The
Lonely Kings
By Emile Gaston Janicot AKA “Smoky Red”
Photos by: Sonny Mayugba
This
is a story of one of the best up and coming bands of the American
underground pop punk scene. In the days when men are searching
for who they are, they rely on one another to share experiences,
give to each other, and to creatively let out their artistic
aggressions. This is exactly what happened to three of my very
best friends.
Hollywood and Noodles had finished their respective high school
careers and were on their way to a motherlode college to find
a supposed career, and to examine their interests in this world.
JD had been kicking about from one area to another finding life
boring, and wanted something to believe in and share with others.
All three were in the stage of their lives that anything could
have happened, and it did. These three men were all musicians
at the time and had semi popular bands in their past. Yet none
of them had found the exact path that was to be laid out before
them like a red carpet for the President. JD had switched from
playing bass in his old band to playing guitar, and had begun
to write songs that were handed down to him from special worldly
place. He began to explore his gift, and soon these songs had
turned into anthems that he still believes in today. The next
step was to find someone to share them with. Enter Hollywood.
Now these two had been friends, but now they had become a two
man team. Hollywood and JD promptly began to explore the fundamental
of music; the jam session. Soon these sessions turned into full
blown, tight knit rock and roll, and the two man team traveling
in Hollywood’s pod car found a niche called the Lonely
Kings. That’s
exactly what they were. No girlfriends, no jobs, no school.
Just on the self righteous path to glory. They jammed for a
while with the two of them, and played some good gigs, but it
was still only two thirds full. They needed a solid player that
would be able to keep with their fast paced emo rock music.
Enter Noodle. Now the Noodle had been trying to explore his
life and find the world at the college of life, yet he too had
found the world to be so much different from what he was taught.
He knew that his friends had been jamming, and had been in a
band with Hollywood in the past. But, this was something new.
Something special. Something to believe in. In a whirlwind pace
these three locked themselves away from the world and began
their musical conquest for the rich heritage that is still gaining
strength. I myself did not see them for many moons, but when
they returned to the scene, there was nothing that anyone could
do but stand in awe and watch as the magic unfolded. There were
sold out shows,and crowds that had begun to gather. All the
other musicians talked amongst themselves, and reminded each
other that they needed to practice. The trio found a home in
Santa Cruz and promptly began to sell out shows. Eventually,
after all the years of searching and hard blood, sweat, and
work, Fearless Records signed them. The album, What if? came
out, and it has been non stop rock ever since.
They have toured the U.S. and played more sold out shows than
I can count. These three wandering souls have become united
in a journey that everyone of us takes in this world. The journey
of the infinite. The Lonely Kings are not just another rock
and roll band, they are quite unique. With influences ranging
from pop and soul, to metal and thrash, and from communication
to respect, this band has come a long way, and is on the ballot
for a lifetime achievement award. I believe in their music so
much that I have it tattooed on my body. The Lonely Kings are
the type of music that you hear when your life is straight out
of a movie scene; good, bad, happy, and sad. If any of you out
there have one of the many demo tapes or shirts that these three
produced in the early years, hold onto them. They will be worth
their weight in gold someday, I guarantee it! JD (Jake Desrochers),
Hollywood (Jason Wilkinson), and the Noodle (Jesse Darling),
kings in their own right for sure. Rock the earth, and support
them as they would support you. LK FOREVER!
This
is a story of one of the best up and coming bands of the American
underground pop punk scene. In the days when men are searching
for who they are, they rely on one another to share experiences,
give to each other, and to creatively let out their artistic
aggressions. This is exactly what happened to three of my very
best friends.
That’s
exactly what they were. No girlfriends, no jobs, no school.