Lester Slade on the Journey of “Burnt Out Lightning”
“For a long time in my life, I spent everyday consuming something and doing one thing over and over again to the point of burning out. All while trying to keep the lightning in and out of a bottle.” — Lester Slade on Burnt Out Lightning
The raw energy of punk, root, and rock n roll wrapped up unintentionally in the odes of road-worn stories, Burnt Out Lightning documented and reflected on a part of life that was special and memorable. The album features Lester Slade on guitar and vocal, Alex Madsen on electric guitar, Cam Murphy on drums, and Dan Logan on bass.
Mixed with pent-up energy and tiresome yawns on a bottleneck slide, “Pay to Fish” has a little bit of everything on its mind. Careless but still caring about the big and little things in life is the true reflection: power plants, pay to fish, interstate, too much to drink, good things and better things, afraid to go home, Lorra was always right.
The lit energy and concentration among musicians in “Painting Houses” were insane. Slade described the song as his favorite, “Walked into the studio that day and we were just messing around and tuning when I started playing this song that I wasn’t sure was done yet. But we hit record that day and did it in one take and never touched it after that. It was a good moment in time.”
Burnt Out Lightning takes listeners on a journey of the best and the worst. “Less I Know” messes in emotional-bearing distortions and rich guitar soundscapes, while “Running Away” sets its scene in a sunny country song where the snare-heavy punk rhythm and fiddles details a youthful, rebellious version of falling in love. “All My Friends” creates a wholesome feeling that falls between chaos, movement, sadness, and happiness.
Q&A with Lester Slade
Punk Head: I absolutely love the stories collected in this album. Can you share with us your creative process?
Lester Slade: This Album has been something rolling around my head for a few years I really wanted to do a mainly live-off-the-floor style album with a few close friends and musicians. So, it’s nice to know that we stuck to the idea. Big shout out to everyone who had their hands on making it possible. They are all great pickers and I am glad to have them be a part of this collection of songs.
PH: What stimulated the writing of these songs?
Slade: I first started writing some of these tunes sitting in the back of our tour van years ago, the topics in these songs are mostly surrounding that certain time in my life and I think having been able to reflect on that time helped bring out the stories. I feel like it was all kind of a blur while it was happening so being able to step back now I realize that no matter how weird or crazy it was back then touring that much and abusing substances to stay awake longer or to go to bed faster it all kind of made me into the person I am now. So looking forward to the next chapter and enjoying every minute of being on this planet surrounded by good friends and family.
PH: What is your favorite song? Do you have a favorite line?
Slade: I really dig the way “Painting Houses” came out. Walked into the studio that day and we were just messing around and tuning when I started playing this song that I wasn’t sure was done yet. But we hit record that day and did it in one take and never touched it after that.
It was a good moment in time.
PH: I can hear a lot of interesting influences in your music. What is your journey with music?
Slade: I grew up listening to Country and Bluegrass music and I think that will always come out no matter what I’m doing but a lot of us are still into DIY Punk music, Cam has been playing in punk bands for decades and started a Record Label in Moncton called “Rat Butter Records”. Alex Is working on a solo record and is still deeply rooted in Country Music, D-Lo seems to pick up an instrument and play with whoever has some ideas for a song and always makes them sound amazing. We played in a two-piece rock band called Schoondog Saints. Over the years I think we are all over the road and have weird Albums and Tapes scattered through peoples record collections and hidden in Bandcamp. So go check out their stuff too if you are into that kind of thing.
PH: Who would you say is your biggest influence?
Slade: I'm continually influenced by watching what people put out these days in their respected genres. I still love listening to new music and if I can continue to have a place in that in any forum I am grateful
PH: How did you come up with the album title "Burnt Out Lightning"
Slade: The Title refers to reflection. For a long time in my life, I spent every day consuming something and doing one thing over and over again to the point of burning out. All while trying to keep the lightning in and out of a bottle
