IBOTW: The Lonely Ones

Formed in the summer of 2019, The Lonely Ones are just waiting to pump your ears full four piece vocal-oriented hard rock band. These guys are no strangers to the music industry. The Lonely Ones know what they want and know how to get it. Satiate your inner stirrings with this interview by Jymmy Tolland and gorge your ears on their first singles “Eternal Sadness” and “The Lonely One” debuted in March of 2020. We are giddy beyond belief to have them as our very own INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK!

How do you rate your live performance ability?

I think that live performances of the thing that I’m best at. What other scenario can I be in where it’s appropriate for me to grab my dick at people, or flex on top of an amp? I’ve got no desire to stare at my hands, be still and play perfect. I’d rather act like a wrestler up there than a scientist.

Do you think that online presence is important for fans and critics to find your music to write about?

Yeah! Of course. If this were 1985 or 1969, I’d be limited to how many posters I could print off at Kinko’s and how many open telephone Poles I could staple ’em to! In this day and age, however, it’s just as easy for me to get my music to somebody in a different country as it is to get to my neighbor down the street. It really is kind of a Golden Age for promotion. Maybe that over-saturates the waters - maybe it doesn’t.

What’s your claim to fame?

I don’t know if that’s for me to say! The first thing that comes to mind, though, is that I was on Stormy Daniels’ bus when she was framed in Columbus, Ohio. It was a pretty fun laid back night with some friends until lo and behold I found myself locked up on her bus with the police outside saying that everybody was going to go to jail.

Well, I wouldn’t call that claim to fame, but it is something! What is your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is people who - when you tell them what you want to do or what your goals are - their 1st question is “why?” or they like to tell you why you shouldn’t do something. Kevin Smith once said that it’s much better to surround yourself by people that say “why not?”

The best thing you can do as an artist, or anybody I suppose, is to surround yourself with people who, at worst, cheer you on or, at best, find some way to help you. Anybody who asks you why you want to do something or tells you why you shouldn’t do it is not somebody you want around you.

Fair enough! How do you handle mistakes during your live show?

The best way to handle a mistake during the live shows to pretend like it never happened. Never let on that anything’s gone wrong. Rock and roll is all about confidence, swagger, bravado etc. Don’t look like you saw a mouse on the floor because you played a wrong note.

When and why did you start playing music?

I think I started playing music for the same reason that most young boys do. You’re trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be and you’re struck by somebody with long hair and a guitar and surrounded by chicks. That can definitely be a defining moment for a 15-year-old.

Besides the chicks, were you influenced by old records and tapes?

I grew up in that weird in between era where it was before record players were cool and vintage, but after they were the norm. I think it’s called the late “90s”. I have a distinct memory, though, of my dad picking me up from preschool in his ugly white and red Dodge truck with Aerosmith’s 1st album or GNR’S Appetite for Destruction playing way too loud. What he finally sold that truck and bought something with a CD player he gave me all of those old tapes. I used to hide cigarettes and joints in the Aerosmith cassette case. Sorry Dad!

Dad! Your son was a rebel! What was the first tune you learned?

I can’t really remember. It might have been “Smoke on the Water” or maybe “Train Kept a Rollin” by Aerosmith or maybe “TNT” by AC/DC. Not that I really “learned” any of them well.

Describe your first instrument.

My parents finally caved and bought me and Ibanez GIO that vaguely looked like a double cut Les Paul when I was about 11. I wasn’t smart and mature enough to apply myself to practice so it set by the wayside til I was 15. The 1st instrument that I really got into was trombone in middle school. I think I wanted to play drums but there were already too many kids who had gone to the schools with band programs and already had experience. So, I went with the instrument that had the funniest name. There’s nothing funnier for an 11-year-old and being allowed to say the word “Tromboner.”

Connect with The Lonely Ones (click icons):