- The Locust
Infobox musical artist
Name = The Locust
Img_capt =Justin Pearson (bassist ) in concert.
Img_size = 240
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Origin = San Diego,California
Genre =Noise rock ["The Locust, Cattle Decapitation, Daughters", Pop and Rock Listings, "The New York Times", April 13, 2007. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/arts/music/13pop.html?pagewanted=3] Access date: August 6, 2008.]Hardcore punk Powerviolence [Andrew Marcus, "Buzz Clip", "SF Weekly", August 6, 2003. [http://www.sfweekly.com/2003-08-06/music/buzz-clip/] Access date: August 7, 2008.]Grindcore [Mudrian, Albert. "Choosing Death: the Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore". Los Angeles, CA: Feral House. p. 265.]Mathcore
Years_active = 1994–present
Label =
Associated_acts = The Crimson CurseHoly Molar Cattle Decapitation
Some GirlsHead Wound City Swing Kids Le Shok
Fast Forward
URL =
Current_members =Justin Pearson Gabe Serbian
Bobby Bray
Joseph Karam
Past_members = Dylan Scharf
Dave Warshaw
Jimmy LaValle
Dave AstorThe Locust is a musical group from
San Diego, California ,United States known for theirunique mix ofgrindcore speed and aggression,mathcore complexity,Ken McGrath. "Destruction and Chaos are Never Far Behind". Interview with Bobby Bray. "Sorted Magazine". 2003. [http://www.sortedmagazine.com/Distorted.php3?nID=497] Access date: October 4, 2008.] and new wave weirdness. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/artist_profile/the-locust.htm]Style
Originally a
powerviolence band with a strong tendency to synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. On the band's unique sound and live presentations, singer Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." Their music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."History
"The Locust" was formed in 1994 by Justin Pearson, Bobby Bray, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor.After a number of personel changes, they arrived at the current four-piece lineup in 2001.
Their music was featured in John Waters' film "
Cecil B. Demented ". [http://www.hollywood.com/movie/Cecil_B_Demented/161096]The group has also solicited remixes from
Bastard Noise ,Christoph de Babalon ,Kid606 , andI Am Spoonbender .Equipment
Karam plays an assortment of analog synthesizers, including various Moog models [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/l/locust-plague.shtml] and a patch-panel
modular synth .Pearson plays a see-through body
Dan Armstrong bass made byAmpeg . [http://trashaudio.blogspot.com/2008/04/workspace-and-environment-locust.html]Theatrics
The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas. [http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/locust/] Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live.
Ideology
The Locust boycotts
Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues. [http://www.aversion.com/news/news_article.cfm?news_id=3772] This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas as well as another tour withYeah Yeah Yeahs .They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows.The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to scathing political commentary and blistering critiques of religion.
Influences
The Locust take inspiration from
powerviolence (Crossed Out ,Dropdead ), first-wavescreamo (Angel Hair), obscureexperimental rock (Art Bears ,Renaldo and the Loaf ), anddeath metal . ["LA Weekly", September 18, 2003 [http://www.brassland.org/ahb/writing/archives/2003/09/a_day_with_the.html] Access date: July 24, 2008]Members
Current
:*
Justin Pearson - Bass / Vocals (1994 - Present):*Gabe Serbian - Guitar (1998-2000) Drums (2001-Present):*Bobby Bray - Guitar / Vocals (1994 - Present):*Joseph Karam - Keyboards / Samples / Vocals (1997 - Present)Past
:*Dylan Scharf - Vocals / Guitar (1994 - 1996):*Dave Warshaw - Keyboards / Vocals (1994 - 1996):*Dave Astor - Drums (1994 - 2001):*
Jimmy LaValle - Keyboards / Vocals (1996 - 1998)Discography
*Split 10" EP with
Man Is the Bastard on King of the Monsters (1995)*Split 5" with Jenny Piccolo on
Three One G (1995)*"The Locust" 7" on
Gold Standard Laboratories (1997), re-issued on 3" CD and 7" with bonus tracks in 2004.*"The Locust" LP/CD on
Gold Standard Laboratories (1998)* Split 7" with
Arab on Radar onGold Standard Laboratories (2000)*"Well I'll Be a Monkey's Uncle" 2x12"/CD (2000) featuring remixes by
Kid606 ,I Am Spoonbender and Sinking Body, among other artists* "
Flight of the Wounded Locust " 7"/CDEP onGold Standard Laboratories (2001)*Split 7" with
Melt-Banana onGold Standard Laboratories (2002)*"
Follow the Flock, Step in Shit " 3" CD onThree One G (2003), tracks from split 5" with Jenny Piccolo and one extra track.* "
Plague Soundscapes " CD/LP picture disc onANTI- (2003)* "
Safety Second, Body Last " CDEP onIpecac Recordings , 12" on Radio Surgery (2005)* "
New Erections " CD onANTI- , LP on Radio Surgery (2007)External links
* [http://www.thelocust.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:1hzyxd0b1olf All music guide biography]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thelocust Myspace page]
* [http://www.anti.com/artist.php?id=17 ANTI-Records Bio]
* [http://www.laweekly.com/index3.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2381&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0 LA Weekly interview]
* [http://pod.icast.co.il/57cc8d45-717c-44a6-812f-d838578fcd74.icast.mp3 audio interview with Justin Pearson (Jekyll and Hyde, Israel)]References
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