Lucius Band

Lucius, anchored by Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, played at Webster Hall. Holly Laessig shares how the band's aesthetic duality highlights the two lead vocalists.

Artist Biography by James Christopher Monger

Featuring a pair of alluring frontwomen in Berklee College of Music voice majors Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, who wear matching hairstyles and outfits to visually complement their serpentine harmonies, Lucius debuted their blend of torchy, pedal steel-infused folk-rock and urban indie pop on a self-titled EP in 2012. The band's first record to crack the top half of the Billboard 200 was their more flamboyant second full-length, 2016's Good Grief, which looked to slicker, '80s-styled pop without abandoning acoustic balladry. Formed in Brooklyn, New York in the late 2000s, Lucius also relies on the talents of drummer Dan Molad (CHIMNEY, Via Audio) and guitarist Pete Lalish (Uni Ika Ai), both formerly of Elizabeth & the Catapult. Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Burri rounded out the original lineup, which appeared on the group's eponymous debut EP in 2012. It was followed a year later by their New York Times- and NPR-approved full-length debut Wildewoman, issued regionally by Mom + Pop, Dine Alone, and Play It Again Sam. Lucius toured extensively in support of the Molad-produced album, making multiple trips across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including a European tour with Jack White. Wolfe and Laessig also appeared as guest vocalists on critically acclaimed albums including San Fermin's debut and Tweedy's Sukierae, and were part of the Rentals' lineup for 2014's Lost in Alphaville. Around the time they relocated to Los Angeles, the five-piece returned to the studio in 2015, this time with producer Shawn Everett (Weezer, Julian Casablancas). The resulting Good Grief was released in March 2016 by the same labels. It reached number 92 on the Billboard 200 as well as charting in the Top 15 of the alternative, rock, and independent albums charts. Amid a relentless touring schedule with Lucius, the two lead singers made time to accept an invitation to back Roger Waters at California's Desert Trip in October 2016. The two-weekend festival of legends that also included Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, among others, had them singing for a crowd of 75,000. That November, the band released the 10' Pulling Teeth, and Burri gave notice that he was leaving the group to pursue other projects. In March 2017, the band dropped the single 'Million Dollar Secret,' which appeared on an episode of the final season of HBO's Girls. That June, Laessig and Wolfe appeared on Roger Waters' album Is This the Life We Really Want? and joined him on tour as his backing singers for the next year-and-a-half. In the meantime, in March 2018, Lucius released Nudes, a set of newly recorded acoustic versions of their back catalog alongside three covers, one of which was a live-in-studio recording of 'Goodnight, Irene' featuring Waters. Guitarist Nels Cline also made an appearance on the album.
Birth nameLucius Chicco Banda
Also known asSoldier
Born17 July 1970 (age 49)
Malawi
OriginBalaka, Southern Region, Malawi
Genres
  • Malawian Reggae
Occupation(s)
InstrumentsVocals, Keyboard
Years active1993 –present
LabelsZembani Music Company (Current)
Associated acts
  • Wendy Harawa
  • Sir Paul Banda
  • Alleluyah Band
  • Sam Simacks
  • Nepman

Lucius Chicco Banda (born 17 August 1970), better known by his stage name Soldier Lucius Banda, is a Malawiansinger-songwriter, music producer and politician from Balaka, Malawi.

Music career[edit]

Lucius Banda, a well known music icon in Malawi, was born on 17 August 1970 in Sosola Village in Group Village headman Kapalamula and Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka District of Southern Malawi. His music legacy dates way back in 1983 when he was thirteen years old when he started singing with his brother Paul Banda and leader of Alleluya Band. He first appeared on stage in 1985 with his brother's led Alleluya Band. Nba 2k10 team ratings.

Lucius Banda started his music career while in elementary school (Primary)at Mponda Full Primary School which lies near the catholic parish in Balaka.To further his music career Lucius Banda decided to go to music school in South Africa. This dream was fulfilled in 1993 when he joined Dorkey house in Johannesburg, where he spent one full year studying music.

He recorded his first album titled 'Son Of A Poor Man' at shandel music studio with the help of producer George Arigone (an Argentinian) on backing vocals. He had Nomhlanlha nkhize and the now famous gospel singer Debora Freser. His album became popular because of hits like Mabala, Get up stand up, Linda and Life On Earth. From there he launched his long career of music which takes him to date.

In 1997, Lucius Banda formed his own band, Zembani after recording his fourth album (Take Over) with the intention to help local and up keeping musicians in Malawi. Meanwhile many artists in Malawi have been promoted through the auspices of his Zembani Music Band. Zembani Band has grown into one of the most celebrated music groups across Africa. His music is loved by millions in Africa. He is well known as the voice of the poor and those who can not be heard. His music depicts the social, economic and cultural constraints faced by ordinary Malawians. He has also been a voice against social injustices and inequalities prevalent among African leaders and politicians.He was controversial to Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda's regime. He was the first Malawian musician to sing openly against political oppression in Malawi during the decades of one-party rule.

Lucius has been host to many popular musicians, helping to begin the careers of Mlaka Maliro, Paul Chaphuka, Billy Kaunda, Cosi Chiwalo, Wendy Harawa, Emma Masauko, Enort Mbandambanda and Charles Nsaku. In the year 2010 he fell out of favor with the DPP led Government of the late Bingu Wa Mutharika (former President of Malawi). Malawians look to him as a mouth piece on political oppression. Meanwhile in the 2014 Tripartite Elections, Lucius Banda reclaimed his Balaka Central Constituency as Member of Parliament in which he won with a wide margin of 16,303 votes against his competitor who came second with 8,147.

Lucius Banda has experienced the hardest of times as a musician as his music has either been banned censored and sometimes denied venues and segregated against by government. Despite all this, his music remained celebrated.

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In 2010 he released another album, 15-15- my song, which was banned by the state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).[1] In June 2010, Banda and other musicians from Malawi were invited to play in Germany. Their venue in Cologne was the key point for an upcoming 2011 Lucius Banda Europe tour. His travelling to Germany attracted a lot of public and political interest in Malawi.He released Thank you album in 2015. Currently he has nineteen albums to his credit.

Political career[edit]

Until August 2006, he was an MP for the district of Balaka North, but lost his seat because he was convicted of having fake academic qualifications. He was sentenced to 21 months of hard labour in Zomba prison,[2] but released in November 2006,[3] three months and two appeals after his arrest. This experience inspired one of his albums, Cell 51 Maximum.

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

  • Son of a Poor man
  • Down Babylon
  • Cease Fire
  • Takeover
  • Yahweh
  • Unity
  • How Long
  • Not Easy Road
  • Mzimu wa Soldier(Spirit of a Soldier)
  • Money and Power
List of studio albums, with selected information
TitleAlbum detailsCertification
Son Of A Poor Man
  • Released: , 1994
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: Cassette tape CD
None

References[edit]

  1. ^'Lucius Banda and the 15 Conundrum', Gregory Gondwe, 13 February 2010.
  2. ^'Malawi musician jailed on forgery'. BBC News. BBC. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  3. ^Raphael Tenthani (7 November 2006). 'Malawi High Court frees jailed musician'. Associated Press Worldstream.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lucius_Banda&oldid=951782456'