A hard-rocking heavy metal band from the Valley will be in the spotlight this weekend after winning a battle of the bands last month at Toad’s Place.
The win earned the band, “Lightsbane,” a performing slot sometime Sunday in the massive Rockstar Energy Drink “Mayhem Festival,” which is kicking off this weekend at the Comcast Theater in Hartford.
Click here for the festival’s website.
Thomas Gramolini, 25, an Ansonia native studying classical guitar at Western Connecticut State University, is the band’s lead guitarist.
Matthew Dingee, 26, another Ansonia son, is the lead singer.
Joe McFall, 26, from Naugatuck, is the bass player and “resident couch dweller.”
The drummer is 28-year-old Lee Swanson from a far-off place called “Newtown.”
Gramolini participated in the following Q&A with the Valley Indy through e-mail.
Valley Independent Sentinel: Where and when are you playing at this weekend’s festival?
Gramolini: “Unfortunately we still don’t know when we will be playing on Sunday. We know that there are two early afternoon slots and one early evening slot reserved for local battle of the bands winners on the Sumerion Stage.”
VIS: How would you describe your music?
Gramolini: “Our music encompasses everything I love about heavy metal and what drew me towards the music. It’s fast, aggressive and loud. The guitars are loud and the drums are fast. We all draw influence from many different varied sub-genres of metal. We try to be as heavy as possible while maintaining elements of musicianship and melody within our music.”
VIS: Freakin’ SLAYER is playing at this festival?
Gramolini: “Yes, freakin’ Slayer will be performing Sunday as well, which is mind-blowing! I just saw Slayer for the first time last September at the Big 4 in Yankee Stadium.”
VIS: What’s the best band in the history of metal?
Gramolini: “The best metal band in the history of metal? That is really tough for me to answer. If you were to ask us all individually you’d easily get at least nine different answers.”
VIS: THE CORRECT ANSWER IS BLACK SABBATH, WHEN THEY HAD OZZY.
Gramolini: “Sabbath is great, don’t get me wrong, but metal has come a LONG way since then. Sabbath was and still is an integral part of any metalhead’s vocabulary, but there is so much more to it now.”
VIS: Do you watch “That Metal Show” on VH-1 Classic?
Gramolini: “Yes, I do occasionally watch “That Metal Show.”
VIS: What are your thoughts on Don Jamieson’s sideburns?
Gramolini: “In all honesty, I try not to think about his sideburns. Those things are frightening.”
VIS: Greatest metal guitarist ever?
Gramolini: “For me, it’s all about Dimebag Darrell Abbott! In his prime, he had it all. He had the crushing rhythms, the roaring leads but the feel of a Texas blues player. I’ve seen a million guys who can play faster and crazier than Dime but without that feel and heart in your music, it’s just notes.”
VIS: Which Valley town rocks the hardest?
Gramolini: “I have to say Ansonia! I’ve lived here my entire life, I’ve been to the rest of the Valley countless times but I have yet to encounter anyone that brings it quite as hard as we do here in Ansonia. Not to mention, Ansonia is also home to other local metal greats like “Eyes Of The Dead” and “Dream Of Scipio.”
VIS: Ever have a Spinal Tap moment?
Gramolini: “Every time I play it’s a Spinal Tap moment . . . Mine goes to eleven!”
VIS: The Mayhem Fest — is this the biggest venue you’ve ever played?
Gramolini: “Yes, this is by far the biggest venue we’ve played. We’ve torn Toad’s Place down a few times and have played the Underground stage at The Webster but never anything like this.”
VIS: The band’s name. Where’s that come from?
Gramolini: “The band’s name actually originates from an album named, “Storm Of The Lightsbane” by a band named Dissection. They’re a killer metal band, it’s a killer album and it’s just a really cool name. Matt, our vocalist and rhythm guitarist suggested it. We liked it and it was by far better than anything else we had come up with so we went with Lightsbane.
VIS: Are you bringing an entourage to this weekend’s gig?
Gramolini: “We are quite psyched about this show. We’re really planning on going all out and leaving nothing behind for this performance. Not that we don’t do that for every performance, it’s just that this is really a great chance for us to show what we’re all about to a much greater number or people. All of our friends, family and supporters are going to be there in FULL FORCE so we will definitely have quite a crowd counting only them.”
VIS: In terms of gross-out metal band book bios, which do you prefer — Zeppelin’s “Hammer of the Gods” or Motley Crue’s “The Dirt?”
Gramolini: “I’m going to have to go with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth’s book ‘Mustaine.’ Everyone knows how insane he was in the late 80’s but I don’t think many realize severity of his lunacy. It’s quite inspiring as well to see what he became from what he was.”
VIS: Greatest metal song of all-time and why?
Gramolini: “I truly don’t think I could EVER tire of Metallica’s “Fade To Black.” I’m pretty sure I’ve played at least a lick or two from that song every time I’ve picked up my guitar since learning the song in high school. It really has everything.
There’s great guitar riffs. The drums are, well as good as Lars’ drumming gets. The bass is fantastic. The lyrics are meaningful and powerful and I think the song contains not one but two of Kirk Hemmett’s finest guitar solo’s.
The intro and outro guitar solos are what made me switch from being a bass player to a lead player. That song means a lot to me.”
Click here for more about the Mayhem Festival.
VIS: FIYAAAAAAA.
Gramolini: “Thank you so much for your time and interest. You guys rock!”
