LUX The Band
Newburyport, MA | Established. Jan 01, 2009
Music
Press
I don’t like my jazz unless it breaks some rules of the genre, and this CD sounds like LUX is a fantastic party quartet: raucous, fun, inventive, and delicious. They’re definitely a lot more than ordinary jazz or funk. And, amazingly, all the bass and keyboard parts are neither; it’s actually just one guitarist(!), Todd Clancy, playing one of those crazy 8-string guitars with the weird frets, accompanied by a great drummer and two great sax players. One of their sax players, the only gal in the band, also sings on a few tracks, and her voice is incredible, like a more mature Suzanne Vega maybe. (Musicians, listen up: your vocalist makes or breaks a band. This is not an area to trifle with.) Great singers are very rare, but this gal is fantastic. Interesting lyrics … (bands, you can never sing dumb stuff like “wanna whole lotta love” unless you have some special chops) … interesting song titles, like “Larry The Lanechanger” … (bands, would it kill you to come up with titles that aren’t dull?)… this is the rare CD that makes me want to see the band live. (But this band would shine at a warehouse party, where everyone can get crazy and dance, rather than some uptight venue.) (Shauna Erlbaum) - thenoise-boston.com
Discography
"Fat City" - August 2015
New release - November 2016
Photos
Bio
They are the perfect blend of fun and intelligent music; performing wide-ranging covers and well-crafted originals. They are a blast to see live; and are equally at home playing a private party, an indie festival, an art house, all the way to a trendy nightclub. LUX can easily transition to an opening band, a complementary double-bill, or standalone entertainment.
Although the term “jazz” is in their description, the LUX approach is closer to Trombone Shorty than to Miles Davis. With cover songs from artists as diverse as Django Reinhardt, Stevie Wonder, AC/DC and Amy Winehouse, along with their well-turned originals, they entertain across the spectrum! This was unmistakable on their latest tour as they played with bands of different genres such as folk/roots, rockabilly, hard rock, soul, and even shared a bill with 4 heavy metal bands! Unique, fearless and sprightly, LUX will take your favorite tunes, smash them to smithereens, and reassemble them into a sublimely entertaining performance. Their anti-homages have earned them radio play in Europe and Australia, and headlining spots at music festivals in Philadelphia and Lowell.
Who says guitars should only have 6 strings? Who says alto sax can’t play metal? What the hell is a “genre” anyway?
These are the burning questions LUX has been posing to audiences all over the North East with its raucous and rapacious rabble-rousing. For the past lap and a half around the sun, this quixotic quartet has been making daring forays into the catacombs of category, the seams of style and the fringes of idiom! Whatever that means! All I know is that in any given set you’re bound to hear anything from the Gorillaz to Maurice Ravel to ESPN ditties to Nirvana a la an acid-tripping troubadour blundering down Bourbon Street.
They are comprised of the lovely and talented Blair “Bonk” Leavitt on sax and lead vocals, Todd “TC” Clancy on 8-string guitar (yes that’s a thing), Jared “J-Hard” Holaday on alto/tenor sax and PJ “P-Nutz” Holaday on drums.
Did I mention they all sing?! There is something for everyone in this group. Small enough to put on a show in your grandmother’s armoire, yet wielding a big enough sound to induce spasmodic gesticulation in even the densest of concert-goers. LUX wants to bring its bottled lightning to you today! You can find them all here and on all manner of social mediaishness.
Band Members
Links
