Band of the Week: Lemuria

Joyous alt-poppers who won't stop until you're smiling - so cheer up!

Posted Monday, 21 February 2011 in

Lemuria This might not be strictly scientific, but in our experience you can split the world up into two groups: those who love Lemuria those who haven't heard them.

Hailing from New York State and playing the sort of gleeful, charming power-pop that makes you want to find someone attractive from the opposite sex and give them a bit of a squeeze, Lemuria have been plying their trade since 2005 and still haven't bothered to fit into any particular scene. Equally at home playing on a bill with a bunch of PBR-swigging beard-punk dudes as with some acoustic twinklers, their last album 'Pebble' is a little dose of joy that's been perking up the RS office since its release last month.

We caught up with drummer Alex Kerns for a chat. And while you're reading his fine words, stream a couple of tunes from their delightful new album 'Pebble' below.

Is it fair to say you’re something of a nomadic band, not fitting into any particular scene or community other than the nebulous 'independent music for people with open minds' one?
”That's pretty fair. Our shows bring out a very eclectic mix: teenagers to people in their 40s and sometimes 50s even. The past two labels we have been on were a predominantly ska label, Asian Man Records, and a predominantly hardcore label that we're currently on, Bridge 9 Records. It's pretty exciting for us, because we never feel like we have to do anything that is expected of us.”

When did Lemuria go from being something you enjoyed doing as a hobby to the main pursuit of your life?
”Since I was young I've always known that music was my main pursuit. I had been in multiple bands prior to Lemuria. I would say about a few months of Lemuria I knew the band was what I really wanted to focus on.”
Lemuria - 'Wise People' by RockSoundMagazine
What do your parents think of the band?
”My mother is very proud. She never really enjoyed anything I did in the past, and playing in Lemuria is the first time she had ever seen me perform outside of playing trombone in my school concert band. A big part of what of motivates me to do this band is the fact that my father was very pleased with it and used to show all of his friends. He passed away shortly before our debut album ‘Get Better’ came out. A great deal of our songs are dedicated to him.”

What's the most fun thing you've ever done that involved Lemuria?
”It's really hard to say, because I really enjoy all aspects of playing in the band. Recording, touring, writing. Probably the most exhilarating moment for me in the band was stepping off of plane in Frankfurt, Germany and beginning our first European tour. The whole tour was ridiculously fun. Everyday was a new city, and sometimes a new country that was completely new.”

If you could be in any band from history at any point in their existence, who and when would you choose?
”I would like to be in Tom Waits’ backing band during the 80s for the album ‘Rain Dogs’. I would've loved to tour with him and just hear his stories. Although, I would still love to do that tour even with him now. He's still writing incredible music, and he hasn't become any less interesting.”
Lemuria - 'Chautauqua County' by RockSoundMagazine