Don't judge by the tongue metaphor alone (fans of Aerosmith will get it though). One of the top ISR finds this year, Lick And a Promise, a quartet of German rockers creates gorgeous classic rock melodies with enough rough edges and streaks of polish to make any fan of AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd or Aerosmith fan tap out a beat in their biker boots and honky-tonk swing in their long leather trenchcoats. Lead singer Jochen Thoma's vocal range catches the infectious wails of some of the great 60s/70s/80s frontmen like Jack Bruce (Cream), Tom Keifer (Cinderella) and Steven Tyler (Aerosmith). Even though these guys mainly play acoustic rock on Come Together... you could only imagine what they would sound like plugged in!
We recently spoke with lead singer, Jochen Thoma, to see what these guys have been up to since their latest album, Come Together In The Morning. Also, check them out on our latest Cadence Mix.
Here's the interview...
ISR: Thanks guys for answering questions for ISR fans. According to a recent interview you guys did with The Rock 'n Roll Report, the name of your band 'Lick and a Promise' came from an Aerosmith song. What were the second and third choices, if any?
Jochen W. Thoma: It's always hard to find the right name for a band, especially if it's not only supposed to be sounding cool and catchy, but also implying a certain kind of image and sound. I'm not sure if we can claim that for ourselves, but it was the best we came up with. We'd been fooling around with some stupid names before, of course, but I don't remember them in particular.
ISR: Have you guys been approached by any labels yet, especially after coming off of the Sunset Strip gigs at the House of Blues and Viper Room?
JWT: No, unfortunately not yet. But we're about to sign some licensing deals with publishers in Germany and the US, mainly for commercials and stuff, to get some cash flowing in at least.
ISR: Which bands would you guys want to tour with more than any others if you had your pick?
JWT: With the legends! Like the Stones, Aerosmith, AC/DC... But basically any of the great old bands that inspired everyone who's making real music.
ISR: Your music is rooted heavily in 60s and 70s old style Rolling Stones rock and blues with some Zeppelin thrown in for good measure. It seems that more and more of the sounds of yesteryear (for example, 80s synth pop, 60s Beach Boys psych pop etc...) are coming back; this holds true for the type of ass-kicking rock n roll you guys cultivate. Do you think that the seas of trends are on your side, and that you're finding your fan-base growing bigger and bigger with each tour and gig?
JWT: I guess there's no denying that. But we're not trying to follow any trends, at least not intentionally. And regarding our fan base, I can't really tell if it's growing bigger because of those circumstances or just our great music! (wink)
ISR: In your Rock n' Roll Report interview you mentioned that the songs were originally crafted for a two live-piece band because you didn't want to be dependent on a larger band that might fall apart. For your next project, do you anticipate the songs incorporating more elements for larger arrangements and more instruments now that you have more a solid footing with band members (assuming that is the case, of course)?
JWT: Yeah, definitely. In fact, we've just started writing new songs, not necessarily for larger arrangements and instrumentation, but less acoustic and more suited for a classic 4-5 piece rock band line-up. Like the electric ones on "Come Together". And we're preparing for a big-ass live show at an open air festival near our hometown in Germany in June, where we'll be playing with a four-piece horn section plus a piano/organ player. (www.umsonst-und-draussen.de)
ISR: Do you guys ever have time to exercise or workout? If so, what is your typical workout and what kind of music do you play during your workouts?
JWT: While I can't speak for the rest of the band, I personally tend to get so fucking wasted every once in a while that I think I'm gonna die. A few days later you're feeling kinda reborn, it's a real body and mind reset. But don't tell my mom!
ISR: So what does your next musical project look like?
JWT: Well, like I said before, we're currently writing new songs, a bit more rocking and in-your-face, and been thinking about getting a steady second guitarist and/or organist in the band.
ISR: Any plans to come to NYC and perform here?
JWT: We'd sure love to, if there's a real possibility, we're totally down for it!
ISR: Thanks guys for answering questions. Best of luck on your next projects! We're looking forward to seeing what's in store for you guys in the near future.
JWT: Thank you for having us.
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Posted by: black jacket | Friday, August 05, 2011 at 10:46 PM