An Interview With Left Hand Lions
If you've been looking for a release with some real deal southern rock soul, look no further because Left Hand Lions just dropped an EP that bleeds nothing but genuine Americana rock with more attitude than you can handle.
The Southpaw record is loaded with catchy licks, twangy guitars and a subtle mix of styles that come together and create a real deal EP that grabs your attention right quick and holds it throughout its play through.
The instrumentation on this thing is amazing. There are cinematic builds, acoustics, and righteous electric guitars all over the place and it all becomes partIf you've been looking for a release with some real deal southern rock soul, look no further because Left Hand Lions just dropped an EP that bleeds nothing but genuine Americana rock with more attitude than you can handle.
The Southpaw record is loaded with catchy licks, twangy guitars and a subtle mix of styles that come together and create a real deal EP that grabs your attention right quick and holds it throughout its play through.
The instrumentation on this thing is amazing. There are cinematic builds, acoustics, and righteous electric guitars all over the place and it all becomes part of a storytelling record that comes with soulful and belting vocals that hit that sweet spot perfectly.
This record has character and really shines in terms of performance and songwriting. The guys seem to feed off of each other's energies so well it's almost intimidating.
12 strings and something to say with Left Hand Lions for sure.
The release never really lets up and the grooves get deep as the band brings in horns and jam band undertones that let the songs ride out into the sunset.
Most tracks paint with a gorgeous palette and paint vivid pictures with them and the band gives off that live performance feel with tons of energy.
This is a pretty diverse release as well as songs range in styles and even genre crossing when you least expect it.
It's all a very cool and refreshing sound and it's for people who love real deal rock songs with a sheek and southern tonality.
With such a killer release, we wanted to have a chat with Left Hand Lions to find out where this all came from and what may be next for them.
TSWS: Okay so let's start with the Southpaw record! This release had some funk rock tones and feels to it! Where did this EP come from?
First off, thanks so much! We’re stoked to hear that you guys dig the EP! Since our original folk rock release, “Westward”, we had always wanted to steer our music into more of a rock and roll category. We found a studio in Santa Barbara (Hidden City) that specialized in that genre and recorded “Old Criminal” to see if that direction aligned with our new vision. Luckily (well, luck plus a lot of work) partnering with this studio ultimately paid off. With the first single leading the way, we started experimenting with our sound and ultimately struck a healthy balance between the two genres.
TSWS: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
We pull a ton of inspiration from our music heroes. While we’ve been primarily influenced by a few bands throughout the years (The Revivalists, Dave Matthews Band, and Nathaniel Ratliff and the Nightsweats, to name a few), we’re always looking across genres to expand our musical horizons. There’s also a local band called the Bryan Titus Trio (bt3o) whose performance style and energy inspire us to up our game with every live performance.
TSWS: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music?
Individually, we’ve all had a ton of experience working with different music groups. Some with bands, some with a cappella, some just jamming regularly among friends. As we gradually formed the Left Hand Lions, adding instruments and experience to the band, we slowly defined our sound and fell in love with developing it into what you’re hearing today.
TSWS: What's next for you as a band?
More live performances! Since the early days of COVID, we had cancelled over a year’s worth of gigs and touring. With life returning to normal, we’re getting back into the swing of things. We will also be doing some more writing later this year, so if you’re on the California Central and Southern Coasts, you’ll get to hear a few new tunes.
TSWS: What inspires you to write a song?
The muse strikes at the weirdest times. Sometimes I’ll get a jingle in my head and will pitch it to the guys to musically elaborate on it. Sometimes an entire song comes to life and writes itself within just an hour. Sometimes a thought or theme sticks with me and stays at the forefront of my mind until I grind out a song to fit it—it’s always different, and it’s always exciting.
TSWS: What are you all doing when you're NOT working on music?
Being local to Santa Barbara, we’re quite the outdoorsy group! From beach running, to camping, to drinking far too much wine, we all like to sample the local faire. We also just got a Swissy puppy, so a lot of time is spent raising the little guy to be an adorable mascot. We might even buy a special lion costume for him.
TSWS: Who are you all listening to right now?
The four of us all have different genres that we primarily listen to. Dylan (Percussion) digs the blues, Will (Lead Guitar) is a big acoustic rock fan, and Curtis (Bass) listens to all kinds of music. These days I’m finding myself listening to a ton of St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Glass Animals. All our interests blend together when the time comes to tune up and jam.
TSWS: Are you doing live performances?
We’ve been doing live performances since our early busking days in 2017, but we’ve slowed down a bit since then.
During the worst of the pandemic, we had to cancel our California tour and largely disbanded the group. With a half-recorded EP on hold and the band spread out across the country, we were in a holding pattern for over a year. Fortunately, once the dust settled, we were able to get back in studio to finish what we started. We’ll be starting back up our local live performances as well!
TSWS: This EP seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming bands out there?
Let the creative process take your music places where you never expected it to go! While it’s good to have a vision, don’t set it in stone. You never know when an idea sparks to life that takes your music to another level.
TSWS: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
This album has something for everyone. From folksy singer-songwriter love ballads to gritty, toe-tapping alternative rock jams, “Southpaw” is our quilt of work that came from years of experimentation and live performance experience. We hope you love it!