story by Janine Schaults
Every time a new band emerges with a male lead singer emoting at
octaves on par with Celine Dion, the comparisons by the media to high-pitched
wailers Coldplay and Radiohead ultimately follow. So is this the case
with Ohio-based Lovedrug, a four-piece capable of creating catchy
melodies caught within the framework of a thumping rhythm section?
It's Muse-lite, but there we go again with the falsetto-voiced lead
singer comparisons.
The frontman in question, Michael Shepard, speaking over the phone
with Chicago Innerview from his home in Ohio, isn't fond of the emo
label some have placed upon his band or any categorization of their
music. It's not that Shepard has deluded himself into believing Lovedrug
is authentically original or "our own creature" as he puts
it, he just adheres to a "Queen-type attitude" of not committing
to one style or another.
"[Emo] seems to be encompassing a certain sort of sound, but
that's the whole idea and the whole ideal behind the band Lovedrug
is that we're not trying to sound like any specific sort of type of
music," Shepard said.
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SHEPARD'S INNER VIEW
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"I'd like to think it's not a different
Lovedrug. It's a little bit more healthier, mature Lovedrug."
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Things have moved quickly for Lovedrug since their inception in June
of 2002. From releasing a five-song EP later that summer to being
caught in the middle of a major label bidding war to finally signing
with The Militia Group and retaining their indie cred, Lovedrug released
their debut album, Pretend You're Alive, in the summer of 2004. In
that time period Lovedrug sustained massive lineup changes worthy
of Fleetwood Mac. Shepard is the only remaining original member.
"The other individuals have since decided to make other life
decisions other than the music business. So, I guess that's the kindest
way I can say it. It was a pretty difficult process. Each of the original
guys kind of fell off one at a time, so at least it wasn't a complete
deconstruction and then reconstruction," Shepard said. "Fortunately
it worked out actually very splendidly…"
The new lineup fell into place first with guitarist David Owen, Shepard's
former roommate. Bassist Matthew Depper and drummer Matthew Putman
were also longtime friends. Despite revamping the group, today Lovedrug
is a complete unit and not merely Shepard's backup band. "Anytime
you change the key elements of a dynamic, especially artistically,
the outcome is going to change dramatically," Shepard said. "But
I'd like to think it's not a different Lovedrug. It's a little bit
more healthier, mature Lovedrug."
Before heading out on a lengthy tour that will bring Lovedrug to
Chicago's Bottom Lounge this month, the band had a few days in Ohio
to work out the kinks in new compositions. According to Shepard, about
14 songs are in the can. Everyone is involved in the songwriting process.
Shepard characterizes rehearsals as "assembly lines" where
all the ideas floating around are put together and solidified. Shepard
dislikes coming to the group with songs fully intact because it takes
away from the "band dynamic," but the lyrics are all his
own.
Lovedrug won't see the inside of a recording studio anytime soon.
The band will be on tour for most of 2005 and is currently in negotiations
with Columbia Records. When finally signed to the record behemoth,
Pretend You're Alive will probably be re-released, making it impossible
to showcase new material. Of course, anything goes at one of Lovedrug's
crackling live shows.
Shepard calls the move to Columbia a "frightening venture,"
but has confidence in the people the band is working alongside. "I
remember being young and thinking, 'oh gosh, if I could just get a
major label contract that would just make everything all right',"
Shepard said. "It's interesting, now it's kind of all happening
and you just kind of take it in stride and not really think about
it."
He won't have time on the road to worry about it anyway.
Lovedrug :: with Action Action, Burning Bright and The Junior Varsity
:: Bottom Lounge :: February 5 (early show.)