Intrigue B6
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Foot-stompin’ Lonely Wolves keep howling around Auburn Earl Parsons Writer
Kyle Humphrey, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of local Auburn band Lonely Wolves, began recording music in a spare bedroom in his house about a year ago. Shortly after, drummer and longtime friend Matt Pike caught wind of these recordings through the online videos Humphrey had begun to post. “He had this blues-y rock, raw feel to it,” Pike said. “I told him that I really liked the stuff he was playing and wanted to know if he wanted to get together and try to jam some of it out and see what we could do with it and where we could take it.” Bringing similar musical styles into the band, Humphrey’s and Pike’s motives for creating music did not seem to differ too far from each other. “I started this project because I love blues music,” Humphrey said. “Everybody tells me I’m like an old soul.” Drawing numerous comparisons to The Black Keys, the two-piece rock ‘n’ roll, blues-infused band has drawn its influences from classic rock and blues legends. “My father raised me on Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, so the influences go anywhere from classic rock to blues,” Humphrey said. “Even new stuff like The Black Keys and The White Stripes.” Although he incorporates many similar influences into the band, Pike brings an influence of his own to the table. “I’m a huge Black Crowes fan,” Pike said. “It’s just something about that real gritty Southern rock that they bring. I would say that they are the biggest influence for me as far as my style and the way I play.” After a few months of practicing together, Lonely Wolves played its first show at a house party in Auburn. “We’ve always liked house parties more because there is a little more intimacy within the audience and the band, and you can be a little bit wilder,” Humphrey said. “If I had to pick between playing at a bar and getting paid a hundred bucks or just having a good time playing at a house party, I’d take a good time any day because I always feel better after those shows.” Pike agrees with Humphrey’s philosophy on performing at house parties. “You’re right there in the center of it all,” Pike said. “You feel like everybody around you is able to feed off of what you’re doing. It makes for a great experience in my eyes. As long as someone is tapping their foot or bobbing their
head — that’s what gets me going right there. Seeing people who really get into it and enjoy it when you’re up close and personal with them like that.” Since then, they have continued to bring their talents to house parties, as well as local Auburn and Opelika venues, including Bloodhound, Eighth & Rail, Overall Company, The Railyard and The Irish Bred Pub. A live Lonely Wolves show promises to provide a loud, energetic and fast-paced performance. “Expect to move around,” Humphrey said. “We hope that once the show starts, we build on that movement and people will start to move around more. I just try to make sure everybody’s having a good time.” A Lonely Wolves first-timer can expect to see an on-stage chemistry between him and Humphrey, Pike said. “There may be times we decide we want to take a song and go somewhere with it that we wouldn’t have at shows before,” Pike said. Both Humphrey and Pike said they are more than content with the past and present direction of the band, but are both anxious to take further steps in the future. Humphrey showed interest in taking the two-piece act outside of the state. “We haven’t played a show outside of Alabama, so we need to venture out,” Humphrey said. “It is fun playing in front of crowds that don’t know you because there are a little less nerves. You are able to hone in on your skills and what you practice without worrying about what the people are thinking about you.” Humphrey and Pike agreed the next step for the band needs to be recording their own material. “We really want to get some stuff recorded and get it out to people,” Pike said. “We’ve had a lot of interest in actually having physical copies of the music, so we are pushing really hard to do some of that over the next six months or so.” Although not sure when the right opportunity to record will present itself, both Humphrey and Pike are eager to take full advantage of it when it arises. “We don’t have anything recorded and we are so eager to do that with somebody who knows what they’re doing,” Humphrey said. “I feel like a lot of it is that you’ve got to know somebody, which is fine, it’s just that we are new to this and haven’t been thrown into the crowd of people that do that yet.” Lonely Wolves shows no intention of slowing the rate of its live concert performances. “As far as the shows go, we are taking them
Courtesy of Ryan Russell
Matt Pike (left) and Kyle Humphrey of Lonely Wolves will be playing at The Gnu’s Room Friday, Jan. 18.
as they come and even booking some ourselves,” Pike said. “There are possible plans for a weekend tour with an artist out of Nashville; really any chance that we get to play a show, we are all ears for it.” Its next show is taking place Friday, Jan. 18 at The Gnu’s Room. “We’ll be loud for that show, but it will be fun because we’re always playing at parties or bars, and this will be the first time I think people will actually sit down to listen to our music,” Humphrey said. “I think it will be a great opportu-
nity to give people that real intimate look into what we are trying to do.” Lonely Wolves is optimistic for what the future holds and seems to be enjoying every step along the way. “As far as this band goes, I am definitely having the time of my life,” Pike said. “We’re just two laid-back guys that really enjoy what we do, and we hope people enjoy it when they’re watching us.” For the latest news on the band’s upcoming shows, visit Facebook.com/LNLYWLVS.