The Liquor Kings

20 years in the making
By Kristina “Liquor Queen” Mameli
For the Skinny in BeatRoute.

Often found on top of tables, rather than under them, the Liquor Kings have rapidly become one of Vancouver’s must see live acts. For good reason: given that these venerable rock n’ rollers deal exclusively in alcohol fuelled debauchery and death-defying stunts, any given show could very well be their last. And that’s exactly why the dedicated Liquor Legion would be remiss to ever miss a show.

The Skinny sat down with the omnipotent five at their East Van jam space (the Evaporators practicing in the background) to ask a few rather loaded questions. All long-time friends, the quintet boasts an impressive collective resume, ranging from a myriad of ‘80s fuck bands to the now infamous Slow.

Forming in late 2010 as the Stoolies, the band decided to change the name in order to avoid obvious connotations, which marked an immediate turn around and fostered more positive attention. “It really was a different band,” says vocalist Eddy Dutchman, a seasoned street performer by trade (Wankers, Chainsaw Running, Fabulous Wallies, Cardiac Jack, Rustic Sinners). “I’d be really drunk, and do all sorts of idiotic stupid things…fuck up all the time…”

“But now that we’re called the Liquor Kings you don’t get drunk and climb…” jokes guitarist Mike Laviolette (Surf Messiahs, Cadaver Dogs, Country Club Hustlers, Daily Alice).

“It’s kind of ironic,” says drummer Terry Russell (the Powerfailures, the Orientals, Ogre, Canned Ham, Eye Candy, Slow). “In the Stoolies, I was the only guy that played on a stool; the only authentic member of the band. Now, we’re the Liquor Kings, and I’m like a twelve-stepper, so I’m the only fraud in the band.”

“Fraud!” laughingly accuses Dutchman. “He’s a fraud!”

“But one could also argue that I’m the first guy to quaff a lifetime supply…so I’m ahead of everybody.”

“We’re all just trying to catch up now,” smiles Laviolette.

Bassist Ed Hurrell (Stab Then in the Abdomen, Ogre, Fabulous Wallies) introduced guitarist Stephen Graf (Swag Men, Beladeans, Surf Messiahs) to Russell and Dutchman, recording four-track demos in Graf’s basement; thusly laying the foundation for what would eventually become the band.

As it turns out, Laviolette and Hurrell had gone to high school together. “Steve says he’s got this really good lead guitar player coming over,” remembers Hurrell. “And I walk in and I go, “Mike?” and he goes, “Ed?” and I go, “hooooly fuck! I haven’t seen you since high school!” Small world.”

The death of the band, however, almost came one night at the Princeton due to Dutchman’s Evel Knieval reminiscent stage antics. “These guys were waking out on me that night,” giggles Dutchman. “I had an amp strapped to each foot; my feet are in the little handles and I’m trying to walk around. And I fell. I actually fell. And I landed in a chair. They pushed me back up—let’s watch him fall again! And it was really bad because I was drunk…I totally forgot all the songs, where I was…”

“I believe that resulted in a major change to your pre-show rituals,” laughs Russell.

“We were not pleased,” adds Laviolette.

Not the first time. “The first time we played the Princeton, they barred me for trying to grab the fan or something [on the “Ladder of Doom”]. They barred me! But after that, things tamed down quite a bit. It’s probably best for the band if I stay away from that stuff.”

“We’re older and wiser now,” says Laviolette.

Other than constantly being under the influence (it’s just too easy, sorry), the Liquor Kings cite the likes of the Dead Boys, New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, garage, country, and of course, Alice Cooper as musical influences.

“What about Justin Beiber?” inquires Dutchman to torrents of laughter. “He’s my influence. As lead vocalist, he’s my influence.”

“I grew up listening to him,” adds Laviolette.

Graf, affectionately known as “the Doctor” in some circles, is the principle songwriter, though Dutchman contributed lyrically in the beginning. “Some of the older Liquor Kings songs, I actually started years ago,” reveals Graf. “And some of those actually survived, in some form…and it’s amazing because that was like 1992.”

“Liquor Kings, 20 years in the making,” chimes in Laviolette.

“That’s right!” Graf says, laughing. “And I still can’t play the damn guitar.”

Keeping things simple is the methodology behind writing such anthemic gems. “It’s a proven asset to rock music,” reasons Dutchman. “That’s where all that influence like Alice Cooper comes in,” says Graf. “Everybody remembers those songs.”

The incredibly talented Scott Beadle has taken the helm of the Liquor King’s art department, creating the coat of arms, multitudes of posters and even a beer label, which is fittingly slated to become coasters. Russell’s niece in Regina, a web design student, quickly scribbled the rapidly growing iconic crown logo in the back of a car, sending it via Blackberry. “And that was it…that’s the cover of our album,” says Russell proudly.

Recorded and produced by Adam Payne at House of Payne studios, the Liquor Kings’ debut album, 100 Proof Rock and Roll, is chock full of fist pumping, glass raising, straight ahead rock and roll anthems. Independently released in November, the album has been receiving local acclaim, quickly becoming a staple in local playlists. Finished for the unheard of sum of $1200 dollars, the band views it as a stepping stone. “We’ve been working so hard since we recorded that thing,” says Russell. “It’s sort of like a snapshot of us while we were still in progress.”

“And I think we’ve got stronger songs too,” adds Laviolette.

Songs that will appear on the next album already comprise about 70% of the Liquor Kings set. The plan this time around is much more methodical: “We’re going to get a specific engineer to do four or five songs and put them on a download card. And then we’re going to combine all of those engineers and put it out on a CD. A new, interesting little project,” smiles Dutchman. “And that way we get to sell everything twice.”

Droves of decked-out punks, Shriners and an assortment of East Van rock and roll characters occupied the Biltmore in late October to help realize producer David Tamkin’s (Little Guitar Army’s “30 Watts To Freedom”) Coop cartoon inspired vision for the single “Not Quite Right.”

“A big part of the Vancouver scene that we’re involved in came out dressed up in costumes, which was really cool. There were some really interesting characterizations going on,” remembers Dutchman. “Nuns with big breasts and devil girls…”

The Liquor Kings first video will hopefully be released as early as May.

The band has no plans to tour, other than perhaps to the Island or Interior…unless, of course, a lucrative offer were to come along.

“We all work,” admits Dutchman. “And we’re old. We can’t go too far. I like my bed.”

“You’d have to send someone with us to look after us and to bring us back,” laughs Laviolette. “A chaperone.”

Able to boast that the Pointed Sticks once opened for them, the Liquor Kings play the Railway Club with Girls, Girls, Girls and Billy Butcher April 27th and with the Ramblin’ Ambassadors and Rich Hope May 19th at the Fairview.