Epileptic Lizards: “The goal is an hour long song”
Introducing the band, №1:
They’re psyche rock. No, wait — they’re alt-funk. Or is it prog pop?! Death lounge? I don’t know. Who cares. They’re different. In a good way.
EVERY now and then you stumble across a band that stops you mid-pint and makes you pay attention.
In the upstairs bar at Tramshed, Immersed Festival 2024 is in full swing. Grove is due on the main stage in 15 minutes but that leaves enough time to catch a quick taste of an unfamiliar name on the line-up.
And what a name: Epileptic Lizards.
I have no idea what to expect from that name. And whatever I’d assumed wouldn’t have been this — a rampage through the cityscape of genres, smashing together the buildings of psychedelia, alt-rock, funk, indie and maybe even a side of jazz (Mmm, creamy).
Before I realise it, I’ve been sucked into the gig game of cycling through the mental rolodex bands they remind me of. I’ve missed the first 20 minutes of Grove’s set, but I’m not leaving ‘til the Lizards have finished.
“There’s usually not one guy who’s buzzing a bit too much after our gigs,” drummer Karl Horanszky tells me later. That night, dear reader, I was that guy.
Why will I like this band?
Maybe you won’t. The Lizards won’t be for everyone. They will split rooms. But the people they are ‘for’, might just love them.
They’re a bunch of early 20-something music students who are all technically impressive on their instruments. They’re dealing in a style — or styles — of music that isn’t common for people of their age. They are a ‘band of bands’ too, with fingers in many other musical pies — though all see the Lizards as the main dish.
If I try and describe the music then I’ll make it sound shit. They’re one of those bands where each listener will take something different from it, depending on what they bring to it; a bit like a Harry Potter boggart in musical form. Are you picking out the funky hooks, the prog structures, the indie guitar, the psychey keys or the alt-metal mosh? It’s a soup of styles. A bouillabaisse with bass. See, I told you.
Though they’ve been together since 2019, the Lizards are still young and they’re going to evolve and develop. But where they already are is impressive.
What can I listen to?
Their debut single Telltale Boogie was uploaded for streaming on March 29. I’ve linked to a YouTube version for you above. You don’t have to thank me. I’m here to help.
It opens with a Primus-on-a-clavinet hook and Coel Gifford’s ripped-up vocal, and shows their tendency to mix things up even within songs.
It’s 3 mins 44 secs long, which is about as punchy as the band gets. In classic psyche-metal-funk-prog style they have some songs which are pretty long. One lasts 20 minutes.
“An hour-long song is the goal,” jokes Coel.
Karl says: “There’s a huge amount of effort that goes into four musicians learning a 20-minute song that’s composed, and performing it note for note,” says Karl.
“There’s also quite a bit of improv in what we do. Because Jo and Coel are very good at doing their stuff me and Sam are bad for looking at each other and saying ‘Let’s do some shit we’ve never done before’.”
Who’s in the band?
Main vocalist and guitarist Coel Gifford, 20, was raised on Britpop and the classic songwriters (The Beatles and Dylan). Coel is also in garage rockers Ceridwen’s Cauldron and plays solo with a more folky focus.
Bassist Sam Duval, 22, brings the funk. He’s into Tool, Slipknot and Miles Davis. Sam is also in Keyz Collective and performs solo. He’s a fun watch at gigs and has may experience rapture from the bass god Les Claypole.
Jo Mountain, 26, keys and sometime lead vocals, is the prog guru in the band. On Praying For The End Of Days Jo performs a monologue (as Greg Newsman) in a nod to Jeff Wayne’s War or The Worlds soundtrack.
On drums is Karl Horanszky (the name is Hungarian). Karl is also in Keyz Collective with Sam. He’s into King Crimson, Gong and System of a Down among many other bands.
The band’s engineer and producer is Alex Mavromatis.
Where can I see them play?
They are at The Moon Club on Womanby Street, Cardiff, on June 13, in a support slot with Rainyday Rainbow and Enabling Behaviour. It’s £5 on the door.
Look, here’s a full gig on YouTube.
Tracks so far
Telltale Boogie
CBT
Attack of the Metal Man
Praying for the End of Days
Heartstopper
Epileptic Lizards
Psychedelic Shake
