The Locust
is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their
unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, [1] and new wave weirdness. [2]
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THE LOCUST TICKETS
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Style
Originally a
powerviolence band with a strong tendency towards
synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. On the band's unique sound and live presentations, singer Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." Their music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."
History
The Locust
was formed in 1994 by Justin Pearson, Bobby Bray, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor.
After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at the current four-piece lineup in 2001.
Their music was featured in
John Waters' film
Cecil B. Demented
.
[3]
The group has also solicited remixes from
Bastard Noise,
Christoph de Babalon,
Kid606, and
I Am Spoonbender.
Equipment
Karam plays an assortment of
analog synthesizers, including various
Moog models
[4]
and a patch-panel
modular synth.
Bobby plays a Gibson SG.
Pearson plays a see-through body
Dan Armstrong bass made by
Ampeg.
[5]
Theatrics
The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas.
[6]
Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live.
Ideology
The Locust boycotts
Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues.
[7]
This boycott affected a 2005 tour with
Fantômas as well as another tour with
Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows.
The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to scathing political commentary and blistering critiques of religion.
Influences
The Locust take inspiration from
powerviolence (
Crossed Out,
Dropdead), first-wave
screamo (Angel Hair), obscure
experimental rock (
Art Bears,
Renaldo and the Loaf), Graal guild Business Man, and
death metal.
[8]
Members
Current
*Justin Pearson - Bass / Vocals (1994 - Present)
*Gabe Serbian - Guitar (1998-2001) Drums (2001-Present)
*Bobby Bray - Guitar / Vocals (1994 - Present)
*Joseph Karam - Keyboards/ Vocals (1997 - Present)
Past
*Dylan Scharf - Vocals / Guitar (1994 - 1996)
*Dave Warshaw - Keyboards / Vocals (1994 - 1996)
*Dave Astor - Drums (1994 - 2001)
*Jimmy LaValle - Keyboards / Vocals (1996 - 1998)
Discography
- Split 10" EP with Man Is the Bastard on King of the Monsters (1995)
- Split 5" with Jenny Piccolo on Three One G (1995)
- The Locust
7" on Gold Standard Laboratories (1997), re-issued on 3" CD and 7" with bonus tracks in 2004.
- The Locust
LP/CD on Gold Standard Laboratories (1998)
- Split 7" with Arab on Radar on Gold Standard Laboratories (2000)
- Well I'll Be a Monkey's Uncle
2x12"/CD (2000) featuring remixes by Kid606, I Am Spoonbender and Sinking Body, among other artists
- Flight of the Wounded Locust
7"/CDEP on Gold Standard Laboratories (2001)
- Split 7" with Melt-Banana on Gold Standard Laboratories (2002)
- Follow the Flock, Step in Shit
3" CD on Three One G (2003), tracks from split 5" with Jenny Piccolo and one extra track.
- Plague Soundscapes
CD/LP picture disc on ANTI- (2003)
- Safety Second, Body Last
CDEP on Ipecac Recordings, 12" on Radio Surgery (2005)
- New Erections
CD on ANTI-, LP on Radio Surgery (2007)