Lesser Creatures (aka- Nick Spoon) has a new album out today, 22 Feb 2022! Lesser Creatures Issue 2 is only the second full-length, but there are multitudes of singles, splits, and more in their discography. TGEFM caught up with Nick for a quick interview. We rolled a SEVEN.
1) You've got an album coming out under your Lesser Creatures persona. Is Lesser Creatures your only project? If not, what else do you do?
Lesser Creatures is my main project but I love working with friends on there stuff too. I have sang and played guitar for a few bands when they asked, (Lily Livers, Radio Buzzkills, Vista Blue) and more that's not released yet.
I teach guitar lessons to mostly kids and I love doing that. I can expose them to punk and different music and encouraging them to write there own songs.
2) Lesser Creatures “Issue 2” (the one with the awesome Super Mario Bros. 2 parody art) is coming out soon. What should new listeners expect from the album, and what would old fans find different?
This album is a little faster and more distorted. Not slick at all and with a raw more old school sound. There are guest vocals from BlackRussian666 on a song that are phenomenal and all the songs are very short. All the lyrics are autobiographical and it's apparent.
3) As an artist, I appreciate that LC seems to be part of a community that really strives to use exceptional art for their covers. The “Issue 2” cover is no exception, even if it is an adaptation, because it is done so damn well. As the music side of that, how involved are you in the art production?
Well I had the idea but that was about it. Paulinho from the band Flanders 72 did the art and he can do anything. He is definitely the most talented guy around and I couldn't be happier with what he created. I just described what I had in mind and he made it happen. Just like the art with Issue 1 which he did as well. Thank you Paulinho!!! Matt Bennet from OUTLOUD! did all the other design and layout.
4) As recently as your “Stay At Home Dad” single, you're still rocking the handlebar mustache. How does the wife and family think about that? I had a handlebar once for Movember when we lived in the UK, and my wife absolutely hated it. (laughter)
Haha!!! It started as a joke. I had a crappy half way beard that looked like garbage and I shaved and left the mustache to be funny. My wife saw it and said, “Leave it!!” I guess she liked it so it stayed from then on. It was never planned and now when I do shave it off, (I did once) I looked even weirder to myself. So, as long as my wife likes it I gotta keep it. She says it makes me look Spanish!!!! Haha!!!
5) If you could put a dream gig together for the “Issue 2” release party, what three bands would you want to open for you (regardless of their popularity, you're the headliner), and why?
This is a tough question because there are so many greats! I think I would skip the nostalgia and live in my own time and have my friends bands join me. The Hawaiians, Black Russians, Radio Buzzkills, Flanders 72, Vista Blue, The Favorats, Livy Livers, Wild Sandals, The Prozacs. (ed.- that's more than three , Nick!) It would have to be a festival and it would be amazing!
6) This is a common question, but name some bands that TGEFM readers may not know about, but should.
Wild Sandals! They are a surf punk band from Germany with amazing songs and melodies that The Beach Boys would rip off if they could. Also the Black Russians, I can't get enough of there songs and am always excited for there new stuff.
7) What's next for Nick Spoon and/or Lesser Creatures?
I have a split that's in the works and should be ready before too long and I want to keep the songs rolling. I have an idea I'll be done with another full length before the year ends too. I love working with other bands so you never know.
Lesser Creatures Issue 2 is out now via the OUTLOUD! RECORDS Bandcamp page. Lesser Creatures also has a dedicated Bandcamp page, as well as music strewn across Bandcamp, so these search results HERE might give you the most comprehensive list.
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed.
the white drew carey (aka – Jeff Sorley) is the founder and head editor of TGEFM. He's lived (outside of) Chicago, Madison WI, (ugh) Penn State, Lyon FR, Oxford UK, central New Jersey, and now within earshot of SFO in the Bay Area. When not scouring the web for more great bands and labels to post about, he also spends time drawing (mostly) silly sci-fi and anime stuff under the name Asplenia Studios.
