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LOVEBLAST: "Hard Liquor In Big Glasses"

LOVEBLAST -  'Hard Liquor In Big Glasses' - The latest EP release from the U.S. Melodic Rock Band with the drive for big hooks, big guitars, and big attitude. Are they going Big in Japan in their attempt to live out their rock n roll dreams? Only time will tell. Catch them live at Melodic Rock Fest 3 later this year. For now, find out more about the EP, band, and their influences, here's the singer of the band:  Brian Durbin...

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

The reaction to the new EP has been excellent so far. We've gotten great deal of feedback on how much more tenacious of an a release "Hard Liquor In Big Glasses" is, and how much the songwriting has matured. It's been great...

How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

We began recording in late October of 2012, but had some unexpected delays which halted recording for about a month or 2 in the winter. We completed recording in early February of this year, but the record wasn't released until June 15th.

What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to recording

I had worked with our producer Chuck Macak on our first CD, and knew I wanted to work with him again on the new EP. Having cut his teeth recording a lot of the rock/metal bands here in Chicago in the 80's, he has a great understanding of the music that influences LOVEBLAST. However, having done a lot of work for labels such as Sumerian, Earache, and Epitaph, he is really in tune with what's going on in music today and where we want to go as a band.

What kind of input did the producer have during the process

Chuck had quite a deal of input during recording, and in many ways he was like another member of the band. I wrote a lot of the material for the EP with him in mind, and actually wrote the song "Wild Forever," with him.

And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

I'm very pleased with final outcome! The production is definitely nice and polished, but never watered down or excessive. I feel like we accomplished exactly what we set out to do, and that is make kick ass, big songs that are rock n' roll to the core, but at the same time can stand up to anything that's going on in the rock world today.

Did the producer (or you) use any (weird) experimental miking and/or  recording techniques?

There was nothing particularly crazy that was done, although we were one of the first bands at the studio to be mixed through their new analog SPL Mixdream summing system. We also recorded a quite a bit of stacked vocal tracks that made the choruses massive, and I'm sure they drove Chuck crazy!

Please inform us about your favourite songs off the album

My personal favorite is a song called "In Your Arms Tonight." It's got a really big, melodic chorus and is probably my most vocally adventurous song on the new EP. It also gave me an opportunity to experiment some keys parts for the first time. There's something I love about all of them though. I love how ferocious "Wild Forever," and "Rain On Me," are. I love the guitars on "Hard Liquor In Big Glasses," and it was my first venture writing a song with a more serious subject matter. "When We Were Young," is very personal to me, and is probably the song I'vegotten the most feedback on. I'm proud of them all.

Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

I usually start by writing the guitar riffs first, and then I base the lyrics around what the mood of the music makes me feel. There's no specific mood or theme I'm trying to capture, but there are certainly themes that reoccur often when I write. I'm generally an upbeat optimistic guy so when I'm in that headspace, I'm inspired by music, rock n' roll, and the female form, so songs like "Wild Forever," "Rain On Me," and "In Your Arms Tonight," come out. Sometimes, I can drift into more abstract areas of thought, so that's where songs like "Hard Liquor In Big Glasses," come from. I also tend to be a pretty reflective guy, so when I go into that zone, songs like "When We Were Young," happen.

What exactly is the thought behind the title of Hard Liquor In Big Glasses?

The title "Hard Liquor In Big Glasses," is actually taken from a line of dialogue in an episode of the the old TV show Frasier, called "Visions Of Daphne." Those words were very vivid to me, and so I held on to it as a potential song title. There were actually 4 different drafts of lyrics for the actual song. The final song ended up being about a girl who's lived a rough life, her vices, and the consequences of both.

Do you feel it's unfair that people tend to compare your product with the 80s stuff? (considering budget, exposure, marketing, etc).

That's a tough one for me. On the one hand, I would love to have people listen to LOVEBLAST and hear a fresh, cutting edge hard rock band, because that's what I hear. I can totally understand us reminding someone of that music, but I personally don't think we sound much like an 80's band at all. We're more concerned with becoming a quintessential band of our own era. Having said that, you can't be too upset when someone compares you to 80's rock, if you've got XYZ, Roxy Blue, Rough Cutt, and Vinnie Vincent Invasion in your CD collection!

How would you describe the new CD to any potential new fan?

"Hard Liquor In Big Glasses," is a 5 song, 20 minute battle cry of a young, hungry rock n' roll band, fighting for nothing more than to be heard and to live out a dream. For fans of big hooks, big guitars, and big attitude. It is boisterous,infectious, and passionate.

Are you excited about playing Melodic Rock Fest? Are any of your fave bands/acts playing?

We are very excited to be a part of Melodic Rock Fest. It's an honor to be playing with such a high caliber bands from all around the world. I'm a huge Danger Danger fan, so I'm pumped to play with Ted Poley! And of course as a singer I'm very excited to be sharing a stage with guys like Jeff Scott Soto (performing with W.E.T.), and Eric Martin.

Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a KISS freak. I'm also heavily influenced by Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake, Van Halen, and Skid Row. I could go on for days, but those are the ones really resonate with me.

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

First of all, thank you very much Urban and everyone at www.rockunited.com for having me! Thank you to all of our fans all over the world for taking the time to give a young up and coming band a chance. If you haven't done so already, visit our webstore at www.loveblast.bigcartel.com and pick up a copy of "Hard Liquor In Big Glasses," for only $5. International orders save on shipping all summer long!
Brian Durbin / LOVEBLAST

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from the band's websites  
www.loveblastrock.com  
facebook/loveblastrock 

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