LifeStory:Monologue - Photo by Riley Taylor
An impressive appetite for fully-loaded nachos is one of the many attributes the boys of Lifestory:Monologue can boast about. Hometown heroes in their own right, the Guelph six-piece played a packed CMW performance at Sneaky Dee’s on Saturday March 12. As they prepare to drop their much anticipated debut LP sometime this year, the band will provide fans with the same unprecedented sound they are known for and that they believe is crucial in today’s day-and-age.
Although this will be the first full-length we’ve seen from them, Lifestory:Monologue has managed to stay on everyone’s radar through a number of eloquently composed EPs and powerful live performances. But as they approach their seventh year, like many bands, they describe their early years as an experimental period that helped guide them toward the direction in which they wanted to go musically.
“I’d like to call it our acid trip days but we weren’t even cool enough to do drugs,” says Zac Tenwesteneind. “But these past three years have been what the band is all about now so it’s like nothing even happened before that.”
The past couple years have also seen a few minor changes to the members of Lifestory:Monologue, which now includes Richard Nuttall (vocals), Jay Reid (bass/vocals), Jason Gormley (guitar), Zac Tenwesteneind (keys/vocals), Brett Banks (drums/vocals) and Mike Short (guitar). Together, these six talented individuals have created a loyal following by offering a sound that bridges the gap between popular genres.
“I was talking to one of my friends at Arts & Crafts and she said that we sound like we are the band that people who like hardcore like and then for half of the people that don’t like hardcore, we might be one of those bands they listen to,” says Reid.
Their ability to cross genres has provided them with opportunities to play with several different bands which has become an experience in itself.
“It’s funny cause no matter what bill we’re on, we are always the ‘something’ band on that bill. We’re either the heavy band on an indie bill or the softer band on a metal bill or the weird band on a normal bill,” explains Gormley. “And sometimes we’re the normal band on a weird bill. That’s happened before,” Zac adds jokingly.
While they often still struggle to explain their complex composition of juxtaposing vocals and instruments, they seem to leave it to others to create their own description.
“There was a drama teacher whose son opened for us one night and he was like, ‘You guys are like a rock band with someone up front tellin’ ya about his life. But you care about his life.’” jokes Reid. “He was wearing a tam and drinking Courvoisier.”
Mostly all stemming from the small town of Guelph, a lot of their inspiration and motivation comes from fellow musicians they knew growing up in their thriving local music scene.
“Growing up in Guelph was more or less the reason we started a band in the first place. Back when we were younger there were friends of ours and friends of friends who were in bands that we all looked up to. We saw them doing their thing and we were like, ‘Oh we want to do that too so we can hang out and play on a Friday night,’” explains Gormley.
The networking amongst fellow local bands has proven to be very beneficial for them as well.
“The relationships that we’ve made in Guelph are something we still appreciate now. The new album that we just finished recording is being mixed by our good friend Jordan, who has been in one of the bands that we looked up to growing up. And then production is being done by Kenny Bridges of Moneen,” explains Gormley.
Still in the production stages, a date is yet to be set for the release of the album. Thirteen songs have been recorded, 12 of which are new, and with the help of Kenny they hope to have a finished product that portrays a musical re-birth for the band.
“This album is going to be the one that we all love and feel like it’s the start of our band even though it’s been awhile for us,” says Reid.
Rest assured the LP will contain the same artistic symmetry that many associate with Lifestory:Monologue. Taking a page from their own book, they have and will continue to create music that has proven themselves different from other bands.
“It’s like painting a picture. A picture can’t be the same as the one right beside it. You can use some of the same colours, perhaps even the same paint brush for part of it, but other than that you have to be different,” says Zac. “Good analogy,” jokes Short.
