Lonnie Walker
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"Lonnie Walker came on stage next. I had actually never heard of them but all I can say is WOW. A very Bob Dylanesque sound, but more rock which I truly enjoyed. To compound on their compelling set, they stuck artist John Graham back behing them to draw up a pretty riveting mural titled "How Do You Measure Success?" which I had a hard time tearing my eyes from (Does anyone know what he did with it? I have dibs if it's up for grabs!). Mama Pearl, Stevo, and I cougar-magnumed* Brian Corum after the show to get some of their recorded stuff and set up a sessions date which I am looking forward to. I am looking forward to seeing them again."
- DJ Caid WKNC 88.1 FM Blog
Friday night, the Brewery had an outstanding local-band bill of Annuals-Sedona/Sunfold, Greenville's Lonnie Walker and I Was Totally Destroying It. And as the bands performed, Greenville artist Jon Graham created a picture onstage that he titled, "How Do You Measure Success?"
Using red, blue, black and white markers on a brown-paper canvas taped to the wall, Graham bobbed his head to the beat of Lonnie Walker's twangy drones and Annuals' crashing waves of grandeur as he drew, sometimes pausing to sit on the drum riser and study his work before continuing. The picture was a surreal portrait of a gasmask-covered figure with a cellphone, plus an airplane mounted with birdfeet perched on a finger and spouting musical notes.
"I do this pretty regularly in Greenville," said Graham, who studies graphic design at East Carolina University. "I've done it about five times, mainly with Lonnie Walker. I did another one called 'Why Kill?,' but most of them are untitled. Afterward, I just give 'em away." - The News and Observer
"On record, Lonnie Walker's slightly nasal vocal style sounds like a late Bob Dylan. Live, it was more Tom Petty, a Southern accent rearing its head within quirky lyrics. The sound was raw, like a fruit that isn't quite ripe, bitter spots oddly complementing sweet, juicy bites. The fun mixture of folk, rock and Pacific Northwest-inspired indie rock was well-received, a welcomed appetizer for Annuals." - Independent Weekly
"Local band, Lonnie Walker opened to show with an eclectic set of tunes influenced by everything from Bob Dylan to 90s alt-rock. The band has a lot of potential though and a great presence on stage."
- Triangle Music
"Raleigh/Greenville band Lonnie Walker opened the show with their blend of rock and folk. Somewhere between The Walkmen and Bob Dylan, the band ran through about 45 minutes of songs that got the crowd started off on a good note. Usually during their performances, the band has an artist friend who draws behind them. Because of the stage set up at Downtown Event Center, the artist was bound to a wall offstage but the art didn’t suffer." - New Raleigh Blogspot
"The delivery throughout the whole set was some of the best lyricism I’ve seen from an up and coming band in a long time. I’m definitely going to keep following them." - Retrad Music
Discography
These Times Old Times
2009 LP
-Compass Comforts- streaming on myspace
-Grape Juice- streaming on myspace
-Summertime- streaming on myspace
-Back Home Inside With You - streaming on myspace
-Inside Factories- streaming on myspace
-Canals- streaming on myspace
We get steady radio play on both WKNC 88.1FM and WXYC 89.3FM
Photos
Bio
To some, Lonnie Walker's debut album is long overdue; to others, "These Times Old Times" couldn't have come at a better time. The labor and love that went into the record shines through in the strength of every song. Spanning from upbeat and dancey to dreamy and brooding, this debut shows a lot of promise coming from a band with a clear vision and a sound to call their own. The signature vocal stylings of frontman Kentucky-Carolina transplant, Brian Corum, are tactfully laid over a blend of Rootsy Americana and noise-driven punk rock dementia, producing a rare dynamic that is both stunning and startling.
The bulk of the band met in Greenville, NC at the East Carolina School of Art. Art class was where they found a common appreciation for photography and music, which later sparked a string of shows at gritty low rent houses and unregistered venues. Since then they have found comfort residing in Raleigh, NC, sharing the stage with Annuals, The Love Language, and Future Islands (bands also emergent of the arts and music scene in Greenville/Raleigh, NC).
Lonnie Walker has a hard earned and growing reputation in the South for their energetic live performances and powerful stage presence. Their debut album captures their fury, leaving you with the sense that Lonnie Walker is a band moving towards a broad horizon.
RIYL: Pavement, Daniel Johnston, Bob Dylan, Pixies
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