Tyler Reed and Lila Ignite- Interiew and Review!

TYLER REED & LILA  IGNITE 

  

  With an album cover fit for VH1 Classic and songs that are dripping with the venom of honesty, it isn’t hard to see that these tasty offspring of the Century Break Greats are hitting the nail on the head.

  

 While Lila Ignite is laced with the sweet influence of Greenday, among others, their claim to Punk is conflicted. Our motto at TWRAR is “We Are The Noise”, and that is exactly what draws me to this group. They aren’t the Punk you see tagging walls and chain smoking. It runs deeper. They earn the title of Punk through their values and ideals. They walk the walk and talk the talk. Mohawks and steel-toed boots not included.

 So enough ass-kissing, let’s get to what you people came for. Lila Ignite consists of 4 dudes. You got Jon Shackelton on the Drums, Dan Congdon on Bass, Tom Lewis on Guitar, who also does a little singing here and there, and lastly, our leading man, Tyler Reed, the Lead Singer and manager. Now Tyler isn’t your typical angry Punk, as I mentioned before, he’s more like the nicest guy ever. Even though yours truly delayed this very article as well as the interview you are about to experience, Tyler stuck with it.

  

 We are on to the Q&A!

   Q. So how long have you guys been together?

   A. It will be 4 years in August!

   Q. Are you planning anything big?

   A. Well, we will be on tour for the first half of August, and then we go home. We’re going to start really focusing on continuing to write a new album.

  Q. So what are your plans for the next album?

  A. We’re starting to explore some new sounds for this album already, it’s really fun. We already have a Doo Wop song that I really enjoy. I think we might resurrect some older songs and give them some new life.

   Q. With Not Punk Rock, what was your biggest inspiration?

   A. Hmm… I’d have to say just the ambition to do something bigger than we thought we could do. I’m a huge fan of bands that make huge, anathematic records, and I really wanted to create something like that. Bands too often play it safe and never really step out of their comfort zones anymore, so we wanted to do something to separate us from the attitude and content feeling of being mediocre.

   Q. Personally, what song off the record is your favourite?

   A. Oh, man. I’d have to say Connected Through Space or I’m Not Afraid both are super fun live, and two completely different vibes, but it’s fun to flow from one into the other.

   Q. What is your favourite venue to play live?

   A. The Space in Hamden CT. and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg PA. Also, we’ve only played their once, but I loved Anonymous Guitars in South Florida.

   Q. Is there anything you want the world to know about Lila Ignite?

   A. My favourite colour is blue!

   Q. I’ll be sure to add that!

   A. And that we love what we do and are excited to and so appreciative of all of the incredible opportunities and tours we’ve been able to be a part of as well as everyone we’ve ever met and everyone who continues to support this wacky thing we have. It’s a crazy, difficult career choice, but we all love what we do!

   Q. Do any of the guys have anything?

   A. Daddy issues and graphic novels mostly.

   Q. Can I add that?

    

There you have it! And if Lila Ignite is in the progress of coming up with something great, you can be sure that this is not the last you will see of then around here!

    

So, what do WE think of the album? Well the best medicine would be for you to go out and try it for yourself and their website: lilaignite.bandcamp.com but for the sake of conversation, let’s look at some choice songs off their album!

  

 Let’s start out with the jams that Tyler mentioned: Connected Through Space is The perfect song to start out with because it goes against the grain of what you would expect from a band of this calibre. The first half is sincere and dear. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that the soft vocals and harmonies were just for me. They say that the best songs do that to you. At nearly the half way marker of the song, we get into the heavy stuff which only hammers home the lyrics. I think that the line “I know that this is real” repeated throughout the song is relatable in anyone’s life. The fact that it is repeated adds to the reality of the whole piece. “Two hearts united, Connected through space” leaves a lasting impression, especially to me. I don’t necessarily believe in god, but I do believe in Grand Fate.

  I’m Not Afraid actually comes before Connected Through Space on the album. Again, another one that sits pretty in my emotional field, as well as anyone who has experienced life’s ups and downs. “Put an end to sleepless nights”, “I’m learning how to deal”, and “Down the drain with medication” are things that most Live Fast, Die Young Millennials have had to experience, be it personally or passively. Enough with that though, because this song looks to the positive effects of being twenty-teen-something. “I feel I’m getting better”, “I’m learning how to deal”, “Never felt this real”. I can go on all day quoting lyrics, so let’s talk music. The upbeat tempo is what really gives the song its power, but when paired with an equally upbeat guitar track, you get something that is really special (thanks, Lewis and Shacklton). There isn’t much I can say about this song because it is a very tactile thing that needs to be held personally in order to truly grasp its relatability to your life.

  Alright, let’s look at the title track before we jump into my favourites: Not Punk Rock. I’m just kidding you; this is one of my favourites. Screw the song, I’ll take a large order of those lyrics to go please. It takes balls to bash someone, but putting it into song is the ultimate burn, however, these guys have ‘em and can pull it off. Reed’s vocals add to the quick-witted vibe of the song. The best part is that if you added a sound bite of a mic-drop, this would be the greatest rap-battle of all time. After that point, we are left with the lingering sound of Congdon’s bass to let us know that the boys aren’t quite through. One more go at the course leaves a burning for more in my ears (Listen to the song and you’ll get it).

   When It Rains, It Pours is one that had me at the riff. It is reminiscent of our Classic Rock forefathers, but takes a modern twist with its clipped sound. By simply not drawing out the chords, you get a sound that is perfect for the modern audience. One thing that Tyler and the boys can give us that Rock’s predecessors can’t is a relevant angst. The title is pretty self-explanatory, and again, it is for those who know the rises and falls of simply existing in society. We know what it feels like to be stuck; we know how it feels to need someone. It is perfect for your physical or mental rainy day.

  

 So all in all, short summary: these are real guys making real music for real people. Check out picture for tour dates, and make sure to get their album!

       -Cheyenne Kline, Special thanks to Tyler Reed and his terrific band! http://lilaignite.bandcamp.com/

Rush R40: A Religious Experience

I can now say that there is no worse feeling that a Rocker can feel than standing but 10 feet from one of the greatest of life's experiences.

"What if they start on time? They are very nice Canadians who probably won't keep people waiting."
"Everyone we've seen has started at 9."

We got to the Pepsi Center after finding parking that cost less than $30. Through the metal detector. Pretty lame crowd. No metal here (get it?). In the elevator. It was pretty quiet on the ground floor other than the janitor saying "Getty is right there, dude! I just opened the door and-" Once in the elevator though, every time the door opened was like an audio invasion. The crowd was cheering. We reached the 3rd floor just in time to hear the smash of Peart's set. They were very punctual Canadians.

That's when it happened. "In need to go to the bathroom."
Seriously? Who does that. "If you're not out in 5 minutes, I'm leaving you. Not there, I mean we are through." 
For the next 4 and a half minutes, I sat there doing a potty dance outside the Men's restroom. I didn't have to go, I just couldn't stand listening to Rush when I could have been screaming at the boys. Oh, god we are missing it!!! Talk about distress. 

The second I caught site of my partner in crime, I didn't say a word, I just ran like I had robbed the band. It didn't help that the place had the most confusing signs ever, we just kept busting into curtains until we found our rightful place. It was like a stage light drenched dream. Why was I seeing Rush? What the fuck is this? WHO AM I?! Talk about surreal.

My ears were instantly assaulted by sick Rock and Roll and my eyes blinded by the lights. My brain failed to believe that the site in front of me was real. I've had MY HERO Robert Plant look right at me, and I fully believe that happened... My seeing Rush... all the proof I have of that is the $70 missing from my bank account and the concert T I have covered in chocolate.

My readers know how I like to get to the nitty gritty of a whole show, but I was so Dazed and Confused that I can't even recall the show. I swear, I was sober.

Before I knew it, I had pealed all of my nail polish off and was getting ready to start my toes. I was itching to stand up, but damn, people are tight asses in the nose-bleeds. I was enticed by the young man (maybe 16?) a few rows down who was standing on the railing, Throwing his body back and forth over said 3rd story railing drumming, and pointing angrily at the stage while yelling at his mom. He was feeling it.

I can listen to Rush and bang my head on a wall all day, but even I am not fully versed in the art of Rush's discography. The first half of the show was an hour and a half that went by in 20 minutes. In that time, they squeezed in Roll the Bones, the album we listened to on the way up, and Clockwork Angels. Oh yeah and Subdivisions. AND on Roll the Bones, there was a breakdown. The boys got funky and added the some funky familiar faces to the mix. I'm not familiar with all of the guys in the video, but it was a spectacle. 

I'm 100% against recording videos at concerts, but I even steadied my boyfriend's hand when he held his Die-Pod out in front of my face to get proof to show his family. Do these guys know how to party?! oookaaay...

Rush is the only band we've seen that has taken an intermission. You know who opens for Rush? Rush. I took this time to contemplate if I should buy the most expensive T-shirt I've ever owned. It took about 5 minutes for me to decide yes, I need this. I could have plundered all my funds at the merch table, but I began twitching again when I heard the man next to us say "Yeah, they just got done playing the video." My timing was just off that night. I hurriedly paid for my shirt as that sweet beat from Tom Sawyer began to play. We ran, slowing around the guards, back around to our seats. I was pulled into a random gate just in time to see Peart's iconic dshdshdshdsh CSHHH with my own eyes. 

QUICK! to the opposite side of the building! In the second half, things changed. Most of the jams from the beginning were softer, less known, the lighting wasn't as bright, and the use of pyrotechnics was far in between. My eyes and ears had adjusted by that point, but I had a fking heart attack when I looked down for a fraction of a second at my hand and a set of fireworks when off. I've seen horror movies, I've had spiders land on me, but I jumped out of my skin, literally a foot. I think I have PTSD now.

The second half was all the radio plays and YYZ. I haven't heard that on on the radio, but I screamed like a banshee when those cute little dings rang out. I played bass for a long time, and that song killed that dream for me because I knew that I would never be able to top that. Thanks, Geddy Lee. 

The Spirt of Radio was another anticipated piece.It is

fun and everyone can get down with it. If every one knows it so well, why talk about it? Well I was just overjoyed by the lights they chose. Living in Colorado, everything these days seems to be Rasta coloured. I hate it. I think that this was the first time I have ever seen that red, green, and yellow and screamed with excitement. The Reggae pause was accentuated perfectly.

There was a lot to notice while watching the show. Other than the wonderful fact that the venue was also the place where the state's hockey team played and there was a Canadian flag hung from the rafters, the stage was constantly evolving. Or devolving. As the halves went on, washing machines and amp stacks grew and then dissipated. The red jumpsuit clad roadies had to get roofing ladders to reach the top. after each song it seamed Alex Lifeson and Geddy were changing guitars, and even after the intermission, Niel had magically changed drum kits. Actually, our seats were off to the side so it wasn't that magical to see behind the curtain, but for musicians, the art of stage presence was a show in itself.

The show progressed and things touched back down to Earth for Jacob's Ladder. It was something I had never heard, but it was serene and vibrant.

Of course on the way to the show we had joked about how the entire show would be one song, ha-ha, but I really wasn't expecting 2112. It was my first introduction to a full Rush album and the book it is inspired by is one of my favourites. A little old man at work even calls me Anthem after I read to him. It was an odyssey that took us to the end of the second half. 

The people would not leave, the show had to go on. On the big screen, a peculiar man came on and introduced  shy young trio called... Rush. Rush opens for Rush and Rush closes for Rush. It had been three hours since since I walked into the Pepsi Center. The next day and the Hard Rock Cafe I would bemuse with a Rush clad woman over how I could have stayed for another 3 hours, but all goo things must come to an end.

I don't know if it was for effect or what, but at the start of the final song, 4 men in hard hats filed down the floor aisle. Working Man it was. Alex made sweet love to his 6-string as we sat screaming like wild apes. It was a moment dreaded since we left home the day before. The end of the show. at that point, the curtain dropped and more hard hatted men came out of the woodwork to take down the stage. On the big screen began a video

The boys walked toward a dressing room that was being guarded by a bouncer puppet. Inside was a lovely party of album art characters, including a beautiful Dalmatian sniffing a butt. Classy. The puppet informed the band that they were in fact not welcome. You would think that Alex Lifeson would be a sweet guy, you know, but I will never forget his angle face yelling "FUCK YOU, PUPPET!" as long as I live.