The Jazzus Lizard Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 8th 2010 7:00AM by Bethany Smith
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If you couldn't guess from the band name, the Jazzus Lizard plays freestyle jazz based on the music of the Jesus Lizard. It sounds like a crazy combination, but the way the Austin group expresses their rock-inspired tunes shows that jazz and the Jesus Lizard are a combination as great as peanut butter and jelly. It's so good in fact, that the Jesus Lizard themselves have even expressed their approval.

The group is preparing their set for SXSW 2010, but saxophonist Tom Kimzey took time to speak with Spinner about the band as well as give some surefire tips for having fun at the festival.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Free jazz based on the Artist Formerly Known as the Jesus Lizard.

How did your band form?

Snoopy, the drummer, came up with this after an "episode" he had after watching 'American Werewolf in London.' He was in a sensory deprivation tank for a while and came up with the band idea as well as a trickle-up economic theory entitled "Snoop-e-nomics." The latter failed, but he quickly recruited the rest of us for the band, and though we lost our original keyboard player, we're somehow still doing it. I thought it'd last a couple practices, but three years later, we're still kicking.

What are your musical influences aside from Jesus Lizard?

All over the map. We're all in rock bands, but across the band we listen to everything. Peter turned me on to Dr. Nerve--I highly recommend them. Adam listens to Jandek, which disturbs me.

How did you come up with your band name?

I'm playing Yow's vocals on a baritone sax, what do you want? We thought it was amusing.

What's your biggest vice?

Instead of band practice these days, we turn on Rush Limbaugh and sit with blank stares popping air bubble packing material. I think that counts as a vice.

With SXSW upcoming, what's in your festival survival kit?

Anesthesia, Ginsu knives, duct tape, bonesaw, woodchipper, Hello Kitty kangaroo pack.

Has Jesus Lizard ever contacted you about your band? Any issues since they reunited in 2008?

Yes, they're all aware of us--Yow suggested 'Blew' for our first album. Duane Dennison humored us with a Jazzus Lizard sticker in his Fender profile picture and David Wm. Sims actually came to one of our shows. We've paid to license the music for our little CD runs--we all like to have a good time, but we use protection. I was hoping to say hello to someone at our second CD release show following their ATX Fun Fun Fun appearance, but no such luck.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

We're all old enough, we've gotten over guilt in general.

As Austinites, any places [i.e. restaurants, shops, parks] that out-of-towners coming to SXSW should definitely hit up?

The airport on your way home. Casino El Camino remains my favorite bar downtown and provides a burger and a break from the music chaos. The hot dog truck next to Red Eyed Fly also provides great health food between shows.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while at a show/on tour?

If I told you, I'd have to kill you. Let's just say that there are things more mind-blowing than adding purple horseshoes to Lucky Charms.

Bethany Smith is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.