The Lightning Struck is an indie rock band from Toronto. To watch The Lightning Struck is to be transported to New York’s Lower East Side, sometime between ’69 and ’91. Listen carefully – you can hear the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, the Ramones and Television. Of course, this careful curation of sound didn’t happen by accident. In 2000, Loren Davie moved to New York City after listening to the Velvet Underground and Nico one too many times. After 20 years of making music there, he returned to Toronto, bringing that New York sound with him.
One night while he was walking home from an open mic, Davie became fascinated with the unknown stories of everyone passing around him, and he got to thinking how much of life is spent in transitional moments between events. In some way it’s the “real” life we fail to acknowledge.
New song, “Inbetweening,” is about those moments that happen between what we think of as events – walking from one place to the next, waiting for something. Generally these happen when you’re alone, and it’s in these moments that self-reflection happens – when we give ourselves permission to think about what things actually mean.
What can you share with readers about your new project?
Our single, Inbetweening, is about a feeling: wondering about the lives of strangers you pass by on the way to somewhere else. It also encapsulates a kind of yearning (or even a feeling of nostalgia) for human contact. Look at all those humans right next to you, separated by a veil of anonymity.
How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the
past?
We decided to really strip this song back – the drums are just one snare, the bass is an upright. Even the song structure itself is a fair amount simpler than many of our other songs. It’s just the bare essence.
What about this single makes you most proud?
The arrangement came together better than we expected. On our bass player Blitz’s suggestion, Michael played his lap steel and it adds a real haunting quality. We also really lucked out with great singers in our “choir”.
Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
We’re always trying to find new sounds while still staying true to the essence of what the band is about. This release definitely hit that mark: it still sounds like us, but a different perspective on us than anything we’ve done before.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
Oh, you know, probably the giant piles of money we make from this – oh wait. Honestly you have to look at music as its own reward. There’s a level of satisfaction from doing a great show, or putting out a great recording, that can’t really be matched by anything.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
Tom Waits on keys, Lou Reed on guitar, Charles Mingus on bass..hm. Still need a drummer. (As usual).
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
Just found this record shop around Buffalo and bought The Velvet Underground The Boston Tea Party 1969. They actually surprised me how much they rocked out during their set.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
Our website: www.thelightningstruck.com, or you can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheLightningStruck, or on Instagram at instagram.com/the_lightning_struck.
I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?
The cover art for Inbetweening feature’s Gale’s Snack Bar at Eastern and Carlaw in Toronto. I keep meaning to try it out.
