The
Hard Lessons have earned quite a reputation in the rock world during
the past couple years, a reputation for constantly blowing audiences’
minds and shaking their hips with a now soul rock sound and a TNT-powered
freakout live show. After every rock journalist in the 313 and 734
areas codes have declared the Lansing natives the next big thing,
with the release of their upcoming full length album Gasoline, the
Hard Lessons are ready to completely rule the school. Comprised
of three energetically rocking individuals known as Gin, KoKo Louise
and The Anvil, The Hard Lessons have paid their dues with billions
of live shows and all the blood, sweat and tears that go into raw
powered rock ‘n’ roll. The Ann Arbor Paper recently
had the pleasure of talking to singer/guitarist Gin (a.k.a. Augie
Visocchi), singer/organist KoKo (a.k.a. Korin Louise Cox) and drummer
Christophe Zajac-Denek (a.k.a. The Anvil) about the band and magical
power of that which is called rock.
Ann Arbor Paper:
We’ll get the lame questions out of the way first...How did
all you folks meet? What was the genesis of the Hard Lessons sound?
The Anvil: We all met out of a love for music, rockin’ music.
We met at a show which brought us together for a more formal meeting
than had previously allowed. I was an acquaintance with Augie but
this brought us together and got us talking about our than current
musical situations and how we all wanted something different. Our
sound is rooted in structure with room for spontaneity. Our trio
uses an organ instead of a bass so that instantly gives us a different
vibe. Also, our stage repertoire changes at every show. We have
no setlist so it’s all on the spot.
A2P: So why
not “The Easy Lessons”?
Gin: There aren’t any easy lessons in life or rock ‘n’
roll, for that matter. Our songs are all about learning hard lessons
as well as teaching them. Thanks for the suggestion, though. Its
the first time someone has suggested changing the second word in
the name. Most of the criticism revolves around the first. I remember
some drunk guy at a show being pissed off that we put a “the”
at the beginning of the name. Not sure what that has to do with
our music.
Anvil: I think the name stemmed from us all having some hand in
the teaching biz. However, it has been more and more appropriate
for a us as new band getting a taste of the music industry. Also
it’s more of a realistic life scenario, everybody learns some
hard lessons.
A2P: So the
new record comes out in May, do you feel it will be the new official
summertime jam?
Gin: Honestly, I do! Spread the word: the new Hard Lessons album
is the official summertime jam! I like that. We spent a lot of time
getting in just right. When we went into record, we had already
been playing most of these tunes for quite a while live. That said,
we also recorded a couple that were newer to keep the album fresh.
I think this album is really going to surprise people when it comes
out. Forget about labels; it is a great record from start to finish.
Though I have to admit, my new favorite description of our band
has been “bass-free spaz pre-punk rock” by Leighton
at the Elbow Room.
Anvil: I’ve already sawed the roof off my car in anticipation
of blasting the album all summer long. A bad decision this early
in the year in Michigan...
A2P: If there
were a Hard Lessons movie (like A Hard Day’s Night) what would
you folks want the plot to be like?
Gin: I would want it to be similar to an episode of the A-Team.
The Anvil would play the part of B.A. and we would constantly have
to trick him into drinking a drugged glass of milk to get him to
participate in whatever scheme we’re working up. We could
fight some Colombian drug lord in a tank we build out of our instruments.
Plus the A-Team is always driving around in a van; we’re doing
that all the time, so we’re used to it... I’d love to
tour in the A-Team van. Korin would definitely be Hannibal and I
would probably be Murdock.
A2P: If Ashlee
Simpson called you folks up and asked if you wanted to open for
her at the Palace of Auburn Hills, would you do it?
Gin: I’d open for her and eat all the food on her rider and
have The Anvil teach Ryan Cabera a “hard lesson.”
Anvil: She’s been calling for months. She’s been trying
to set up her tour around our schedule but it’s been too hectic
for us to get back to her. Oh wait, you said Ashlee...Hell no, we
wouldn’t open for her!! I thought you said Jessica! I’d
only open for her if there was some good pork on her food rider.
A2P: Any desire
to ever start a cover band? If so, would it be?
Gin: I get ideas to start cover bands all the time. Sometimes for
specific artists, sometimes for genres. I had this idea to start
an L.L. Cool J. cover band. I’m a huge fan of old school hip-hop,
and it is perfect for bands since a lot of it contains samples of
guitar riffs. This bullshit about “rap rock” being invented
by Korn and Limp Bizkit is exactly that... Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Beastie
Boys - all that early hip hop was rap combined with rock.
KoKo: I am starting a Motor City barbershop quartet. It will soon
turn into a full chorus. I’m accepting applications and holding
tryouts this spring for those interested in my a cappella, Detroit
rock city cover chorus.
Anvil: If we started a cover band, it might have to be similar to
an Edgar Winter thing. Ko could wear a huge key-tar, Augie could
play some dope riffs in a Spandex one-piece and I could have some
bigger-than-me ‘70s drums to beat on. Hmmmmm.
A2P: Have you
had any weirdo fan incidents yet?
Gin: Not necessarily fan incidents, but every time we get big press,
weirdos come out of the woodwork. After being on the cover of Metro
Times I had about four or five people I didn’t know come up
to me to voice their jealousy, problems, whatever with me. By no
means am I saying its a problem. Put us on the cover of this paper
and we’ll gladly take the heat from a few drunks!
A2P: What’s
your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Gin: Scrambled eggs and hash browns from Salvador Deli in Hamtramck.
KoKo: Peanut Butter Crunch cereal with 2 percent milk. Heaven. I
usually have two helpings.
A2P: What’s
your dream concert triple bill lineup?
Gin: Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson, the original New Edition
and Johnny Cochran
A2P: So you
folks recently signed with local heroes No Fun Records, before that
did any big labels do anything crazy to try and woo you?
Gin: We played a show for Seymour Stein when he was in town. We
had offers from a few larger indies, but they wanted to own us forever.
We didn’t want to sign away what we would be doing in seven
years. We were also talking to another big label that spit out some
of our friends a couple years ago. No Fun is perfect. They are our
friends and they believe in our band. We’re willing to work
hard, so getting the record out was the most important thing.
A2P: Would
you say that The Hard Lessons live “the rock ‘n’
roll lifestyle”?
Gin: Depends on the definition of rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.
The one that is sold to the youth of American on Cribs and Behind
the Music isn’t even part of our mind frame. We’re always
playing music or at the bar checking out some other bands. Rock
‘n’ roll is our life, so I guess it would also be or
lifestyle. We stay up late, party and still get up for work the
next day. Starting this summer the band will be our full-time project.
KoKo: We work hard. We support other bands. We party late. We dance.
Augie raps. We get too loud. We get kicked out of bars at 3 a.m.
We love what we are doing. I love working with Augie and Christophe
and I’m proud of the music we make. The only piece of the
lifestyle that we are missing are the huge explosive band fights.
A2P: What’s
the Hard Lessons’ 10-year plan? Will you continue to rock
in the year 2015?
Gin: Our goal is to keep making great music, to play our asses off,
and to tour, tour, tour! I can definitely picture us being around
for 10 more years. I guess it all depends if I can still hang upside
down from light rigs and jump off 12-foot speakers at that point.
We’ve got youth on our side, so that should help. A2P
The Hard Lessons’ CD release party will be at the Blind Pig
on Saturday, April 30. The Avatars will also be playing. 208 S.
First, Ann Arbor. 10 p.m.
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