Foxy Shazam returns to Toledo

If you’ve ever seen Foxy Shazam perform, you might think you have some idea of what to expect.

Then again, if you’ve seen them before, you already know that you have no idea at all.

The band’s newest release, GONZO, carries a seemingly apt title, considering the nature of the band’s live stage performances—which in the past have included everything from lead singer Eric Nally’s smoking seven cigarettes at once, eating said cigarettes and flawlessly leaping on a keyboard stand, to any and all members of the group power-headbanging and swinging on light fixtures. It’s power rock, baby, in high-def.

The high-energy, Cincinnati-based band is coming back around this month to promote their latest release. TCP talked to bass player Daisy about the making of GONZO, the advantage of giving fans free music, and their upcoming September 19 show in Toledo.

How is the tour going so far?

It's going well. It's broken up into little digestible chunks of weeks and months, it's not like years past where we literally don't go home for a year. This is a cakewalk in comparison.

Why the name GONZO? What does that word mean to you guys?

It means a lot of things to us. You can take literally any definition of the word and draw your own conclusion, and you wouldn't be too far off from where we're at about it.

I saw Foxy Shazam in 2011 with Panic at the Disco, and the show was incredible, very theatrical. But GONZO as an album is much more of a minimalist effort. Will the live show reflect that?

Not exactly. Records and live shows are different animals; thus we approach them differently.

You worked with world-renowned producer Steve Albini on the new album—did this affect your decision-making, in the recording process?

He didn't affect it at all. He literally did exactly what we told him to do with the concepts we already had in place. He was a positive influence, a professional work partner, and was fun to be around, but he didn't really have much to do with the artistic vision at all.

From your perspective, what has been the advantage of self-releasing an album—then streaming it for free?

We don't have to convince someone to "invest" in a physical product to hear our music. That's pretty rad.

You’re out of Cincinnati, and you’ll be here in Toledo on September 19th. What’s different about shows played closer to home?

They're usually better, because the Midwest is always the best place to play shows. We love where we live. Hope to see you all at the show!

See Foxy Shazam on Friday, September 19 at MainStreet Bar, 141 Main St., Toledo. Doors open at 8pm. $15/advance, $18/day of show. More info and tickets at ticketmaster.com or facebook.com/FoxyShazam.

If you’ve ever seen Foxy Shazam perform, you might think you have some idea of what to expect.

Then again, if you’ve seen them before, you already know that you have no idea at all.

The band’s newest release, GONZO, carries a seemingly apt title, considering the nature of the band’s live stage performances—which in the past have included everything from lead singer Eric Nally’s smoking seven cigarettes at once, eating said cigarettes and flawlessly leaping on a keyboard stand, to any and all members of the group power-headbanging and swinging on light fixtures. It’s power rock, baby, in high-def.

The high-energy, Cincinnati-based band is coming back around this month to promote their latest release. TCP talked to bass player Daisy about the making of GONZO, the advantage of giving fans free music, and their upcoming September 19 show in Toledo.

How is the tour going so far?

It's going well. It's broken up into little digestible chunks of weeks and months, it's not like years past where we literally don't go home for a year. This is a cakewalk in comparison.

Why the name GONZO? What does that word mean to you guys?

It means a lot of things to us. You can take literally any definition of the word and draw your own conclusion, and you wouldn't be too far off from where we're at about it.

I saw Foxy Shazam in 2011 with Panic at the Disco, and the show was incredible, very theatrical. But GONZO as an album is much more of a minimalist effort. Will the live show reflect that?

Not exactly. Records and live shows are different animals; thus we approach them differently.

You worked with world-renowned producer Steve Albini on the new album—did this affect your decision-making, in the recording process?

He didn't affect it at all. He literally did exactly what we told him to do with the concepts we already had in place. He was a positive influence, a professional work partner, and was fun to be around, but he didn't really have much to do with the artistic vision at all.

From your perspective, what has been the advantage of self-releasing an album—then streaming it for free?

We don't have to convince someone to "invest" in a physical product to hear our music. That's pretty rad.

You’re out of Cincinnati, and you’ll be here in Toledo on September 19th. What’s different about shows played closer to home?

They're usually better, because the Midwest is always the best place to play shows. We love where we live. Hope to see you all at the show!

See Foxy Shazam on Friday, September 19 at MainStreet Bar, 141 Main St., Toledo. Doors open at 8pm. $15/advance, $18/day of show. More info and tickets at ticketmaster.com or facebook.com/FoxyShazam.