Locksley (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Locksley


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|United States Madison, WI
Genre = Indie rock, alternative rock, powerpop, garage rock revival
Years_active = 2003-Present
URL =http://www.bandoflocksley.com
Current_members = Jesse Laz (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) Kai Kennedy (lead guitar, vocals) Jordan Laz (bass, vocals) Sam Bair (drums)
Past_members = Aaron Collins (2003-2008)
Label = Light Brigade and Feature

Locksley is a four-piece rock that was originally formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 2003, but is now based in Brooklyn. Their music is derivative of early British Invasion bands such as The Kinks, The Beatles, and The Hollies but differs significantly with Locksley's modern instrumental style. The band's name "Locksley" is named after the British village where Robin Hood supposedly originated.

History

When the band Locksley first left Madison and went to re-form in Brooklyn they encountered many difficulties and hardships. The 14 hour trip from Wisconsin took them 46 hours, ended with their trailer coming off on the New Jersey turnpike. [ [http://www.bullz-eye.com/music/interviews/2008/locksley.htm] ] They were then evicted from their first apartment, due to the noise they were making while practicing. [ [http://www.bullz-eye.com/music/interviews/2008/locksley.htm] ] Two days after moving into their second apartment, they were robbed of all of their music equipment. [ [http://www.bullz-eye.com/music/interviews/2008/locksley.htm] ]

The band released their self-titled EP in 2005, receiving rave reviews in the New York Daily News, Alternative Press, Billboard Magazine, and Metrolite UK.Fact|date=August 2008 Soon after the foursome got a deal with STARZ movie channel, and the network filmed a $250,000 music video for the song "Don't Make Me Wait" to promote their On-Demand services.Fact|date=August 2008

After playing at a music festival in Delaware, they caught the eye of an MTV executive, who purchased rights to some of the band's songs to use in various TV shows. MTV then commissioned Locksley to write the theme song for their (then) upcoming reality television show titled Why Can't I Be You?, paying for a music video as well.

The music video for their song "Why Not Me" is now aired on MTVu after being chosen for rotation by its viewers in the network's program, "The Freshman." Winning rotation has made them the first ever unsigned band to be aired on MTV.Fact|date=August 2008 They also have been recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 25 best bands on MySpace. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/category/best-bands-on-myspace/ Best Bands on MySpace : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily ] ]

Locksley released their latest album titled "Don't Make Me Wait" on January 16th, 2007.

The band has opened for OK Go, We Are Scientists, The Dandy Warhols, John Vanderslice, She Wants Revenge, The Rapture, Giant Drag, Under the Influence of Giants, Hanson, Rooney, Teenage Riot, and The Hives.

Locksley's song "Don't Make Me Wait" has also been used in commercials for Payless Shoe Source, and more recently in an AT&T/Cingular commercial, where the band's video for the song is featured on the TV sets in the background.Fact|date=August 2008 "She Does" also had a run in Payless commercials. The band also filmed a commercial for Sylvania light bulbs, in which the band is shown singing "This Little Light of Mine". Their song "She Does" has also recently been in a Robin Meade promo on CNN. Locksley can also be heard in the 2008 trailer for the film Over Her Dead Body starring Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, and Jason Biggs and song, "My Kind of Lover" can be heard in Cloverfield. In February 2007 the band earned the cover of Beyond Race Magazine, their very first.Locksley can also be seen in the March 2007 issue of ELLE magazine, in which they have an 8-page photo spread; the March issue of Spin magazine as "Breaking Out"; and as one of Alternative Press's 100 Bands You Need to Know, and The band was featured on the cover of Beyond Race magazine in February 2007. Fact|date=August 2008

Recently, Locksley has performed on the Jimmy Kimmel Live talk show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. In the fall of 2007, Locksley embarked on a tour opening for independent rock/pop band Hanson [http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/22003F1899CE35F0?artistid=787227&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1] and in the spring of 2008 they started on their tour with rock band Rooney and The Bridges.

The week of August 24, 2008, Locksley's three singles "All Over Again," "Don't Make Me Wait," and "She Does" were made available as downloadable content for the popular Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 game "Rock Band".

The week of September 8, 2008, Locksley was MTV's Featured Artist of the Week, and could be seen after shows & during commercial breaks playing shows & promoting the youth to vote during 2008's Presidential Election.

The New Bassist

On January 18, 2008, Locksley announced on their website that bassist Aaron Collins would be leaving the band. Jordan Laz, Jesse Laz' younger brother, played bass for the band during a performance at the Mercury Lounge in New York City on March 20, 2008. He was officially announced as the band's new bassist the following day.

Discography

"Safely From the City" (2004)
# "Only a Girl"
# "Safely From the City"
# "Homecoming Queen"
# "Grey Suit"
# "T.I.B"
# "Up the Stairs"
# "You Were Right About the High"
# "For You"
# "You and You and You"
# "May"
# "For the Summer""Locksley (EP)" (2005)
# "Into the Sun"
# "Don't Make Me Wait"
# "All of the Time"
# "She Does"
# "In Love/In Time""Don't Make Me Wait" (2007)
# "Don't Make Me Wait"
# "Let Me Know"
# "All Over Again"
# "All of the Time"
# "She Does"
# "Why Not Me"
# "My Kind of Lover"
# "The Past and the Present"
# "Into the Sun"
# "Up The Stairs"
# "It Won't Be for Long"
# "For You (Part I)"
# "For You (Part II)""Garage Sale (EP)" (2008) [http://locksley1.livejournal.com/6423.html"]
# "The Grey Suit"
# "Homecoming Queen"
# "You Were Right About the High"
# "T.I.B."
# "Those Were the Days"
# "May"
# Hello Tomo (Pavey's Song)
# All of the Time (Acoustic)"Don't Make Me Wait [Rerelease] " (2008)
# "Don't Make Me Wait"
# "Let Me Know"
# "All Over Again"
# "All of the Time"
# "She Does"
# "Why Not Me"
# "My Kind of Lover"
# "The Past and the Present"
# "Into the Sun"
# "Up the Stairs "
# "It Won't Be for Long"
# "For You (Part I) "
# "For You (Part II)"
# "Only a Girl"
# "Safely from the City"

References

External links

* [http://www.bandoflocksley.com/ Locksley's Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/locksley Locksley on Myspace]
* [http://locksley1.livejournal.com Locksley Livejournal]
* [http://somethingsosurreal.net84.net Locksley Fansite]
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/category/best-bands-on-myspace/ Rolling Stone's Best Bands on MySpace]
* [http://www.markedanimation.com/video_pages/locksley-AOA.html Locksley's Music Video "All Over Again"]
* [http://www.spin.com/features/heythisisawesome/2006/08/060824_locksley/ Spin's Article on Locksley]
* [http://www.mtvu.com/ MtvU's Site]
* [http://www.roxwel.com/player/locksleydontmakemewaitartistcommentary.html "Don't Make Me Wait" artist commentary]
* [http://www.roxwel.com/player/locksleyshedoesartistcommentary.html "She Does" artist commentary]
* [http://www.roxwel.com/player/locksleywhycantibeyouwhynotmeartistcommentary.html "Why Not Me (Why Can't I Be You)" artist commentary]
* [http://altmusic.about.com/od/interviewspersonalities/a/locksleychat.htm/ About.com's Interview with Jesse Laz-Hirsch]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3wtqoayaeijm~T1/ Allmusic.com's Biography for Locksley]