Welcome to the feature where we talk to musicians about some of their favourite things about the industry. Today I speak to the band Little Billy Lost who began in 2021 and has recently released the song Dance Angelina Dance. I caught up with them to find out all about their favourite things about music.

What is your Favourite:

Song you have written

Fred Pineau: That’s a tough one. If I have to choose, it’s really between two songs; “Dance Angelina Dance”, because it’s a lyrical evolution for me, and a song I wrote called “Do The Tailpipe Drag”. I just think as a song, it relates the feel that I wanted just perfectly. And the lyrics are some of the best lyrics I’ve ever written in a song. It’s a throwback to late ‘40s throwback film noir type of thing. It has very creative lyrics. 

James Melanson: I think I may have added drips and drabs here and there to Little Billy Lost songs but “World” is the one I have solely written for Little Billy Lost. Fred is the main songwriter in Little Billy Lost but I strongly feel that “World” needs to be a song in a great disaster movie like “Transformers” with stuff blowing up in the background!

Smitt E. Smitty: I am the humble drummer of ROCK. Fred Pineau and James Melanson handle the song writing. I am beyond golden with that.

Lyric:

Pineau: Lots of favorites here, but I’ll go with Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train”. He’s a master, and you can feel the steam rising from the sidewalk and hear the rattle of the train going by.

Melanson: “Dig a hole in the ground / It’s just a matter of time”

Patrick Moynihan: “Obsequious and arrogant / Clandestine and vain” – Orgasmatron by Motörhead

Smitty: “I like to create an original sin,” from Little Billy Lost’s “Do The Tailpipe Drag”. *(Creating an original sin is no easy task.)

Musician:

Pineau: Another tough one. I’ll say Eric Clapton between 1963 and 1970. After that the fire died in his playing, but his work in those years was incendiary.

Melanson: Where would one of my age begin? Being born in the early ‘60s I have had the privilege of being exposed to so many artists and genres it is tough to say. The Beatles and Monkees really hit me from the whom and it has been uphill from there.

Moynihan: Jay Buchanan, Dave Grohl, Iggy Pop, Lemmy, Michael Schenker, Matt Bellamy, Michael Monroe…

Smitty:  Ringo. 100%. The original’s original.

Film or television show

Pineau: “The Wizard of Oz” (brilliant and transportive) and “Alien” (brilliant and transportive). TV, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (brilliant and transportive).

Melanson: Past or Present? In today’s world with streaming you can eye-gobble your favorites; there are so many good shows available. “Shrinking” comes to mind. Just funny, inappropriate where need-be. The new Perry Mason was cool. Of course “Stooges”, “Bugs Bunny”…

Moynihan: “The Equalizer” and “John Wick” movies; “Southland”, “Hannibal”, “Grimm”, “Tin Star”.

Smitty: “Black Mirror” on Netflix.

Venue to perform at:

Pineau: We just performed at The Burren in Somerville, Massachusetts, and I really loved the room! In my long career – Calderone Hall, Long Island, NY. Opened for Cheap Trick and also Graham Parker & The Rumour there, and it was a great 2500 seat venue!

Melsanson: Another hard one to pinpoint. The Magic Room is always cool. The Burren, Square Root.

Moynihan: Any that will have us but The House of Blues and The Paradise, both in Boston, were very memorable gigs!

Smitty: The Magic Room in Norwood, MA.

Item to take with you on tour:

Pineau: A tour schedule!! A week into my first tour I was totally lost without one!

Melanson: My prescription organizer! 

Smitty: Fezzes, and lots of them.

Instrument:

Pineau: Guitar! I picked one up in 1962 and have never looked back!

Melanson: Guitar! Lots of it, too!!

Moynihan: Bass – like guitar only cooler. 

Smitty: Drums, and harmonica!

Song to play live

Pineau: Now, it’s “Dance Angelina Dance”. Ever, it’s “Lonelyhearts” by my band The Atlantics from back in 1980. It’s still getting airplay here after all these years!

Melanson: “Whiskey Pointe”.

Moynihan: “Baltimore Train” or “Dance Angelina Dance”.

Smitty: Whatever is next on the setlist. Love ‘em ALL!

Album by another musician:

Pineau:  “Rubber Soul” by The Beatles.

Melanson: if I can only pick one, then “Please To Meet Me” – and played loudly.

Moynihan: Geez, where do I begin? “By The Grace of God” by The Hellacopters, “Love or Electric” by The Cult, “Showbiz” by Muse, “Back in Black” by ACDC, “Lights Out” by UFO, “1916” by Motörhead. Too many to choose so I’ll stop there.

Smitty: Gotta go with “Electric Warrior” by T. Rex. One of coolest bands and collection of songs to ever be released. You could make the argument that Marc Bolan was even cooler than David Bowie, and I LOVE David Bowie!

Memory of tour:

Pineau: Touring the U.S. opening for Roxy Music. I idolized them and got to know Bryan and Andy on the tour. They say that you should never meet your heroes, but they were great people and I have many fond memories of them.

Melanson: Last time in Detroit we all got into the van and left Eddie behind to close the garage door. 

Smitty: Playing Milwaukee for the first time way back in 1979. Nothing beats the first time.

Era for music:

Pineau: 1960s. It was, IMHO, the most creative era for music in the 20th century.

Melanson: Not sure. So much good in today’s world where bands have more control with DIY. I just love to play and be part of the process.

Moynihan: 1970s, so much great rock ‘n’ roll came out. Late 1980s/early 1990s bands like Soundgarden and Jane’s Addiction really changed the trajectory or where rock was headed. Late 90s/early 2000s rock n’ roll with bands like the Hellacopters, Monster Magnet, Backyard Babies, Supersuckers, Glucifer.

Smitty:  Today! Always today!

Part of making a record:

Pineau: Watching it come together, layer by layer. By the time you get to mixing it, it’s the realization of a dream.

Melanson: I tend to enjoy the whole process from the beginnings of the song(s) in the rehearsal room to basic tracking then onto the mix and production. It’s very exciting to hear the songs come together and move forward. Then you get to go back and relearn them as you recorded them! 

Moynihan: Laying the basic tracks because I’m getting an idea of how the song is going to sound when we’re done.

Smitty: The anticipation of recording each song. It always takes time to get the sound just right, but once you do, and you’re ready to count off the song, that’s when religion walks in the room.

Thing about performing at festivals:

Pineau: Standing backstage right before taking the stage. The adrenalin gates open, and it is an amazing high!

Melanson: Energy!!! Audience feedback is rewarding and really energizes you on stage.

Moynihan: Would love to play some festivals, we have a few in the states but Europe seems to have it down. I’ve been to a couple in Germany and The Netherlands and they were awesome!!

Smitty: The best part of performing in front of a s***-ton of people, is the fire and energy of rocking out with a mass of humanity. Like gliding over a sea of love and passion. You feel like you’ll live forever. Nothing like it. Nothing close.

Quote:

Pineau: “I don’t do drugs, I am drugs!” – Salvador Dali.

Moynihan: “Everybody talks about the Rock but they forget about the Roll,” – Keith Richards

Smitty: “What are you going to do? Have me arrested for breaking and exiting?” – Chris Panackia. Said to a security guard while loading out after a show. (1984).

Thing about the music industry at the moment:

Pineau: In life, as in the music industry, the only thing that will remain the same is that everything will change. It’s a different planet than the one we inhabited in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, and you need to adapt. On the up side, you can put your music out on line yourself for the entire world to hear. On the downside, so can thousands of other artists. Every day. We’re fortunate to be signed to a great independent record label, Code 213 Records, to get our music heard!

Moynihan: Seems like it’s in the process of reinventing itself. Record labels destroyed the golden goose but the people that still love it and want to make music are finding different ways to operate. I think YouTube has been a huge help. I subscribe to some label channels so I get turned onto new bands here and there.

Smitty: The DIY element has never been greater. It’s a double edged sword for sure. The artist has far more control because of that, BUT… the $$$ and responsibility is just about all on the artist too. Time and money is usually not in great abundance for your average artist.

Thing about this year so far?

Pineau: We’ve released a great song and video, “Dance Angelina Dance”, and are performing for really responsive audiences!

Melanson: Watching our music get out there. And playing with these awesome humans!!

Moynihan: So far this has been the best of the 5 years I’ve been in the band, and I only see it getting better from here!!

Smitty: 2023? BEST year yet! Take a deep breath and ENJOY it ALL! Every moment. Every second. Roll around in it! Soak it all up! Be grateful. Infinite love and gratitude!

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