By Jim Barber
It doesn’t all the time occur the best way people hope within the fickle world that’s the music enterprise. However typically – simply typically – exhausting work, dedication to craft, glorious artistic abilities and blindingly apparent expertise can result in success and acclaim.
A staple on the Kingston scene for practically a decade, rock band Luscious has put within the time, slogged it out in space golf equipment and made profitable forays into the massive, foreboding metropolis of Toronto getting higher with each present. Alongside this journey, the quintet constructed a status for offering superior leisure due to a blistering dwell present, a capability to write down, report after which carry out glorious exhausting rock songs that not solely are ear wormy, however incite audiences to bop, sing and shout it out loud.
That status for each excellence and professionalism has led, over the past couple of years, to some superb alternatives for the band. This consists of opening for Canadian music legends reminiscent of Kim Mitchell and I Mom Earth and enjoying in entrance of 1000’s of individuals on the annual Empire Rockfest occasion in Belleville opening for The Seashores amongst different prestigious live performance occasions. Later this summer season, they’ll be on the largest stage of their profession, because the band opens for American alt-rock pioneer and activist Tom Morello and some of the profitable rock bands of the Eighties – Def Leppard – at this yr’s Ottawa Bluesfest on Wednesday, July 16.
Alongside the best way, Luscious has hit the studio to report eight tracks of remarkable, memorable, melodically infused, badass rock and roll music which highlights the standard of musicianship of the quintet in addition to the compelling, powerhouse vocal prowess of frontwoman Brielle LeBlanc, the band’s charismatic and infectiously energetic co-founder and one in all its major songwriters.
The person band members have been all younger musicians and music college students in Kingston when serendipity introduced them collectively in 2016. As youngsters, Brielle befriended guitarist Kurt Paquette and drummer Wyatt McMullin after they all participated within the Rock Academy program placed on by native music retailer Renaissance Music. Brielle then found O’Handley by way of his YouTube channel the place he was exhibiting off his piano and keyboard prowess. On the time, the singer was solely 17, together with her two burgeoning bandmates across the identical age. O’Handley is just a few years older (now 32, in comparison with 26 for Brielle, Paquette and McMullin.) A few bass gamers got here and went over the band’s first half decade, earlier than they actually determined to make it a household affair by inviting Brielle’s older brother Cole, now 31, into the fold.
As a unit, Luscious shows a dynamic and versatile mixture of expertise, cohesiveness and disciplined drive that works onstage and within the recording studio, however simply as importantly, works offstage. Music Life Journal sat down for an old style telephone dialog with the band to speak about their previous, current and future.
“All people has completely different influences, and behind the scenes everyone has completely different roles to play. We’ve all performed in different bands and discovered numerous musical classes and life classes from these bands, which we’ve utilized right here. And I believe persona sensible, we’ve got a little bit little bit of all the things. If we have been all the identical, I don’t suppose it will work in addition to it does,” mentioned McMullin, with Brielle including “All of us have a task collectively and I really feel like I’d be nothing with out them. I’m very grateful to have them in my life and I believe they really feel the identical.”
“All of us herald these completely different types to the band and that’s what makes Luscious the band that it’s. And we’re all there for one another, identical to good pals. We like to hang around and I believe we’ve actually bonded collectively. Since we’re opening for Def Leppard I used to be actually wanting into them and the explanations for his or her success and that’s what’s made them big for all this time – having that bond for years and years, many years truly. That friendship, it’s extra essential than the rest. It makes all the things simpler. We’re all pals, I’ve recognized all of them since I used to be a child.”
“All people’s completely different from a musical standpoint as Wyatt mentioned. If I needed to drill all the way down to what everyone’s good at, I’d say Kurt is a real riff machine. He’ll simply provide you with these superb riffs after which they arrive collectively so effectively as songs. Wyatt might be probably the most versatile drummer I’ve ever labored with in that he’ll play an element and 99 per cent of the time it’s the precise half we’d like, however the one per cent the place we give him suggestions, he’s very versatile and keen to work till it suits the track completely. He has no ego about these things, although he’s so good. Cole is the opposite one moreover me who has the weirdest style in music within the band. Loads of the much less rock and roll influences come from Cole which balances issues out properly,” mentioned O’Handley.
“Brielle is superb at including the lyrics to the songs. Each time we write a track, and we form of write our songs in reverse in comparison with numerous different bands: we are going to simply write the music and never have any type of lyrics deliberate out. We’ll write the instrumental portion after which Brielle will present up actually to the following apply with a lyric and melody to that track. So she’s a grasp at that. And I’m only a musical concept nerd – that’s what I convey to the desk.”
Brielle is the visible point of interest of the band, together with her boundless effervescence permeating each efficiency, she initiatives the right mix of playfulness, confidence and badassery. You realize she was meant to be on the massive stage with the seemingly easy manner she will be able to join with heaving plenty of humanity at giant festivals, or eye to eye with these simply a few toes away in a sweaty membership.
Initially named The Brielle Leblanc Band, the vocalist felt uncomfortable with the moniker, as a result of she was adamant that this was a band, not a challenge for which she was the chief. In order that they selected a reputation that fits the music, one that’s barely cheeky, eminently democratic, however very rock and roll. And Luscious it turned.
“Visually and musically, if you happen to have a look at the definition of the phrase, it form of suits our aesthetic, which is rock and roll, and our sonic picture. I all the time say we’re a contemporary interpretation of traditional rock. We’re not traditional rock. We’re not fashionable rock. We’re taking a contemporary strategy to how we play and write the traditional rock model of music that we grew up with,” mentioned O’Handley.
“I believe we’re type of outdated souls and we’ve got all these completely different influences and that type of offers us this traditional rock really feel, however we’re a contemporary model of these influences,” added Brielle.
These influences embrace the plain ones reminiscent of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, but additionally The Tragically Hip (it’s Kingston in spite of everything!) Stone Temple Pilots, Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers, Grateful Useless, steel professionals like Meshuggah, in addition to Dream Theater.
In the event you comply with Brielle’s private social media accounts, she has little hesitation in broadcasting her idols and influences, significantly the long-lasting Debbie Harry of Blondie and Gwen Stefani – significantly her days fronting No Doubt.
“Nicely, I’m all concerning the ladies artists being in a female-fronted band. So I believe these influences come naturally as a result of I’m a girl in rock, and it’s actually who I’m in comparison with. However I simply love a very good frontperson whether or not they’re a person or lady. I really like Debbie Harry. I really like Gwen Stefani however there’s so many others I like from Gord Downie [Tragically Hip], David Usher [Moist] Scott Weiland [Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver] and naturally Joan Jett,” she mentioned.
The entire influences and experiences of the band members come collectively in a cacophony of creativity after they apply and after they resolve it’s time to write down some songs.
“The method is a little bit completely different for each track. And if you happen to actually know our music, once you hear to every particular person track you will get a reasonably good thought who was the one that began it off, who acquired the ball rolling and actually deliberate out the track. If it’s a very riff-driven track, Kurt can be the one who go issues going. If was a little bit extra various sounding, you’ll be able to wager it was Cole’s thought. So Kurt’s strategy is that he’ll convey a riff in and we’ll type of construct the track round it in actual time as a band primarily based on that riff,” O’Handley defined.
“Cole and I’ve just about the identical strategy as one another; we’ll go right into a cave and simply write a complete track after which convey it to apply, put it on the working desk and let everyone make their cuts and do what they should do. After which Brielle, for the track ‘Alone (We Are Not),’ she absolutely wrote the track acoustically after which we got here in and turned it right into a rock track for the entire band. So, it form of is dependent upon who had the preliminary thought. However the principle factor is all of us have a hand in it.”
‘Love Baby’ is likely one of the most emotionally resonant of the unique songs within the Luscious repertoire and has Brielle thrusting her personal ache and disappointment out into the world for the catharsis created by such an unburdening, but additionally to let others going by way of heartache or heartbreak know they’re not alone.
“Once I wrote this, I used to be going by way of a really darkish time in my life. I don’t suppose I knew on the time how dangerous it was. However it was throughout COVID which is a provided that it was a darkish time for everybody. However it was actually a low level in my life and I believe it was only a therapeutic technique to write about how I used to be feeling. Clearly the lyrics and speaking about ‘the battle dancing within my head,’ I believe additionally goes with only a basic societal viewpoint of seeing all of the chaos on the planet,” she mentioned.
“And I believed ‘Love Baby’ was a cool manner of expressing it. And we added an excellent riff to it as a result of we needed to make it a severely rock and roll track. So although it has a darkish theme, it’s very upbeat and really rockin’ and every particular person within the band added their elements to make it an excellent track.”
“That was one of many songs that began with the guitar riff. If I keep in mind accurately, it was a kind of when the day was accomplished the entire track was there. After which by the following apply, Brielle had the lyrics and the track was completed. However not all of them are that fast,” added Paquette.
‘Bombshell’ is one other track that you just couldn’t think about anybody apart from Luscious creating or Brielle LeBlanc singing. It has change into one of many band’s hottest dwell tracks, with its raucousness matched solely by its melodic memorability and sing-along nature.
“That was one other Kurt riff and was one other fast one. I believe after we acquired to the refrain we have been caught for only a second after which we thought, why don’t we simply play two chords and let Brielle sing the hook,” mentioned O’Handley, with Paquette choosing up the story.
“It’s humorous, as a result of normally I’m the one who’s saying, ‘let’s simply simplify this half or that half, ‘ and Doug’s the one who desires to develop it and add extra elements. I believe this was a kind of cases the place it was the reverse, the place I used to be saying, hey let’s attempt to do all these chords and it was Doug who mentioned, ‘let’s simply do two chords.’”
“We needed to maintain this very rock and roll. It’s your traditional rock and roll sound. I mentioned this to the fellows the opposite day if folks name us a rock band, it’s due to songs like ‘Bombshell.’ That’s form of the meat and potatoes of rock and roll. And I keep in mind Cole including a very cool bass line to it which put it excessive and I simply liked it. It’s one in all my favourites and it went fairly fast as a result of I had many of the lyrics round for years, simply ready for the proper track,” mentioned Brielle, with Paquette including that there’s some apparent inspiration from the traditional Runaways track, ‘Cherry Bomb.’
If there’s one other track which could possibly be added to a time capsule as one which fully epitomizes the angle and vitality of Luscious, it’s the banger ‘Fireplace Me Up’ which is likely one of the band’s earliest compositions that made it to the recording stage.
McMullin and Paquette had the riff sitting as a recording on McMullin’s telephone for various years earlier than deciding to see if they may do one thing with it.
“We introduced it to the band and I keep in mind that there was one in all our pals who was all the time coming to our reveals and he would yell, ‘fireplace me up!’ We thought it will virtually be like a novelty track to do one referred to as ‘Fireplace Me Up,’ due to that. We have been enjoying the bar scene and have been at The Service provider Faucet Home [a Kingston live music venue of some renown] and we had this group of pals that may all the time chant ‘fireplace me up.’ In order that’s form of how we conceived of the thought for the track,” mentioned Paquette, with Brielle acknowledging that it’s most likely the band’s hottest track in a dwell setting.
“They [the fans] have been an enormous inspiration for us. That track is known as a crowd pleaser. I believe the group actually will get into it after we play it dwell. It’s simply made for that interplay with the viewers. There’s a lot vitality going between the band and the group. It’s a kind of moments in a present the place it simply lifts up the group and will get folks going. And I believe that’s why we’ll all the time hold it in our units. It actually showcases who we’re and how much a present we do and although it was one in all our first songs, it’s nonetheless all the time actually enjoyable to do.”
Taking a look at it at present, it looks as if it was solely a matter of time earlier than Luscious started to reap the rewards for all their exhausting work, for his or her capability to craft superior rock songs, to be so devoted to all sides of their artistic craft and for conducting themselves as true professionals. However it isn’t all the time the case as many failed bands and artists can attest. There may be additionally a side of getting a eager eye to see when a chance arises and the fortitude and wherewithal to benefit from these alternatives.
Any time Luscious has been given an opportunity to open for an even bigger title act, they’ve pounced transferring effortlessly from phases in smaller Kingston venues like The Service provider and The Mansion to performing in entrance of 1000’s at Belleville’s Empire Rockfest (3000-plus in attendance), in addition to bigger indoor venues reminiscent of The Ale Home in Kingston and The Bronson Centre in Ottawa. And now, add to that listing the huge Ottawa Bluesfest, the place the group measurement is measured within the tens of 1000’s.
Luscious have put within the time, put within the miles, and put within the sweat fairness over the past 9 years, treating any sacrifices and dues paying as merely the value of doing enterprise – that enterprise being rising to the higher echelons of the music trade, with out compromising their artistry, integrity or their friendship.
“We’re simply actually grateful for these alternatives. It’s probably the most lovely feeling on the planet to carry out on a stage normally, however to carry out on these larger phases, I believe it actually suits Luscious. I don’t know, I simply really feel so emotional on the market with these guys. I’m virtually crying proper now eager about it, as a result of there have been moments after I have a look at them after we’re on the market and suppose, ‘wow, this can be a actually lovely second in our profession and we’ve labored so exhausting.’ However we’re additionally so grateful. I believe we have been simply stunned in any respect these superb reveals we’ve been capable of do, and we’re simply so humbled by them,” mentioned Brielle.
“It doesn’t even really feel actual typically. I’m nonetheless form of battling the entire course of, questioning if I’m allowed to stroll round backstage, the place can I am going, who can I discuss to. It’s all nonetheless form of registering with me, however like Brielle, I’m completely simply grateful and completely happy to be in these conditions and attempt to soak it up as a lot as I can, as a result of, you by no means know if it’s going to go away. So I need to all the time respect it,” added O’Handley.
“We don’t take something without any consideration. We take the preparation for all this actually severely. As soon as we began getting these larger reveals, we had a good friend of ours who’s a part of the sound crew for Bryan Adams are available in when he’s not on the street to verify we’re being offered in one of the simplest ways doable. Loads of thought goes into our units, the notes on what we’re going to say in between songs and making certain our crew is skilled as a result of we need to ensure we’re making the most effective impression doable. As a result of, as we’ve mentioned, if you happen to don’t benefit from these alternatives and drink it in, and put your finest effort into it, then you definitely’re much less prone to hold it going.”
One of many first massive alternatives got here from Mark Rashotte, proprietor of the Empire Theatre in Belleville and promoter of the annual Empire Rockfest collection of outside reveals in downtown Belleville, Ontario every July. He put Luscious on a invoice opening for the rising band The Seashores in the summertime of 2024. A yr on, and The Seashores are actually one in all Canada’s most commercially profitable, critically lauded and widespread bands.
“He was the one who acquired us on the invoice with The Seashores and it form of led to a snowball impact from there. As a result of after you have a present like that in your resume, so long as you don’t bomb, the phrase will get out within the trade and also you by no means know the place that might lead. From there we acquired the present with Kim Mitchell [later in November 2024], and from that we acquired I Mom Earth [at the Ale House in Kingston] after which we ended up occurring with Edwin [from I Mother Earth for a solo show at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa]. It’s like I mentioned, the type of snowball impact the place you retain getting larger reveals as a result of every outing you show your self. So we felt extremely fortunate and grateful that Mark put us on that first present. I nonetheless have the cheque we acquired from Empire Rockfest, simply type of mounted above our whiteboard in our rehearsal house as a reminder that earlier than that present we have been caught doing solely bar gigs, however he acquired us out of that,” mentioned O’Handley.
“That specific Empire Rockfest was cool as a result of Brielle, Wyatt and I noticed The Seashores just a few years in the past for the primary time after they have been the opening act [for The Glorious Sons] at Empire Rockfest. After which right here we’re just a few years later and so they’re the headliner and we’re within the spot that that they had. It was like a full circle second,” added Paquette.
So now, the band’s sights are firmly set on Ottawa Bluesfest, one of many greatest musical occasions to occur in Canada every summer season, with internationally famend headliners every night. It needs to be a heady expertise for any younger band to see themselves on a poster or commercial with solely two names above theirs – one being Tom Morello of Rage Towards the Machine, and legendary Sheffield UK rockers Def Leppard.
“I texted my oldest brother Dan and informed him we’re opening for Tom Morello and Def Leppard on the principle stage at Bluesfest and he instantly referred to as me and the very first thing he mentioned was, ‘what the ***okay is happening?! How is that this occurring?!’ It isn’t misplaced on us how lucky we’re but additionally how loopy that is,” O’Handley mentioned.
Apart from getting ready for Bluesfest and a handful of different upcoming reveals, work continues on new music, with the intention of releasing extra singles regularly with the potential of an album in some unspecified time in the future within the close to future. Among the different reveals embrace enjoying the brand new Line Spike Competition in Frontenac County on a invoice that features the long-lasting Burton Cummings, Sunday, June 29, adopted by a return to Empire Rockfest on July 25 to open for legendary Canadian acts David Wilcox and Trooper.
“There’s a plan down the road to get a vinyl urgent however proper now our schedule is a little bit bit unconventional for what numerous established bands do as a result of once you’re not tremendous established there’s normally strain to maintain releasing new music and have a constant move of music coming. So, I believe the plan now could be to maintain releasing singles, however then retroactively type of amalgamate these singles into an album that we’d then launch as a bodily product,” O’Handley defined.
“We’ve acquired 5 unrecorded tracks able to go, and we’ve got two tracks which are recorded and prepared for launch. One we’re releasing in July and the opposite one within the fall. I believe the objective is to get a bodily launch for all these new recordings and have an precise album pressed. And hopefully we will try this by March of subsequent yr, which is our tenth anniversary, and have a giant album launch get together.”
For extra info on Luscious, their new music and tour dates, go to
Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and creator primarily based in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Apart from his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising and marketing specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.
SHARE THIS POST:
