Personnel: Bob Samiljan, bass; Anthony Illarde, drums; Dan Epstein, guitar, vocals; Jason Walker, guitar, vocals.
Formed: January 1990, with a debut show at Lounge Ax.
Current lineup together since: July, when ex-Rights of the Accused drummer Illarde joined.
Sound: ”Lately I`ve been saying, `Black Sabbath crossed with Neil Diamond,”` Walker says. ”I`ve also heard `Love meets the New York Dolls in hell.”`
Influences: ”Actually, Neil Diamond and Black Sabbath are really big influences,” Walker says, adding about Diamond: ”The guy is an absolute master craftsman, and that`s what we aspire to.” Walker also cites Sammy Davis Jr. and Blue Oyster Cult. ”It`s yin and yang. You have one, you have the other.”
True commitment: The band hosted a Neil Diamond Party in August ”in which we played all Neil all night long, chronologically,” Walker says.
”Some of the people who couldn`t take the later stuff finally had to leave.”
Songwriting: All the band members write songs and arrange them together
”in a totally democratic process, in that we all tell each other what to do,” Walker says.
Onstage cover versions: Jethro Tull`s ”Locomotive Breath,” Cheap Trick`s ”Downed,” an acoustic ”supersensitive version” of Kiss` ”Love Gun.”
Memorable concert experience: ”To me it was the time after Del Shannon committed suicide, and his ghost appeared to us,” Walker says. ”We were singing a song of his, `Keep Searchin`,` and the power blew. Del was not pleased.” Samiljan adds: ”We don`t know if Del didn`t like the version of the song or the way we introduced it. He might not have thought we were being respectful.” Walker insists: ”We were. We were.”
Namesake: ”We were brainstorming, and we came up with the concept of Sutra being good,” Samiljan says, adding that when he thought of the name, a Lovin` Spoonful single-on Kama Sutra Records-was ”staring me in the face. And we were told that in Latin `Lava Sutra` means `Underground Fire,` which is also the name of a Ventures record.”
Recordings: The band recorded a nine-song tape, ”No Shirt, Lots of Service,” last year and sold it at shows. The foursome recently recorded a single, ”Talemaster”/”I Love You and It Isn`t Just the Drugs,” at Acme Studios with Blaise Barton producing.
Philosophy: ”My version would be `Live hard, love hard,”` Walker says. Samiljan adds, ”My version would be similar, slightly modified: `Cheap thrills and don`t be afraid to carry a heavy load.`
Goals: Samiljan denies that the band has particular goals other than just being Lava Sutra. ”We don`t really think about it. We are it. There`s nothing to really mull about.”
Next appearances: Sept. 13 at Cabaret Metro, opening for the Blake Babies, and Sept. 19 at Schubas.
