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Q: How did the 2 Tone Lizard Kings get started? Gary: Well I moved down here to Phoenix in ‘97 and didn’t really see any good ska scenes. So I kind of let the idea sit on the back burner for a few years. Then in 2004 I started actively looking for musicians. I found Dave the saxophone player and then together he and I went through probably five different drummers, two different singers, and three different guitar players, a bunch of horn players and we finally got it pretty close in 2007. Q: How did you guys come up with the name 2 Tone Lizard Kings? Gary: Well, actually it was a joke. Imagine 7 people trying to all decide on one thing, you just can’t do it. So we came up with a billion names and we had this joke about ‘What are we gonna have to do? Take a bunch of acid and stumble through the desert like The Doors did?’ So we were laughing and were like ‘we’ll call ourselves the lizard kings’ cause it’s a reference to Jim Morrison. But then we were like ‘its not ska so we will call ourselves the 2 Tone Lizard Kings.’ It was just a joke. We wanted to change it a few times but people were saying things like ‘no it has deeper meaning and you can’t change it.’ But we are keeping the name. Q: Do you guys have any influences in your music making? Gary: The Slackers are probably our biggest. The Pietasters, The Toasters, The Skatalites, and Bob Marley. Q: What about The Specials? I know you do covers of their songs. Gary: LOVE The Specials. Madness a lot too. Madness, Specials, and Bad Manners are favorite two tone bands. Q: What do you listen to on your free time? Gary: Right now I listen to a lot of the people we play with. We’ve played a couple shows with The Slackers, The Pietasters, and The Toasters. So I tend to listen to the stuff that they are doin’ because we’ve kind of gotten to know them. Q: Aren’t you playing with The Toasters again on the Ska Is Dead Tour? Gary: Yeah it’s gonna be great! Mustard Plug actually called up the Marquee Theatre and requested us to be on the tour. So we were like ‘Hell Yeah!’ That’s gonna be a lot of fun. We’re looking forward to that show. Q: Do you have a certain message you want to send out to your listeners? Gary: Well, you know a lot of people have thought that ska is dead, done, and over and that you would have really no success in Phoenix because ska is dead you know? But if the band is good enough and playing good enough music then I don’t think people give a shit. If they come to see your band and you’re really good then they don’t really care. I think that’s what we are trying to get across, that good music is good music. That’s how we feel about it. We love ska. When people say ska has gone away we think that’s BS. Then Dave the Saxophone player strode over to join the interview. Dave: Hey nice to meet you! You’re the interview gal! Q: Your fan base is growing more and more now that your song “Pick It Up” is playing on the Edge and with all the shows you are playing, does that scare you or are you more excited about it? Dave: No, not scared. Gary: We’ve been playing for a long time so its neat for us to hear our song on the radio and its kind of neat that someone thought enough of what we were doing to put our song on the radio and it’s flattering. I’ve never heard it! Dave: On the radio? Gary: Yeah. Dave: I know, I haven’t heard it either! I always miss it. It’s real nice because we are just starting to glimpse like ‘Okay lets just keep on going and see what we can do with this thing.’ Q: Do you guys like playing smaller venues like here at the Clubhouse or would you rather be playing larger shows like at an arena? Gary: I like this kind of gig. Dave: Playing the Marquee is really fun but playing these kind of gigs are fun because everyone’s so close and people jump on stage. You can’t do that at Marquee or they will make you get off. Gary: Back when I was in Seattle in the mid 90s, I caught a Buck-O-Nine show and they did Irish Drinking Song and a big crowd, I don’t even know how many people, got on stage and started skankin’ and you couldn’t even see the band. You saw the trombone sticking out over his head because he had no room. It was so badass. Dave: Yeah I love that Kind of stuff. Gary: So I would say I prefer these gigs. Dave: They’re a little more intimate. I love watching bands in these places. I would hate to see The Slackers at the Marquee. Gary: Everyone’s more relaxed and that’s so important with Ska. Dave: When everyone’s dancing and getting into it, we instantly get energized and we play harder and louder. Q: What is your favorite song to play? Gary: Some of the stuff we haven’t released yet I think we probably like. Yeah, "Bombs Away" we wrote about two years ago and recorded it a year ago and we couldn’t get it out of the process. Dave: Yeah we were stuck for a long time and in the mean time we have almost an entire album written for new stuff; we just gotta record it. Q: Where can people find your CD "Bombs Away"? Dave: It’s on ‘CD Baby.’ Should be up on itunes soon, and for sale at the shows. Gary: And the links to ‘CD Baby’ are on our myspace and our website. (Myspace.com/2tonelizardkings & 2tonelizardkings.com) Q: Why should people go to your shows? Gary: Because they’re fun! Hey Adam! Lead vocalist Adam decides to join the interview as well Adam: Ask me a question! Q: Okay. Besides being able to drink on the job, what’s your favorite part about this job? Adam: Ha ha! Probably about fifteen minutes ago with about ten guys jumped on stage with us. Yeah, I had to protect my balls, though. I was like yeah! Okay! While I’m holding on to my ballsack, though I really like holding on to my ballsack so that’s up there. I’d also have to say being friends with these guys, I’m best friends with them. You see other bands that don’t like each other and that’s something to do with the ska scene, you know? Everyone’s totally friends with each other and people like each other. Trumpet player Anthony stops by for a second to give some advice. Anthony: I have to go. I got to get up early. I have to get the kids to school by eight! Q: Anything you want to say? Anthony: Have Kids…NOT! Q: Any last words? Gary: Just about ska being dead, that’s such BS. Dave: Let ska be dead as far as I’m concerned. We’re having a great time with it. Gary: If ska is dead, then what’s gonna happen when it comes back? Dave: I know; that’s the scary thing! Gary: Everyone out there just get up and ska again. Start makin’ some ska bands! Gary: Well I’m gonna get back in there and watch some Slackers! Q: Thanks so much for your time!
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