Of Monsters, Angels, and Rocknroll
- an introduction to Lovedrug -
Like many great bands, there is something hauntingly spiritual and honest about Lovedrug. The Ohio-based rock band delivers highbrow sound akin to Spiritualized, Sunny Day Real Estate, or Muse, crossed with the pop sensibility and arena grandeur of Queen. A unique crossbreed of art and accessibility, powerful melodies are driven by smartly crafted lyrics of truth, intrigue, love, death, and damn near everything in between.
Only those who have seen the band live can truly understand the growing phenomenon that is Lovedrug. Regardless of how cliché it may sound, Lovedrug live is truly less a show and more an experience. In playing to a variety of audiences (the band has shared the stage w/ Cat Power, Creeper Lagoon, The Killers, Braid, Elliot, Mewithoutyou, The Casket Lottery & Noise Ratchet, to name a few), Lovedrug have won over virtually every audience they’ve met.
Formed in June of 2002, Lovedrug is the brainchild of Michael Shepard and Adam Ladd. Both artists of some pedigree, the two friends joined forces in several previous avant-garde projects including the widely respected Kerith Ravine. Rising above the indie-rock contour of Kerith, Shepard’s current vocal melodies breathe a grand soundscape in a tender but bloodcurdling timbre. Ladd’s bass in turn securely moors the project’s course, providing quality arrangement to Shepard’s guitar and piano innovations. Longtime friend but first-time contributor David Owen became Lovedrug’s full-time lead guitarist in July ’03, bringing his own accomplished creative presence in both writing and performance. Matthew Putman, a phenomenal writing and touring drummer (Ester Drang, Unwed Sailor), completes the band’s permanent lineup.
In less than 2 years, Lovedrug have gone from start-up to standout on the mid-western rock scene. Lovedrug recorded a self-titled 5-track demo, selling out two pressings within three months of its July ‘02 release. Such interest led to further preproduction and early ‘03 saw the band head into the studio with producer Tim Patalan (Sponge, The Fags, Peter Searcy) with astounding results.
Those lucky enough to hear the full-length results frequently give it the nod for ‘best first record by any band in recent memory’. Hinting at the full-length to come, the band released the 6-track “Rocknroll EP” in summer ‘03 to overwhelming acceptance. Cleveland’s Scene magazine hailed Lovedrug as the #1 band to watch in 2004, describing live favorite Down Towards The Healing as “one of the most affecting songs of the year -- local or otherwise.” Numerous college and independent radio stations picked up the record for regular airplay, leading to dozens of top rankings coast to coast, from Hartford, to Milwaukee, to Seattle.
Various incarnations of the full-length album, christened “Pretend You’re Alive”, began to cause a stir among insiders and music industry types. A&R reps from major and indies alike began appearing at Lovedrug shows over the summer. By the fall interest in the band had reached a fevered pitch, with a showcase at NYC’s legendry Bitter End fanning the flames. Reps from virtually every significant label system attended the band’s sold-out CMJ appearance at Don’s Hills in October.
In the “suits on the loose” stage that followed, Lovedrug was approached in earnest by a number of labels. Appreciating the volatility inherent to the music biz, the band carefully weighed offers from both major and indie labels, searching for a reliable partnership that would successfully launch their career while still affording Lovedrug that ever-elusive element of control. In the end Lovedrug spurned conventional wisdom, passing on a major label offer, signing instead with mighty-indie The Militia Group.
With the deal inked, and with the full backing of their new label, Lovedrug began preparations for the July debut of “Pretend You’re Alive”. The band hit the road hard in both the spring and summer, visiting the west coast for the first time and gaining national touring exposure with label mates Copeland in May, the Braid reunion tour in June, and the national Mewithoutyou and Noise Ratchet run in July. With the highly anticipated bow of Pretend You’re Alive set for July 27, 2004, the close of July will see Lovedrug play a handful of release shows in regional strongholds, supporting key markets within Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Illinois. Another national tour with Copeland is slated for August, with a headlining college run and other tours in the works for the fall….
Lovedrug is: Michael Shepard – vocals, guitar, piano David Owen – guitar, vocals Adam Ladd – bass Matthew Putman – drums
