Libidoswitch On Again! 16/5/13

Image Compliments of Vanessa Brown

Local hardcore punk/metal band Libidoswitch is launching back into the music scene with a ‘final push’ on making music. Andy Anderson, guitarist and vocalist of the job goes into the bands history of ten years from their formation until today.

 “We put the band together at the start, we were three friends with similar tastes in music, we’d all come from previous bands and had a shared interest that brought us together. Started giggin’ locally and did a bit of recording, we put our first recording, an EP together in 2003 which done well and helped us finance the second one in 2006. We were on a bit of a hiatus between 2008 and 2010 playing the odd show just to remind ourselves we were still in a band. We decided to give it a push in 2011 and we’ve been here ever since. Luckily we’ve held a lot of the interest that we’d gathered with the first push and we’re just trying to capitalise on that now."

A ten year span is not something many other bands have under their belt but there have been good times, and bad, in the mix for Libidoswitch. “We got to do plenty, we got to play with some of our hero’s, we got to open for the Anti-Nowhere League and we got to meet a lot of interesting people; a lot of promoters. One thing I’d have to say is that we’ve done everything the hard way because we’re a niche market musical genre you don’t get anything handed to you and you’re limited to where you can play. Even your audience is very limited so you have to love what you do because there’s no money in it and it’s definitely a labour of love.”

One of the most recent pieces of news to hit the music scene was the departure of bassist Squinty from the group. Here Andy explains that the change in line-up was down to nothing more than personal choice, no drama or fall outs involved and new bassist Gerry has been warmly welcomed. “I have to say because everybody keeps asking this, the separation is totally amicable and always was, it was Squinty’s decision and he’s very supportive of Gerry’s role in the band. He’s been out and the shows and he’s said it’s been very interesting for him seeing it from a new perspective watching the music on stage. That was great and there’s no point in telling lies about it, it was a very difficult time for us and we questioned where to go on with the project. The introduction of Gerry is like a breath of fresh air, he’s brought a new dynamic to the sound. At the minute we’re building up the set-list, there’s a lot of new music in the set-list as it stands but we haven’t started properly writing and integrating Gerry yet but he’s adding his own touches to old favourites already and it shows in the music, it’s really positive and we’ve had a great response.”

So, how was Gerry Craig chosen for what was bound to be a very sought after place in Libidoswitch? Talent, is the answer. “We knew that he was very experienced and we knew the level of his talent but they were open platform auditions and we had a few great people and it’s important to say thanks to everyone that showed interest, we were very flattered and humbled by it. Everybody got a chance and Gerry was the most compatible man, he wasn’t involved with anybody full-time so it worked on that basis alone, it was his talent over our relationship with Gerry and now it’s a nice happy medium of both.”

The group are thrilled to be making another push at the music scene and this week will see Gerry’s debut as bassist in a headlining gig. “This has only just begun, where we’re standing right now it’s very simple logics, we’ve had twenty years playing in bands now I think we kind of half know what we’re doing. Right now the prime objectives of the year are to get merchandise which is already in the works which will hopefully finance a recording that we’re hoping to do as soon as possible, that’s already being worked on as we speak, with an aim to finance a tour before the end of the year, maybe a UK wide tour. That’s definitely going to happen, we’re finalising all the details at the minute and all these things take time. It’s a milestone, it’s the first headline gig on the 17^th with Gerry on board, we’ve done a few shows around the province just to break him in and he’s enjoying it which is the most important thing and so are we. It felt like work for a long time and now it’s back to being something that we enjoy.

Andy feels that there is something in the band now that hasn’t been there for a while, it could even be a change in himself but it’s being reflected in the writing. “There’s a new imperative in the unit that hadn’t been there for a long time. There’s a spirit in the band that maybe hasn’t been there since 2005/06. It’s got nothing to do with Squity leaving, that’s a lot to do with me personally. There’s something new happening and it’s reflected in the new music we’re writing, there’s something fresh. We were never out to break new ground. I think in the genre of music that we play which is alternative/hardcore/metal/punk whatever you want to call it, everything has already been done so we were never about breaking new ground, we were just about writing three minute heavy tunes with a good hook that are strong enough to stand on their own two feet in a set. Make it all killer no filler.”

Finally Andy made the point that the hardcore scene in the area is flourishing and that personally he’s excited to be working with new groups which are up and coming, overall an exciting time for Libidoswitch to be making a comeback. “Getting to work with a lot of the younger bands that are coming through now is just amazing. Just seeing the potential in bands like Making Monsters, doing something really fresh. Bands like M.O.T.H, Acari, Seneron, Zia Régime; a really progressive sound happening there, you’ve got the old guard like TRIGGERMAN, Zero Point Zero, Janette Hutton Band, it’s like a list of name checks. You just have so much happening in the town now and it’s just an absolute privilege to share the stage with these new up and coming bands that are breaking through. A lot of them are breaking ground too, some to watch for the future like Mandala Skies from Strabane or Dying Breed from Dungiven or Axecatcher and Black Sonnet from Limavady, they’re bands that I would keep a close eye on in the future. The hardcore scene is very healthy at the moment and it’s a good time for us to have a good clash at it and see how we get on.

Check out the free gig tomorrow at Masons for a listen to Libidoswitch and some other great acts details of which can all be found online if you check out the guy’s Facebook page.