LONG LIVE THE SMOKING GUN (new blog)

NOT SOUTHERN. WESTERN.
"Things always take longer than you initially think. And, there's no such thing as a sure thing. These days, with the world changing the way it is, who knows how much longer life will remain as we know it, the only consistent things now are change and danger. In light of that, this is why I must head back west... The mountains, the saguaros, the train tracks, the Indian jewelry, barren streams & rushing rivers alike...The sun lashing out at your body, all day long. And after that, the coyotes rule the night. The southwest, although as we dis-regarded before to be just a 'pass-through' arena, is where my home is. I must live there, because the desert is in all of us, the Western Spirit lives in all of us, in different forms. There is still beauty left in this world. There's no such thing as a sure thing. Tucson, here is another one of your lost sons coming home."
-Jack Adamson, an early 20th century American Southwestern poet & transient.
"We" are from the Southwest, where we belong. Where the days are short and the nights are long. We just want to live while we're alive. And spread love and respect, and the overall positive vibrations that have been spread to us. These things are very important, so don't forget.
Come see us on tour this year and order our new album, its living, its breathing, its heavy, its quiet, its fresh, its emotional, it needs you.
Click on the image to download "We Build Empires" at digstation.com Why digstation? It gives more to the artist than iTunes and you get a download of the entire album artwork.
Would you like a FREE, Instant 1912 Records Sampler with one of our songs on it?
CLICK THE BANNER BELOW FOR FREE MUSIC, AND ADD 1912 RECORDS WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.
Add this to your page!
An acoustic version of FORTUNATO & HIS AMONTILLADO
NORTH & LONG LIVE THE SMOKING GUN JANUARY TOUR VIDEO PART I
NORTH & LONG LIVE THE SMOKING GUN JANUARY TOUR VIDEO PART II
Follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/LLSG
myspace hide maroon music menu nav bar !!! End Code to Style Top Ad/Search/Menu !!!!!! Start Code To Apply Top Banner !!!! Custom top banner code by Eileen!!! End Code To Apply Top Banner !!!
Current Line-Up
Paul Cossette Slide Guitar.
Ryan Andrews: Bass & Vocals..
Rob East: Guitars & Vocals.
ALUMNI
Kyle Dehn: Drums.
Andrew & Sarah Ling: Drums.
Mike Patton: Bass.
Mike Stearns: Bass.
Philly C: Drum.
Ray Borboa: Git-tar'n & Singin'.
Ez Hagberg: Keepin' the peace, & sellin' the grease.
Adam Taylor: Drums.
David Robison: Bass way back when.
BOOKING: 1912 RECORDS
PRESS: Black & White PR
“What do Johnny Cash, Henry Rollins, & Iggy Pop have in common? If you don't know, then you should be listening to LLSG....This five-song EP hits hard from the opening chords of "Justice In A Ghost Town" with bruising, retro riffs full of bluesy blends & fuzzed up super-chords....Culling in the spirit of the great CASH, "Goodmen" bleeds the punk vibe of We Build Empires into a swinging country ditty. "Ghosts Are Better Left Where They Are" brings back the energy of the first track before taking the intensity to its lowest & darkest point for an ending that demands a sequel. And with five tunes as killer as this, you'll demand one, too."
OUTBURN MAGAZINE (8 OUT OF 10)
“Long Live the Smoking Gun knots together shifty art-metal riffs, hardcore’s strained midrange vocals, and Southern rock’s mud-churning sludge to create a hybrid that could (theoretically) unite the opposing worlds of New England college radio and Dixieland backwoods jams. The band is actually from Tucson, however, so for now it’ll have to settle for Left Coast kids who appreciate brainy indie-metal crossovers.
SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY
“Maybe it’s the dry desert heat, or maybe it’s a lingering spirit of the Wild West that still haunts the collective aura of Tucson, AZ. Whatever it is, it’s made the sprawling metro just north of the border a breeding ground for a new movement in grassroots punk n’ roll. At the crest of this dusty wave of distorted power chords is an especially infectious outfit known as Long Live the Smoking Gun. The brainchild of 1912 Records and LLSG is owner Rob Easter…. LLSG brings the raucous DIY punk vibe of Black Flag or Fugazi and adds liberal doses of Spaghetti-Westerns and philosophy for a sound that’s as thought provoking as it is ear-catching…” (see blog for interview)
AMP MAGAZINE
“True indie aesthetic, that willingness to buck trends and pursue one’s deep-seated passion, should always be encouraged, especially when embodied by a band like this unabashed and ambitious rock collective based in Tucson, AZ. Their brawny, gritty debut EP, We Build Empires, has already garnered some favorable attention and comparisons…the record is more than a bit dirty, organic and almost bluesy…Along with their old-school musical sources, the band’s lyrics are replete with dense themes, many which come straight from the Old Testament…”
HM MAGAZINE
“…Many flame-licking riffs that buttered me up, but I spent more time trying to figure out what their story is, aside from the metal. With sloppy sincerity, the bass, guitars and vocals all couple quite well. The transitions remind me of old L.A. metal with a pinch of grunge, but it went back and forth frequently, making the album something you can’t lump into any genre easily. I feel the best tune on this five-song EP is the acoustic blues-esque track, "Good Men"….Since this is my first experience with LLSG, I’m wondering what style they’ll go with when they release a full-length album.”
SLUG MAGAZINE
“…Southern rock riffs with a metal tinge, hectic drumming, and a vocalist who yells with swagger. While they do these things well, perhaps the best part about their songs is that they are written well, with key moments coming exactly when needed. For example, by the middle of the third track, the riffs start to get a tad repetitive, and the band fortunately throws in some lighter riffs with a near jazz-feel. The ultimate test of the band's skill, though, comes in "Goodmen." During this tune, the vocalist sings and yells with a sense of soul over a rigged acoustic riff. There is not a single plugged-in moment here, yet it is easily the most unique the band gets in five tracks.”
Pastepunk.com
“Tucson, AZ's LONG LIVE THE SMOKING GUN appears to be packing some serious Southwest-flavored grungy hard rock in their arsenal. Their recipe is simple enough: Take the riffs of Page Hamilton, a guitar tone that's as brown and gritty as the desert ground from whence it came, stand back and keep a hose handy in case a fire breaks out. Opener "Justice in a Ghost Town" and its follow-up "Fortunato and His Amontillado" don't waste time delivering a simple-yet-effective drive that's as hard as a canyon wall. Afterwards, "Pure Blood Would Probably Kill You" decreases the tempo and increases the groove, "Goodmen" is a surprisingly authentic-sounding Southern blues throwback, and the unadulterated heaviness of the first two tracks makes its comeback in "Ghosts are Better Left Where They Are."However, we should mention what could be either the best or worst part of this CD depending on what tickles your pickle: the vocals. To say that they're rough is like saying that Glen Benton is a smidge irritated at Christianity. In truth, this guy couldn't carry a tune in a tanker. Not that it really matters, though, because his message is delivered so forcefully that it actually works most of the time. Besides, it's only rock 'n roll, right? Well, that and the fact that this CD is only 18 minutes long… any longer an exposure to that voice would indeed be deadly. Sure, the "room for improvement" cliché may apply for LLSG, but there are certainly worse starting points than this.
PeaceDogMan.com
“…passive and ‘alcohol induced’ which isn’t a bad thing…very impressive, the whole EP is pretty catchy…”
1340 MAG
"Describing LLSG to somebody who has never heard of them is one of the toughest challenges I've faced in recent memory. The band is all over the place, combining southern rock, metal, punk, & acoustic to form a hybrid that transcends genres. It's like taking Black Flag, Clutch, & Johnny Cash and having them all cram into a studio booth to jam out for a day....I recently obtained We Build Empires & was impressed with the unique blend of sounds on display..."
411mania.com
“Trekking from Tucson to Monterey, Long Live the Smoking Gun carries its diverse (grunge/punk/hardcore and even country-core) energy to Jose's basement lair. Unexpected lyrics like “Buy me a new dress and I will dance for you,” pop up to match the band's visual style. Moshing is okay as long it's in the spirit of the band’s affirmative mission statement: “spread love and respect.” Long live their eclectic musical template, freshness and creative vigor.”
MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY
"As soon as you drop the needle on this thing, “Justice is a Ghost Town” comes out blazing with ripping guitars & the sense of urgency you feel when you realize your face is on fire. And guess what; that feeling pretty much sticks through the entire album..."
BELLY FULL OF HELL
“Damn good riffage…Vocally I am reminded a little of Henry Rollins & some of the later Black Flag stuff…. Raw, Honest, & pure rock n roll music with loads o' balls!”
ROCK N’ ROLL EXPERIENCE (6 STARS)
"Totally shit-hot as far as I’m concerned, so buy with total confidence & the knowledge that your less-than-ten-bucks purchase will be responsible for continuing to foster the tonal public forum of bands like this & the ones that will surely follow in their footsteps."
AWAY TEAM (9 OUT OF 10)
“While a number of younger bands have been trying to inject elements of southern rock into their music, there haven’t been a whole lot that have really been able to pull it off without sounding fake or gimmicky. However, Arizona based Long Live the Smoking Gun is the real deal. Their debut EP, We Build Empires, is a mix of fast paced southern rock with a little bit of hardcore/punk and a little bit of traditional country western vibe. That may sound like a bit of a hectic mix, but the band pulls it off with relative ease and is sure to convert listeners into fans…”
CosmosGaming.Com
"...A heady mix of rush-rock with guttural yet melodic vocals. There’s plenty of rhythm rock guitar, crashing symbols & loose bass to keep the rock connoisseurs well & truly stoked. Even some bluesy tones on "Goodmen". Track 1 launches you into their sound at light-speed & it doesn’t let up for at least twenty minutes. Appreciated most when setting fire to parked cars or stage diving into mosh pits. Very impressive. Go buy now."
SUBBA CULTCHA (5 OUT OF 5)
“Noisy and fast music that attacks you like a musical wall of pain and chaos. With a ripping sound that hits you like ETID, THE BRONX, FUGAZI, ROLLINS BAND, and PIGMY LOVE CIRCUS….with that 90’s era DC feel meeting new hardcore with hints of stoner metal, but more pissed off vocals and loud guitars.”
TOXIC FLIER SKATE MAG
“Right from the get-go, ‘Justice In A Ghost Town’ reaches up and grabs your balls like Pantera used to… there is no way you can not sing along to lyrics like “Witches and Devilry” in ‘Pure Blood Would Probably Kill You.’ Lest you think it’s a pure assault, LLSG slow it down with the acoustic ‘Goodmen’, but fret not - none of that sad-bastard crap permeates We Build Empires. Think Tim Barry crossed with Muddy Waters…. Then pick it right back up and slam around to ‘Ghosts Are Better Left Where They Are’….Here’s the neat part - this ripping, angry, restores-your-faith-in-southern-metal EP was done by only two guys. Imagine what they could do with a full band. Four devil horns thrown with complete abandon.”
REAX MUSIC MAGAZINE (4/5 SKULLS)
“In Tucson, Arizona there is a cesspool of big rock from guys like Shark Pants and Swing Ding Amigos. This band is a more metalled-out two-piece that appreciates the drop D sound and Louder than Love-era Soundgarden. They mix it up fairly nice, even though I occasionally get irked by a Ted Nugent-sounding guitar going swin-a-linna-swin. They do quote Kerouac in the liner notes and say “No Thanks” to Bank of America and MTV...”
RAZORCAKE