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LOMA;
BSTnT
T he "side project" is a time-honored tradition
in pop music, a way for an established musi
cian to step away from his or her particular
niche, explore new territories and, mostly, have a
little fun with music. All the big names have did
dled around with the concept, be it "supergroups"
like the Highwaymen or the Traveling Wilburys or
full-on side bands like Keith Richards' X-Pensive
Winos or Warren Zevon's dalliance with the non-
Stipe members of R.E.M. called the Hindu Love
Gods.
Now and again, however, the project takes on
a life of its own and a fully functional indepen
dent band emerges. Eclectic Athens musician Clay
Leverett—who currently plays drums in The Lures
and previously played drums in Drip—is staring
that fact of life right in the face with Lona.
Formed a little over a year ago as just a way to
express different musical ideas, the "Ritahr rock"
outfit has taken on a life of its own. It's a band
now, according to Leverett, and he couldn't be
having more fun.
"When Drip ended, I was in the position to do
something new, and I'd never sung before, just
backup vocal stuff," the charismatic frontman
says. "I just needed to do something else, and I
had all these ideas I needed to get out. It's funny
how it's worked out, because we've actually
uecome a band. We're learning what actually
moves all of us and what we really want to do."
After the aforementioned Drip called it a day
in 1998, Leverett still had his duties in The Lures
but was looking for another creative outlet. He
got part of that with High Temple, a rap/hip hop
outfit he formed with buddies David Brown and
Casey Scott (also of Drip), but he still had urgings
in country and straight-ahead rock and roll that
were banging on the door to be let out. Thus
came Lona, formed last September with Scott on
guitar and bass, Brcwn on percussion, drummer
Mikey Dwyer, and keyboardist Neal Golden rocking
behind Leverett's eclectic musical ideas.
Playing *Hanta and Greenwood, SC, the band’s
also traveled as far as Louisiana. Lona is maturing
as a live act; Leverett admits that early on the
band sometimes had too much pre-gig fun, but
it's moving away from that.
"Well, we don't practice drunk anymore, and
when I'm not drinking, it's a lot better," he jokes.
"Eventually, I'd like it all to be a little more
serious when I have a better idea of what I want
to do. Right now, I sort of feel like I'm running
behind."
Lona is in the process of catching up, however,
as the band's currently hard at work on a full-
length follow-up to Noontime Sleeper. With some
help from Japancakes Hayr.Je bassist Nick Bielli
and a sit-in from keyboardist buddy "Creech," this
week's Tasty World gig not only marks the band's
one-year anniversary, but also a possible video
shoot for the s ; ngle "Noontime Sleeper." Leverett’s
been pleasantly surprised with the positive
response the band has received, and although he's
still undecided just where the former side project
is going, he says it's going to keep going. It's
totally a "bouncing ball," but it's a fun ball to
watch and to hear.
"I don't know where I want it to go, but I
guess that changes from time to time, really,"
Leverett admits. "We're so new as a band, and I'm
finally feeling settled with what he have as far as
sound and lineup. I want to find a common thing
we can all work towards. We want an identity."
Matt Thompson
WHO' Lona, The Young Antiques,
Math
WHERE: Tasty World '
WHEN: Friday, August 18
HOW MUCH: Coll
Possessing an expressive voice, a knack for
clever lyrics and melodic hooks, and a certain
impish, boyish charm, Leverett bounces all over
the place with Lona's souna. The band's debut EP,
Noontime Sleeper, was released on Ghostmeat
Records this past February.
It featured guest shots
from members of The Star
Room Boys, Little Red
Rocket and The Lures, and
ran the gamut from sweet
country ballads to trance
like pop to full-on redneck
rockers. With such wide-
ranging eclecticism, one
might think the album is a
difficult listen, but nothing
could be further from the
truth. The musicianship is
tight throughout and
Leverett proves himself an
exceptional songwriter,
both lyrically and melodi-
cally. Some would suggest
the excitable young man do
a little bit to nail his sound
down to one genre, but
Leverett isn't quit ready.
"Yeah, sometimes I'd
like to just do one thing...
but not just yet," he slyly
admits. "Whatever hits me,
hits me and I run w’th it. I
started this project with no
idea what to do other than
run with it. I just wanted
to get it out, so it's a big
pile of confusion. We're not
trying to fit into any genre
or class; we just do what
ever the hell we like. I
really don't know what to
call it. It's ever-changing, how about that?"
A large part of Lona's charm is the band's
boozy, high-energy live shows. Definitely whiskey-
fueled, the band fires on all cylinders on-stage
and has been taking to the road as of late.
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m FLAGPOLE AUGUST 16, 2000