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UNSUNG HERO MAGAZINE COVER STORY -- SEPTEMBER 2000
STAND BACK AND WATCH THE EARTH SHAKE. THIS IS NYC'S ESSENCE OF ROCK AND ROLL
By Ed Beeler
"Passion," "power," "meaningful lyrics," "ass-kicker" - all that talk. These adjectives are thrown around by public relations gurus like peanut shells at the Mets game.
Words. Words. Words. Unless you're into boy bands, much of it is unsubstantiated trash, and a complete waste of time. It stands to reason that in a business where image oftentimes precedes substance, it's especially profound and exciting when a band makes its name by what it does and not by what's been said. When the hype is real and the scene that exudes it stands up, words start to mean something again, statements get justified, and the music lives in its own light.
Refusing to be homogenized and sold for what they are not, New York City's LUXX is one such statement--a band that defines itself within itself, and for all the right reasons.
Up to this point, and with no intentions of wavering, their creative legacy has been made solely on their terms and justified within the sincerity of themselves. In short, LUXX is truly special.
Featuring guitarist Ian Hatton, bassist Benny Selzer, and drummer Dave Silver--all of whom have an extensive history of recording credits and reputable bands to their names--LUXX is already a musical juggernaut. Add vocalist Katrina Chester to the mix and things get biblical.
With an exclusive interview, lucky man Ed Beeler talks with a charismatic powerhouse LUXX vocalist, Katrina Chester.
Ed Beeler (EB):
You are an amazing vocalist and front-woman for this band. Where did you come from!?
Katrina Chester (KC):
I quite often ask myself that question, I'm not quite sure! (laughing)--I came from Rockland County, which is about 40 minutes north of Manhattan--the un-talked about suburbs of New York--waterfalls, farms, in Pomona, NY...horses, like 6 acres. I wasn't a city girl at all, I'm a country girl.
EB:
Doesn't sound like a place where one would get started in the music business...
KC:
Oh, yeah! My dad was a really big session drummer. He did tons of classic tracks, 'Under The Boardwalk', 'Twist and Shout', 'Stand By Me', all the Coasters, Billy Holiday. Even though I was in the middle of the sticks, I was around music every minute of my life.
EB:
Did you ever think your career would arrive where it is today?
KC:
All I ever wanted to do was be a singer, so really my goal is reached. Anything else is icing on the cake.
KC:
We signed a deal with Paul Geary Management. He was the drummer from Extreme, and he manages Godsmack, Reveille, and now us. That's changed our lives.
EB:
Did he find you?
KC:
We played with Godsmack about 2 years ago in Massachusetts. We heard rumors they were about to be signed to Universal, and we got put on this show with them. We had played Boston a lot, we had a buzz going, we went to do several gigs, one just happened to be with them. The bass player, Robbie, never forgot us. We made friends with another Boston guy, Ian Barrett. He works with WAAF (Boston's great rock station) - I became great friends with Ian. He always said we needed a manager, and that we'd be great with Godsmack, so he suggested Paul Geary. Next thing I know, Robbie from Godsmack called up Universal Records, then called up his manager. Then, the whole band went to bat for us. Ian brought Paul Geary to a show...and he turned to us and said, "You're mine!"
EB:
Is it really who you know, who knows you? Does the LUXX story reflect that?
KC:
I definitely think it does. It is true that every band needs to get up off their ass and play. If we weren't playing, we wouldn't have met these people. That's how we found an agent that really believes in us.
EB:
You actually got off of a label--the PUSH Records/BMG deal. What's the story there?
KC:
We learned to be independent. If we hadn't been thorugh waht we'd been through--the BMG/Push Records deal--we wouldn't be ready for this. It gave us a leg up, an opportunity to know what to do next time around to make this work. It was a tiny label with major distribution. But with no money at the label, they can't do anything for you. So we got the nerve up and asked to get off the label; everything has gone well since! I'm excited to sign with a major. We're such a tight machine now,a nd I think we have a lot of offer each other.
EB:
It takes 'real' people in the band to be ready for it. You guys are totally real. I brought many people to your last live gig out in Pittsburgh; they were blown away by the honesty of LUXX's music, not to mention you guys as people.
KC:
You said it best--we do our thing live. If we couldn't play live, I don't think I could do this for long.
EB:
With a new management deal, do you have some 'non touring time'?
KC:
They just pulled us off the road. Now we have to write a new record. We're taking pieces of the first and second records--that's good news. We're writing new songs; we're gonna sign the papers; and we're going to record and work on artwork. Our plan is to drop the new record in January and go on tour in March of 2001.
EB:
How did you hook up with your new bassist? I know Hal 'Benny' Selzer is very active in the New York/New Jersey scene with the likes of Max Wineberg, Springsteen, Bon Jovi, writing music columns.
KC:
Benny wrote for a magazine, and he called me for a magazine interview!
EB:
Maybe that's why I do these interviews all the time! Networking! (laughter)
KC:
Absolutely! He said "If you ever need a bass player, let me know." So when we needed one, I called him. We're still hazing him, though. Tony (original bassist Tony Fennell) was a founding member, so it was hard to replace him, but Benny's great, the chemistry is great. We're very happy--but trust me, I bust his chops every day to see how far I can push him!! (laughing) He's great!
EB:
Being a female singer, people always have an idea of what you are about, right?
KC:
There are too many gimmicks surrounding female singers. The world is ready for a female rock and roll star. The last one was Janis Joplin, and, in some ways, that poor girl didn't even make it until she was dead. And that's sad. I'm not even a Janis Joplin fan, but I use her as an example because she's the only one who was. You have Madonna, but that's pop. The only thing close to rock and roll is Courtney Love, but that's really alternative. Where is the David Lee Roth, Bon Scott, Kid Rock, or Limp Bizkit of the females? It doesn't exist. I want to be her. I want the world to embrace it like that; I want them to know that I don't have a gimmick. I'm a rock and roll singer and I happen to have tits and that's not my fault.
EB:
That's a great way to put it...
KC:
I'm who I am all the time, I feel I've captured the realness of the rock and roll genre, I feel the guys in my band have as well. I feel the world is a bit hesitant to accept that. What you don't know scares you--so it's gonna take a lot. It's hard to get people to see it for what it is, but people are starting to really love it; and now with the new situation we're in, we can turn that feeling for the LUXX live show into record sales and radio play.
EB:
There aren't many bands like LUXX...
KC:
You do see the emptiness of the genre, right? Where are all the other girls like me? I can't be the only one out there. I don't want anyone to be scared of it. I'm not re-inventing the wheel; I'm just a chick singing rock and roll like all the other guys. I just want to be accepted as a musician. Of course, labels and managers will play up on the fact that I'm a female, but I don't want them to ever forget that I'm a rock musician.
EB:
Is the groupie situation the same for a woman in rock and roll? as it is for a man? Worse? Same? I know you'd kick an ass or two if it became a situation anyway, so I know the answer, I think.
KC:
I have to say...hmm...I have to find the right way to put this...(chuckle). I feel I get so much respect from male and female fans. I'm very rarely disrespected. If I get "groupies" they seem to get to know me without invading my space. I've had the "show me your tits" line a few times, but I've come back with something that made that person wish they'd never said that.
EB:
I was thinking there'd be an ass kicking involved there.
KC:
Yes, but it is the same--the groupies, the crazy things that go on--maybe crazier, because I got guys!! But nobody ever is rude really. We have really great fans; they're very respectful. We always do the meet-and-greet with our fans. They totally understand everything we need, time and space; they are very classy fans. That's why I dig LUXX. I've not seen a cooler fanbase--really down to earth, nice people.
EB:
I'm glad to be part of that crowd!
KC
:I'm glad you are too!
The end of relativity
"This is a gift. Hovering somewhere atop the rock-n-roll creme de la creme of magic, Luxx is beyond exceptional. Katrina Chester is teh quintessential vocalist--world, if not Stevie Nicks class (which is one better). Singing--there's really nothing else she needs to do in this lifetime. Realized potential, hell--this is possibility. There's so much feeling here, I'm feeling everything at once. Maybe this is eternal presence? I'm going to start following this band, wherever they are. And, go figure, this has all been an understatement."
--"The PIX, by slave" UNSUNG HERO MAGAZINE, July 2000.