(S’n’O) So who are LEXINGTON FIELD (when formed, band members, where are you from)?
Beau Gray – Vocals, Guitar Cami Smith – Violin Bryan Hane – Lead Guitar Casey Jones – Bass Vincent West – Drums Lexington Field is from San Diego, CA and formed in 2009.
(S’n’O) What inspired the formation of the band?
After experimenting in pubs around San Diego as Fiffin Market for a couple years (2007-2008), playing more of an acoustic/folk style of the classics, a turn of fortunate events in 2009 led to the formation of Lexington Field. We wanted to write our own original sound, that we call American Fiddle Rock, and with our punk roots and our folk experience, we brought that to our live show and have been rocking it that way ever since. Lexington Field was named after a song Beau wrote called “The Spirit of Lexington Field”. He wrote it for his grandfather, who passed away in 2005. A true love from your family and friends that is constant and will last forever, seemed like an appropriate, and well-timed, reason to name for the band. We are five people with a goal to make catchy, original, high energy, unique music that will stand the test of time, and bring happiness to as many people as we can. That is the spirit of Lexington Field.
(S’n’O) Describe your sound (and influences)?
American Fiddle Rock
Definition: Using the influences we learned from bands such as Young Dubliners, Flogging Molly, and Great Big Sea and taking elements from all over North America (punk, rock, country, bluegrass) and blend it with the Irish traditional music we all love.
Other influences are Gogol Bordello, Dropkick Murphys, Rise Against, Dave Matthews, Good Old War, The Tossers, and many, many more.
(S’n’O) What’s going on with the band right now (recording, touring etc)?
In March we released our new 6-song EP, Poor Troubled Life, on New Folk Records. We also re-released our debut full length Old Dirt Road, on New Folk Records this year. In August 2012 we will embark on our first national tour! We will be playing 22 shows in 20 cities as we bring our American Fiddle Rock to the rest of the country. We are calling is the “2012 Midwest Missile Tour”! We also have been real busy writing new songs for a brand new full length album. We already have half of the album written and will be playing some of the new songs on our tour. When we get back from the road we will finish writing and head back to the studio in the first quarter of 2013. If you like the songs off Poor Troubled Life, then you will love what we have in store for everyone next year! We plan on releasing the new album in the Summer of 2013!
(S’n’O) What song in you catalog best defines your sound (and why)?
“Tracy Boys Fight The World”
Its a song about a bunch of thugs up to no good! From the fiddle intro to the sing along choruses, this song captures the energy and excitement of our live show. The music video we did for it pretty much says it all! 1-2-3…FIGHT! See it here:
No Man’s War is the third release by San Diego based Lexington Field in the space of about two years – a busy band for sure (and all that with a full US tour or two). Lexington Field is a case of quality and quantity. Self describe as American Fiddle Rock, Lexington Field bring together on top of a big rock’n’roll sound, Celtic, bluegrass, Americana and folk and just a touch of punk to produce a very fine album with its own individual stamp in an often overcrowd field. Highlights for me among many include Rest of Our Days, The Chemical Worker’s Song and the mainstream friendly Dear Old Friend.
Poor Troubled Life is the quick follow-up to last years “most excellent” ((c) Bill and Ted) debut full length release, OLD DIRT ROAD, and we continue down the old dirt road here on this EP – of course the Old Dirty is part boreen, part Route 66 and part moonshine trail. Not a bad track in sight but special shout out is given to the shout it out, Flogging Molly-ish, SELFISH BASTARD, the Irish traditional, GALWAY BAY, given the ol’ Celtic punk treatment and the Americana of the title track Poor Troubled Life, a song with really cross over potential.
Got this way back before the summer last year so I’m way late in reviewing so sorry guys! Lexington Road are from San Diego strangle enough – I would have guesses either Kentucky or Mass given the name. A very strong debut and very well produced – big rock with a punk energy and loads of fiddles that merge the rock with Celtic, Americana and country. You’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys soon….very soon as an EP is on the way and I’ll review it in haste this time.
Shite'n'Onions 