Fully Exposed: Les Racquet
Erin Blaisdell
What do you get when you mix thoughtful songs, catchy melodies, and original indy rock? The Brooklyn based band Les Racquet! This do it yourself trio takes nothing for granted. Everything they have done and everywhere they have been has been out of their own pocket. It’s the love for great music and good vibes that carries them from one show to the next.
After playing gigs all around New York and New England they have headed out on their first East Coast tour to promote their latest EP “Be Water, My Friend”. I had a chance to catch up with Les Racquet (Patrick Carroll: Guitar, Lead Vocals, Kenny Murphy: Bass, Vocals, Daniel Malone: Drums, Vocals) at one of their stops on their tour in Burlington, Vermont. What makes me love this trio is that they are the glue that holds this band together. Every song they write and every decision takes all three. Whatever they need to do to keep Les Racquet ringing catchy melodies in our ears they will. Getting into the minds behind the talent really showed me how original and passionate they are about the music they write.
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I’m sure most bands will agree with these guys when they explained to me that, Being on tour is the most fundamental way a band can grow. All it is is saying, “we’re not going to wait for these people in these places to hear about us, we’re just going to take our music to them and ask them what they think”. It’s very easy to tell when you meet someone and shake their hand whether or not they enjoyed your art or not… then when they invite you for beers, or to sleep on their couch you build a relationship that goes beyond just musician/fan, but friend/friend. That was one of the main points of this tour… make friends everywhere, and reconnect with old friends that have become estranged. We want to bring everyone into the LES RACQUET fold and we’re going to keep touring for a long time to come, breaking only to write new music, film fun videos and say hi to our families.
Their recent release, “Be Water, My Friend” EP is the most current snapshot of the way Les Racquet sounds when you see them live. Six songs that display their versatility. You’ve got big guitars, big harmonies, and catchy melodies. The record is being received really well by people all over the country! Mike Conway from Drift Design Studios engineered the project in Somerville, MA. The band enjoys his great understanding of his craft and he’s also very familiar with Les Racquet’s music. There are definitely some great hits on this release, I can only see them growing from here and writing more songs that everyone will gravitate to. Luckily we will not have to wait too long because their next record is hoped to be released this summer/fall 2012.
Les Racquet has a busy schedule ahead of them. Now that they have ventured the East Coast, from June to August they’re taking their music to the West Coast and everywhere in between. This trio wants to keep writing and sharing their music with everyone they meet. Whether it is singing on the sidewalk, crashing a backyard pool party or just doing it for themselves, for the love of it.
Visit Les Racquet here for upcoming tour dates and to follow them every step of the way on their blog.
Follow them on Twitter: @LesRacquetPC
Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LesRacquet1
Posted by Erin Blaisdell on 05/16
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