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| Liquor Kings - Jonathan Moogk photo |
“And their fans say, Liquor Kings Baby”
Some might say, RNR music is the fountain of youth. After the last four years these rolling lifers, the Liquor Kings seemed to have tapped into a prolific wellspring. With over 60 original songs under their belt, they seem to be pumping them out at a rate of one a week these days. If you check out the rap sheets for these musical gangsters you will find their individual records go back as far as Vancouver’s first and second wave of punk heyday. History, indeed, look it up!
Their second release, Unfiltered came out in the fall 2014 and a third DIY release Happy Hour is underway and due out early 2015. Perhaps, this last title is a tip of the glass to the reinstated drinking establishment tradition and a return to Vancouver cocktail culture. You should check in with them at the next bar show, after all, they are the ‘Kings!’
Oh, wait; this story is getting sidetracked, so back to the album. “We do the entire process ourselves. We write, record, mix and master the songs,“ says their front man, Eddy Dutchman. To add to this home-brew society, another pal of theirs, artist Richard Katynski threw together some artwork and T-shirt designs.
They claim these high-spirited and high-proof songs come together as a rock ‘n’ roll duty and an enterprise of good friends. “Everybody is involved. Our music is seemingly simple and anthem oriented rock with lots of loud and complicated guitar parts,” he adds.
As for original music, Dutchman asserts that they will never do covers. “Never have, never will,” he firmly states reinforcing their inclination ‘to do it their way.’
For this gang of pranksters their colours are laden with imagery and metaphors of LIQUOR, DEVILS and EVIL. Dutchman’s philosophy reads like a mislaid pulp fiction novel. “For us, as a rock band, we are like your older juvenile delinquent brother,” he claims and “it’s a challenge and rock is our medication and our rock is salvation rock.”
You never know what dark corner these guys turn up on for local gigs. They can add them, as fast as they can write songs. With that in place the vocalist dares you to hit them up at one of their live shows. “Loud and ugly,” he calls it, “we don't care, and straight up and on the rocks, Liquor Kings, baby.
In the meanwhile for those who wanna hear the testimony, their two releases Liquor Kings - 100 Proof and Unfiltered are available direct from the band or at Neptoon Records and Bonerattle Music.
The Liquor Kings perform at The Fairview Pub on Friday, Feb. 27th with The Bad Beats
- Anita Lee
