Perth Indie Punk duo Lionizer released their debut EP ‘Come Home‘ during the week and will now pack their bags and take the tunes on the road for their first national tour. Joining up with Adelaide’s The Hard Aches for four shows, the interstate dates kick off this Wednesday 23rd April in Adelaide before hitting Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle over the rest of the week, and then back to Perth for the official launch on May 2nd. You can stream and purchase the EP [Here]. This week in The Hotseat we catch up with Vez from the band to answer our questions. Expand this post for the tour dates and a read of her answers.
THE BASICS
Name : Vez
Band : Lionizer
Job In Band : Vocals and guitar
Website Address : bandcamp.com/lionizer
HOME
Hometown : Perth, Western Australia
Hometown is best known for : Being one of the most isolated cities in the world
Best venue in your hometown : I always love playing at the Rosemount, I think it’s somewhat of an iconic local music venue. Great sound, great vibe, a band who no-one’s heard of can play and feel like a headliner.
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : Either Lemuria or An Horse – they put on a killer show at the Rosie
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : Probably supporting Lemuria earlier this year.
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? Bailey and I were originally playing in another band with 3 other mates but it wasn’t really going anywhere and neither one of us was happy in it. We were living together at the time and decided to just start jamming around the house, then Bailey bought my Dad’s old kit and we moved it into a regular jam room space every week and started gigging – one terrible open mic night at a time.
How long has the band been going? I think it’ll be two years this Sept
Any particular story behind the name? Bailey actually came up with it, apart from also being one of the old transformers, it means to make something ordinary famous. It has nothing to do with lions.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… We are just about to release our debut 5 track EP ‘Come Home’. It’s been a long time in the making and it was recorded by the guys down at Underground Recording Studios who are just amazing – we bring them the songs but the way they capture it on record and help us really cement the sound is incredible. I always have the best time when I record with them and learn so much. The single off the EP is a song titled ‘The Same Way’ which was actually the last song we wrote for the EP – about a week before we hit the studio and we weren’t sure if we were going to put it on or not – but I’m super glad we did cause I think it came out killer!
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? Hmmm. To be honest I’m super proud of everything we’ve done to date. We work really hard to push ourselves, our songs and our sound to be the best it possibly can be and it’s starting to pay off. We are about to go on tour with the Hard Aches and I can’t wait! I think that will definitely be a milestone for us as a band. Supporting Lemuria was also an incredible opportunity.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? My Dad was in bands growing up and my mum was a singer so I was thrown in pretty early. I initially started learning drums but it never really stuck and I got my first guitar when I was 14 and started just learning everything I could from friends. I grew up listening to a lot of pop punk and I think when I went to Rock-it when I was 15 and saw the Living End and Greenday play I was like ‘fuck yes..this is what I need to be doing’
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? As a band I’d really have to say that Blink-182 originally was a huge influence for me.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? As embarrassing as it is my first band’s name was Twilight Zone, and it was when I was in Primary School. I played the Bongos and I don’t think we actually ever played a song in its entirety.
Most prized music related item you own? My first ever electric guitar pick guard – signed by all of The Living End. I went to a meet and greet in the city at 78 Records and dragged my guitar there when all the other kids just had CDs or books or something they wanted signed. I think they thought I was weird for wanting a guitar signed. Best decision.
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Studying! Haha I never have a spare moment! I am finishing my masters of Psychology this year so it’s hectic!
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… I’ll let you know when I get back from it! But I think it will be playing to a whole bunch of people in different cities who don’t know me, or my band and seeing what they think…
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… Not having my bed to sleep in! haha..
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ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Scotch. I’m a big scotch fan.
Favourite place you’ve toured… and why? Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? Probably the Lemuria show at the Rosemount earlier this year. We were stoked to be asked to play and it was our first international support. Even though we opened the show the vibe was awesome, there was a crowd to play to and we played well. That was an awesome show..
Got a favourite song to play live? I think my favourite song to play hasn’t been played live yet…
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? All the time! I am forever forgetting setlists and bashing my head / teeth on the mic.
Any pre-show rituals? Bailey and I usually drink the rider before we play.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Finding the money to do so! Especially living in Perth it’s becoming increasingly expensive to tour and with less and less bands even coming to Perth it’s making it harder to break into the scene unless you tour. Unfortunately it always comes down to money with paying for travel.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? I’m currently listening to Crooked Teeth by Death Cab for Cutie
Last album you picked up? Don’t Fuck With Our Deams – Smith Street Band
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? The Front Bottoms always are haha. But also Modern Baseball and Smith Street Band.
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? I’m a big fan of the Hard Aches stuff – I’m really excited to be touring with them.
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? From now until the end of April we are gigging pretty heavily. When we come back from tour we are officially launching our EP back in Perth on May 2nd at the Flyrite
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? The Front Bottoms self titled album – I love the way he writes, stream of consiousness lyrics which I just really relate to, I wish I could write like that!
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? I would love to see Come Home covered by Modern Baseball – I think it’d be awesome to see what they do with it.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? Blink 182 – before they broke up and got back together.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? Any venue outside of Perth!
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? I would love to play guitar for The Front Bottoms, their riffs are really fun to play.
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. Oooo tough one! I think I’d love to take the boys from Being Beta over cause we have done little mini tours down south with them before and we all get on really well. I don’t think I’d kill them. I’d also really like to take Paper Plains cause again we all get on really well.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? We’re touring! And the ‘Come Home’ EP Launch – 2nd May at the Flyrite
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LIONIZER – ‘Come Home‘
Available Independently now.
Order via Bandcamp [Here].
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