Akron-based singer-songwriter Brian Lisik is a rock and roll lifer yet his songs continually evoke a songwriting knack that simplifies the listening process What’s wrong with a forthright infectious, energetic song with guitar solos and kinetic whimsicality? After listening to Lisik and his band Hard Legs, our ears are taken to the spirited sounds of Gaslight Anthem, Chuck Ragan, and Willie Nile.
Brian Lisik & Hard Legs are back with their new album Nu Wreckard, out Oct. 13 on Cherokee Queen Records. But Lisik is looking at his rock influences and tendencies within a more introspective musical microscope.
“Frankly, in the past couple years, I’ve become bored with anything but rock-n-roll,” Lisik said. “And I’m talking the rawer and bleaker the better; Flat Duo Jets, Daniel Johnston, Peter Laughner, Link Wray, Billy Lee Riley, Gil Scott Heron, this German jazz guitarist named Tobias Hoffman who is just great. Lately I’ve been trying to do more with less whenever possible.”
This aesthetic has extended to both Lisik’s minimalist backing band of guitarist Robb Myers and drummer Martyn Flunoy – with occasional appearances from long-time bassist/vocalist and songwriting partner, Steve Norgrove – and the seven-song Nu Wreckard.
With release day just hours away, Glide is premiering the primal “Billy The Kid” (below) that flexes Lisik’s no-nonsense rock bravado that surely should see him headling the 500-capacity club circuit soon.
“‘Billy the Kid’ is a song I started writing many years ago when a songwriter friend of mine challenged me to compose a “cowboy song.” I did, and then put it aside for a long time because I thought it was pretty silly. Plus the actual Billy the Kid never really said any of things he says in the song. But I dusted it off a couple of years ago when my songwriter friend died, and I realized how timeless a song it is; we are all still in the sights of their guns, or at least it sure feels that way,” says Lisik.
