just because of where we're from, and the quality of the venue. I can't imagine doing it somewhere else."
Live at the 9:30 Club (Bluhammock) was recordedb"warts and all," says Poliakoffbin January 2006. In prepping for the show, the band became concerned about practicing too much and therefore getting in its own way.
"In order for us to just marinate on what makes us who we are, we really need to not be thinking too much," says Poliakoff. "You just have to go with it. You just have to feel it."
Virginia Coalition's tour with JJ Grey and Mofro begins this month, and it makes a stop at Irving Plaza on March 1. The club is at 17 Irving Place. For tickets and more information, call 212-777-6800 or visit www.irvingplaza.com for more information. The official Virginia Coalition site is www.virginiacoalition.com.
To contact b Manhattan Soundsb columnist Chris M. Junior, e-mail chrisjr@mindspring.com.
