EMQ’s with Lonescar

Hi everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Texan Metal band Lonescar! Huge thanks to guitarist, Micheal Perez and vocalist, Brian Valdibia for taking part!
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
M – I’m Michael Perez and I play guitar for the band Lonescar. This band essentially evolved from a middle school talent show performance. Members came and went over time because it wasn’t taken seriously at all. Playing music was as much as a hobby as playing video games; it was just something to do on the weekends at a friend’s house. It wasn’t until 2013 when the members at the time buckled down and decided to take this seriously, which was short-lived after “adulting” kicked in. In 2015, we recruited a second guitarist, Joe Luera, and our current vocalist, Brian Valdibia. Joe had to bow out of the band due to personal reasons. So, this current incarnation of Lonescar started in 2018, which is the first time the band officially performed and started writing as a four-piece. This band always had two guitarists, and after our 4th one left, I just grew tired from the thought of teaching some new guy our set for the umpteenth time. But I do believe that as a four-piece, the true essence of Lonescar is captured.
B – My name is Brian Valdibia, and I’m the lead vocalist is the band. Lonescar was formed in mid-late 2013 and had built a nice following and had some big name shows under their belt, I found out about them in 2015 through a mutual friend who happened to be a sit-in drummer that they had before J.C. I had a similar band at the time, we were both young, thrashy, and hungry and as soon as I met and saw these guys play once I knew we would kill it if I was fronting this band. (Brian’s responses are highlighted)
How did you come up with your band name?
I didn’t, these guys already had it when I joined, I thought it was clever, funny, and catchy.
What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?
M – I am from the greatest “country” on God’s green Earth – The Lone Star state of Texas. Texas is HUGE and the musical scenes vary depending on which part of the state you’re in. We are from the southernmost region of Texas called the Rio Grande Valley. As far as metal goes, I’d say everything is standard. It’s not until you dig in to the alternative and rock scene where the heavy Tex-Mex influence is present. A lot of Latin sounds and imagery are injected into the music.
B – We’re from the states, Texas to be exact, and our metal scene as a whole is “good”, but we’re from a primarily Mexican/Hispanic area, so a lot of poverty, places go out of business all the time so it’s hard to keep venues and bars open for metal bands to play at.
But when there’s support, THERE’S SUPPORT!
What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video)
M – Our upcoming release “Lust for the End” will be coming out in January 2020. It will have 11 songs, all of which we wrote as a four-piece. It is a really dynamic record because each member has their own unique taste in music, yet we are all tied by a thread due to our common influences with bands such as Pantera, Lamb of God, Gojira, Mastodon, etc. So, do not be surprised if there are some 2009 metalcore elements in one song and then full-blown death metal in the next song.
B – Our latest release will be our single “Images from Mauthausen” from our album “Lust for the End” that comes out in 1/31/2020. The single will be available for streaming on 12/13/19, it’s a hell of a banger so y’all need to check it out! We also have a couple of more singles/goodies coming out before the end of the year, so keep those eyes peeled!
Who have been your greatest influences?
M – My journey through metal and rock started with the classics. It’s common for people my age, when they were kids, to start with the modern and heavy shit from the get-go and then find their way back to the old goodies. So, when I picked up the guitar and developed an interest in music, all I knew was KISS, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. As far as my approach on guitar goes, my foundation is built upon Ace Frehley and Jimmy Page. So, I’m not one to shy away from some gritty pentatonic runs when it is necessary, and then I eventually stumbled upon the great Dimebag Darrell, which is basically a given if you grow up in Texas. The person that kind of nudged me into the pool of shredding and melody was Synyster Gates, so he has a small place in my heart for that. I then fell in love with the bends and exotic style of Marty Friedman – you can hear some of those nuances in some of my lead playing. The last person to make an impact on me was Oli Herbert from All That Remains. His style was just beautiful aggression, and he is the reason why I picked up an Ibanez Xiphos.
B – Life in general, I get influenced by pretty much anything I consider beautiful to this world. Art, movies, literature. If you mean music wise, I would have to say John Lennon, Dallas Green, and Phil Anselmo just to name a few but honestly way too many to list.
What first got you into music?
M – I can’t really remember the exact moment I got into music, nor can I recall exactly why I wanted to play guitar in the first place. Growing up, I remember listening to George Strait and The Eagles a lot with my dad, and when I hung out with my uncle, there was always KISS playing around the house. I was just always exposed to music, and I guess it helped that I was around people that were obsessed with the music they listened to. Nobody in my family plays any instruments, so I am really perplexed as to why I got into this stuff. Shit just happens!
B – I’ve always liked music, some of my earliest memories are listening to tapes and spending hrs. playing with them, my mother loves to sing so the house was always blasting the stereo and my step dad played drums so that had to do a bit with it too I suppose.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
M – I would like to collab with Chris Stapleton and see how heavy we can get. I’ve always been a big fan of his voice and song writing. Then I heard his song “Blow” that he performed with Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran. That song riffs hard, so it would be cool to hash out an even heavier banger, and perhaps some outlaw stuff in-between.
B – Dallas Green for sure! He’s an amazing song writer. I would also love to work with kerry2smooth, he’s an amazing r’n’b guitarist and I would love to make a record like that one day. Most of the music I make by myself is really outside of metal really ha-ha!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download fest!!! or any European style festival Or Mayhem now that its back!! 😉 ACL would be cool too just cause we’re from Texas, and I would love to see most of the rappers on the bill anyway.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I once received a thong that was autographed by the guys in Havok. It was a belated birthday gift from a fan, and I still have it tucked away in a drawer somewhere. For the record, the thong was never used, although I did try it on once.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
First of all: Thank you! We often hear from fans that they wish they had more material to jam out to. We hope y’all can enjoy our latest offering!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
M – For the sake of seeing Pantera live, I would bring back Dimebag Darrell. I was in the 5th grade when he passed, and I had no idea who Pantera was at the time. I feel as if he was taken away from us too soon, and he still had a lot of music to grace us with. Obviously, what he did with Pantera was great, but I also enjoyed what he put out with Damageplan. Dude even jammed with David Allan Coe, which is awesome in my book. Perhaps in 2020, there could have been a Pantera reunion and another country collaboration with the likes of Cody Jinks.
B – Well it used to be dime but now that Vinny is gone too, I’d have to bring back two. I was born a tad too late to see Pantera.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
M – I hate practice. I hate rehearsals. I hate band expenditures. I hate the clashing of personalities and egos. I hate transporting and setting up my gear for shows. I hate maintaining my instruments and equipment. I sometimes don’t even know why I do this, until there is that moment when I step back and realize how much fun I am having with some of my best friends – my band. The memories I have partying and performing with these dudes are irreplaceable.
B – I love “The life,” sharing music with the world, sharing my thought with others, meeting new people, and seeing different places. I hate the loneliness, creative frustration, and the instability sometimes but if you work hard enough you do notice change. Just like anything else.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The way connections are, and networking is done, I think it should be focused purely on talent and actual hard work but like anything money talks.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
M – If there was a gun to my head, I would pick Green Day’s American Idiot. It is a perfect album that I jammed to every day from front to back for years. I was 9 or 10 at the time of its release, right when I was starting to become aware of our nation’s political turmoil, and the album addressed topics such as mass hysteria, war, and the struggles of the middle class. The story that followed the album’s protagonist, Jesus of Suburbia, was amazing and relatable. Green Day also managed to pull of not only one, but two rock operas in a punk album. It was all killer and no filler.
B – Dark Side of the freaking Moon!!! I can listen to it every day, or St Pepper’s Lonely-Hearts Club Band, amazing records that have stood the test of time and still sound great.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
M – Without trying to sound like a hipster, (which would be impossible in this case), I love listening to vinyl when I am in the mood to get intimate with the music. Just the ritual of pulling out a Frank Sinatra record out of its sleeve and then dropping the needle is a great feeling. Remove all distractions, pour yourself a glass of whiskey, and just take all the music in. The sound quality is also objectively better than a compressed MP3 file.
B – I love vinyl and started growing my collection, I grew up with CDs right when tapes were leaving so I have an insane amount, I’m the type of person that like physical copies but I do stream a lot too just cause of how convenient it is.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
M – My favourite gig was at the Thirsty Monkey in McAllen, Texas, which is a bar with a small stage and outdoor area. I mean, we typically played there all the time, but there was this one night in particular that was especially fun. For whatever reason, the entire crowd came to party. There were pits, beers in the air, and people pressed up against the stage with smiles on their faces. At one point 3 or 4 people jumped on stage, grabbed Brian’s microphone and started singing our songs. It was a great feeling.
B – Probably opening up for Havok, that was a killer show and we destroyed that night, anytime we’re in Fredericksburg Texas is a party too lol
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
M – I am already spreading myself thin and attending to all my aspirations at once. Writing and recording a full-length album is no walk in the park when you are also applying to medical school.
B – I’m currently finishing up my BA in anthropology so if I wasn’t a musician, I’d be doing lab work or extensive research somewhere.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
M – My idea of a dinner party is typically a lot of barbecued meat and a cooler full of Shiner Bock. I love camaraderie and engaging in conversation with people that are also not afraid to get rowdy when appropriate. That being said, I would pick Joe Rogan, Randy Blythe, Corey Taylor, Aaron Franklin, and Dave Chapelle.
B – Malcom x, John Lennon, Terence McKenna, Richard Pryor, and Richard Linklater, that’s amazing party and a great conversation.
What’s next for the band?
M – I would hope to give our album Lust for the End a proper touring cycle and light the state of Texas on fire. This is our first full-length album and it was a huge investment, so I would like for it to get as much exposure as possible.
B – Anything and everything! 2020 we are coming for you!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Facebook, twitter, Instagram, follow on Spotify as well and make sure to add us to your playlist
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
M – I’m afraid to Google this because I do not want another “blue waffle” situation.
B – I have no idea, I googled it and it says it’s both, so I’ll go with that. Maybe send us over some so we can try them!
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