The Lake and the Lion

I recently sat down with George Barber, Lead singer and writer for the Lake and the Lion, a Indie/Folk/Rock/Americana band comprised of students from Keene State.

Tom MacLennan- When did you decide to start the band?

George Barber- I that the idea of the band has been around since 2008, because since I’ve been here I wanted to get a band together. When I was a freshman I focused on songwriting, sophomore year I was trying to find the sound I was looking for. I first started playing with Viola Joe and the band came to fruition of September of 2009.

TM- Now there’s been a revolving door of members, how do you feel about this?

GB- The core of this band has been Me, Joe, Chris Clark, and Drew Hodgeden. We just added a bunch of new people to the band, and I think that they help round out the sound very nicely. This incarnation of the band is much more family-orientated, just from being around so much together, and we’re all fitting in very well together.

TM- I understand you recently recorded an EP, what was the recording process like?

GB- There was 6 of us in a studio for 13 hours. We went to Loud Sun studios in Jaffrey, and it was the first time I’d ever been in a studio, but not for everyone else.

TM- What are your future plans for the band?

GB- We have some summer recording sessions, and we might be playing at a festival in Maine this summer. We plan on playing a whole lot next year, and trying to sell more CD’s.

TM - What’s the writing process like?

GB- I write mostly all the lyrics and chords, and then the band contributes their parts. Sometimes it might be a few chords and we jam over them until we get the feel down.

TM- Any particularly ridiculous situations after gigs?
GB- We spent 60 bucks on Wendy’s after a gig, thats about as rowdy as we get. We also recorded in a haunted warehouse, that was interesting.

TM- what do you think of the current musical scene going on in Keene?
GB- I think we desperately need a record label, its the last thing thats missing. Other than that there are a lot of great bands, no two are a like and they’re all great at what they’re doing.

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