Genre-defying hardcore band, The Locust are back and ready to hit the road again for the first time in over four years. Following a performance at LA area music festival, Desert Daze earlier this month, the band will be playing a short run of shows throughout October and November, spanning from Texas to Colorado and ending in California. While the band announced their return from hiatus in 2013, they haven’t performed live since 2015, making this handful of shows incredibly intimate, and their upcoming performance at Denver’s Summit on November 2nd is one you don’t want to miss.
We caught up with bassist/vocalist Justin Pearson following the band’s performance at Desert Daze to chat about their upcoming shows and future plans, which will eventually include new music. Read the full interview below and grab tickets to see The Locust live in Denver HERE.
Earlier this month, you guys played your first set in four years at Desert Daze and now, you’re getting ready to play a short run of shows throughout the end of this month and into November. How does it feel to be playing together live again?
It felt natural to be active again. I think even though there was a lot of time between our last live performance and now, we have all been busy with various life activities. So the amount of time isn’t a linear thing to look at. But when we started to rehearse more recently, most of the muscle memory kicked in and we feel back into place, where I think we naturally belong. Post performance at Desert Daze felt good as well. Aside from the screw-ups on our part here and there, we all walked away from the show feeling not only grateful but also feeling sense of achievement. For me, I rarely am able to walk away and not immediately critique every aspect that could have been better. Sure, I did a bit of that, but for the most part, it felt like I was able to breathe differently, like I did in the past when we were last active.
What are you looking forward to the most at these upcoming shows?
Trying to achieve the level of accuracy that we all had in the past is one thing. Also, being able to play with the band in places I enjoy to people I appreciate.
Of the handful of live shows you’re doing, you’ll be playing at Summit in Denver. What can Colorado fans expect from the upcoming show?
A live musical performance that will span material from fairly early in our existence to the most recent release of ours. Some of the older tunes are played with a more fitting nuance as well. I think we have grown as human beings and have a different appreciation for what we had previously created, and the execution seems like an evolution of the material.
You’ve also mentioned that you plan to start functioning as a band again, which generally includes new music – have you guys been working on anything new as of late?
Yes.
What goals do you have in mind for any new or future music?
I think it is too early to really dive into this just yet.
How do you feel you’ve grown as musicians and songwriters in your time apart and working on other projects?
I can only speak for myself, but I have felt a constant growth over the last few years. I think a lot of the stuff I have been working on outside of The Locust had educated me, and helped me evolve as an artist. Part of me looks back at the more naive self and strives to find a way to correct that aspect.
Do you have any other big plans for the rest of 2019 or going into the new year?
I’m just hoping to get though the rest of the year and come out on the other side with a healthy perspective in the world I live in. It seems that the world is getting a bit more agitated and less patient with itself. At the same time, I am looking at the elements of inspiration and hope that we can try to focus, on and not feed or add to the garbage that is seemingly taking prescience. I also have no idea what big plans are. I think if I was to look at big plans, we’d be talking about space travel or perhaps something more tangible like dismantling the current US government.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat – is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you! Not that I can think of.
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