Sydney's energetic homegrown garage rock band, Lepers & Crooks (L&C) are heading around the country on the back of their latest release, the epic 'Let You Go'.
The new track comes as the first single off L&C’ forthcoming EP 'Heathen Circus', which is expected sometime later this year. Recorded in a 'river house' studio in the picturesque hills of Byron Bay, the new album is set to be the band's most creative and intoxicating yet.
The lyrics of 'Let You Go' spilled out on a sleepless, jet-lagged night of shared-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Pat Reuter-Town. After a muck-around riff from lead guitarist Alex Court caught their attention during a recording session in hometown Sydney, the band started to feel the wheels in motion. "['Let You Go'] was never intended to be the single. We had a few other things in mind, and in the recording process, we thought, 'have we overlooked this song as a potential release?'," Pat says of the track.
"But by the end of the day, we basically said 'fuck it lets just go with that' and we're really happy with the decision."
Meeting during their boarding school years, the five mates (Pat, Alex, Sam, Garreth and Damien) bonded over music and a shared love for classic rock idols Led Zeppelin and The Doors. "It was [a] strict religious, regimented school, and music was kind of our escape from that, where we all started bonding as friends, exploring music and growing up together," Pat reminisces.
After doing that little bit of growing up, the boys have escaped their self-induced strict rock & roll genre, embracing an indie and punk flavour in their epic new release. And, in rightful celebration of the killer track, the five inner-western Sydney lads are packing their bags for a 12-date tour, spanning May and June.
They’re desperate to bring their energetic presence back onstage for fans, after a longer-than-preferred rest since the completion of their two-year tour in August last year. So if you've bought your tickets to a L&C show, strap yourself in, as things are bound to get a little out of control. "Our live shows have lot of energy, we like to really get into it. Sam's [the band's lead singer] a wild man, or a wild woman in the video clip," Pat laughs.
"We're there to engage with people, give them what we've got and see what they've got to offer. That's what live music is all about."
The five-piece have often been dubbed as one of Australia's hardest working bands, performing more than 200 shows during 2014 and 2015. However, the guys continue to gain support and praise from fans and the industry. "When we decided this was what we wanted to do, we dropped everything else; uni and jobs, and hit the road for two years.
"Now we've got an EP that we're really proud of, and so far so good. We're keen to get the rest out there and throw as much into the EP as possible, for our fans.”
As for the future though, Pat can simply promise that L&C are only going to get bigger, and better. "Our plan from here on is to keep having music coming out all the time and be touring all the time. This kind of feels like it is just the beginning."
'Let You Go' is out today, 12 May.
Lepers & Crooks Tour Dates
Sat 14 May - Oxford Art Factory (Sydney)Thu 26 May - Sooki Lounge (Belgrave)
Fri 27 May - Workers Club (Melbourne)
Sat 28 May - Baha (Rye)
Fri 3 Jun - Federal Hotel (Bellingen)
Sat 4 Jun - The Northern (Bryon Bay)
Sun 5 Jun - Sounds Of Sunday (Gold Coast)
Fri 10 Jun - Pacific Hotel (Yamba)
Sat 11 Jun - Crowbar (Brisbane)
Sun 12 Jun - Peregian Originals (Sunshine Coast)
Fri 24 Jun - Rad Bar (Wollongong)
Sat 25 Jun - The Basement (Canberra)
