If touring strengthens a band, Lucky Boys Confusion must be made of steel. After the band’s 2001 tour, which boasted an exhausting 250-stop schedule and subsequent years of playing all over the States, the current Suburban Curse Tour only reinforces that these Boys thrive on the adrenaline of the live show.
The Chicago-based band, composed of front man Stubhy, guitarists Adam Krier and Joe Sell, bassist Jason Schultejann and drummer Ryan Fergus, not only finds encouragement in working the stage, but also a sense of healing. Returning from practice one night last month, a drunk driver hit the vehicle all five members were in, causing minor injuries and major perception changes.
“We went the next day and still played our shows,” said Stubhy. “After living through that, I think playing a show was the only therapy that was prescribable for us, no matter how worn out and hurt we were.”
Since the band formed in 1997, incidents as jarring as that car accident and as unassuming as a break from the road have led to the evolution of the LBC sound. Although betraying their immaturity as artists, their first LP, What Gets Me High, and the following 1998 record Growing Out of It craftily blend ska-based sounds with energetic and youthful lyrics — which caught the ears of Elektra representatives.
With their 2001major-label debut Throwing the Game came much deserved recognition, especially with the single “Fred Astaire” flooding airwaves and hooking a rapidly expanding fan base. Time and the experience on the road led to a shift in the sound, from those strongly reggae-rooted tunes to a more powerful pop-punk. Two years in the making, the appropriately titled sophomore album Commitment, released last year, further emphasized how devoted the quintet is to constantly improving their art through the tackling of stronger lyrics and putting together of tighter instrumental bases. The sound is significantly more focused, but without the sacrifice of trademark buoyant beats and forceful lyrics many writers abandon with maturity. Krier said of the album: “It’s no secret that Commitment is a reflection of the band’s core philosophy. The title means so many things to us: the commitment between us and our fans, our commitment to each other. We started out so young and have been through so much. We are dedicating it to the people who stuck with us.”
Those fans, with all the support and energy they offer, are really what make the band so remarkable. The live performances for which they come out en masse add a whole new dimension to the already excellent sounds the band puts out. If one only had twelve dollars to offer LBC, any devotee would immediately recommend going to see the group live rather than buying an album. The shows they perform are just that amazing.
This is precisely why, even though the band covers the States pretty thoroughly during each tour, fans are willing to travel quite a few hours to catch a show. Their infectious tunes make it fun busting out with guest contributors like Yellowcard’s Ryan Key and Sean Mackin during the chorus of “Hey Driver” on the radio. Then again there is nothing quite like singing “Westbound/ Leave the motor running because I’m on the run/ In this crowded world I’ll be high waiting when the last train comes” with the band right on stage and surrounded by other LBC loyalists.
Such moments during a show reveal Lucky Boys to be just as devoted to entertaining and inspiring as the crowds are to supporting and encouraging the music. In such a setting the interaction between the players and their fans is so profound. The energy of the vocals, drums and guitars fuel the crowd, which in turns transfers back to invigorate the performers and intensify the venue to its foundations.
Lucky Boys Confusion’s Suburban Curse Tour stops in Madison this Friday to rock the Annex with the Plain White T’s, Army of Freshman, and 15 Minutes Late. It will only take a few minutes for LBC to win over skeptics, getting Wisconsinites to start moving more than just their heads as if they were one of those faithful followers. And that encouragement of the group, whether new found or renewed, will be duly rewarded.
“It’s the five of us against the world,” Stubhy said. “Us and our fans. No matter how broke we have been, or how frustrated, we have always believed in ourselves. We’ll never f-cking give up.”
Now that kind of steely commitment is worth experiencing any night.
