Acid Eyeliner: The New Style

Wed 26th Mar, 2008 in Features

Today’s music industry is opening the door for more independent bands to find their way to the main stage. Home studios, self-management and personal marketing are just some of the avenues musicians take to create their own path to a successful full-time career.

But above all, its one’s own dedication and old fashioned hard work that elevates bands such as Acid Eyeliner to compete and succeed in the industry. Their name either instantly attracts attention or has the opposite effect. “We thought about changing it but the fans really love it, and we like the name too. But I think some people might take a dodge before giving us a listen sometimes,” explains lead vocalist and band guitarist Lukey Lukess. “But we sound different to a lot of bands, which I think is a good thing.”

Although their title “just popped out”, it has no reference to the drug acid. It’s a reference to the chemical, possibly inspired by Green Day lyrics, as they use to cover their tracks when starting out.

Name confusion is something the frontman is used to. “For about five years, probably up until Acid Eyeliner started, I was only called Lukess – I was never called by my first name. It gets confusing sometimes and people call me Lucky. That’s a funny one, so it’s all good.”

For Lukess (last name intended), playing guitar in numerous bands around the music scene has been his focus ever since leaving high school. When approached to start this project, he wasn’t sure if being the lead vocalist was for him. But gradually the band started to introduce their own original material into sets, to a positive reaction. With more experience under his belt, Acid Eyeliner have now developed a sizable following that sees them appear in the – œTop Bands’ on this very site.

For the band’s new record, set to be released this Friday 28 March, Lukess worked on giving his best vocally. “As I’m only a two-year-old singer, it was a challenge to make the vocals sound good. We got a guy in to help actually track it. It was more him pushing me hard. Usually when we record it’s just Murray [ Danger – drummer] sitting there laughing while recording. And it’s hard to motivate yourself to sing harder and better.”

It wasn’t due to lack of interest that keeps the band independent. Lukess explains: “A few independent [labels] have hit us up quite a few times over the last couple of years and every time we have sort of said, – œWhat can you do for us that we can’t already do?’. A lot of the time it hasn’t been much more than what we can do ourselves.”

All the organising for the album launch is on their shoulders, and for Lukess the night will most likely be more stressful than nerve-wracking. “That’s the thing when you are independent – we’ve done all the organising. Hopefully everything goes well and when we come on stage that will actually be the easiest part of the night for us.”

The band has had some highpoints in the past few years – touring with UK band McFly and The Veronicas, being named runners-up in the Uncharted competition, and making the final five for the Bon Jovi tour support in Sydney – but the apex has surely been completing their debut album.

Especially for an independent band, fan support is crucial. Acid Eyeliner is always encouraging those who already believe in them to continue spreading their name. In return, the band dedicates a lot of their time to responding to fans. “Nowadays, I spend a couple of hours at the end of each day. There might be 150 comments from the day to respond to. It’s sort of easier to reply to all the comments at the end of the day as that way you don’t lose track of who you have and haven’t talked to.”

Keeping in touch with the kids that are inspired by his music, whilst promoting positive living, is something Lukess feels strongly about. “We’ve had kids come up and whisper things in our ears or give us little notes at gigs saying that our music saved their life. When you get something like that it makes you think about what you are doing.

“The bigger we get as a band, the more new responsibilities we get. I think it makes playing in a band more fun when you can look outside and see you are having an impact on people. Life shouldn’t just be about playing in a band. It should be about other people as well.”

Acid Eyeliner’s debut album Future Lies will be launched at The Gaelic Club in Sydney, Friday 28 March. The band is also doing the national rounds to support the record:

12 Apr- The Burbs Festival, Blacktown, Olympic Park

24 Apr – Gladstone Hotel (AA) Gladstone, Queensland

27 Apr – The Hive (acoustic), Brisbane

1 May – [18+] Bull N Bush, w/ Finabah, Baulkham Hills

2 May – Canberra (TBC)

4 May – [All ages] Embassy Hotel w/ Finabah, The Take, Violet, Penrith

9 May- [ Melbourne Under-18s] The Hifi Bar 4:30pm till 7:30pm, Melbourne

9 May – [Melbourne 18+] The Hifi Bar 8:30pm till midnight

11 May – [Adelaide] Fowler’s Live All Ages, Adelaide

31 May – [All ages] The Loft, Newcastle

8 Jun – Come Together Festival (all ages) Luna Park, Sydney