Before The Danbury Lie (AKA Whispers To Oblivion AKA The Great Jester AKA Rob Loncto) was banished from the Colonies (the actual charge was ‘Keeping Company With The Dark’ or some such thing), I knew him, Horatio. 

JpK: How’s the West Coast Lie Life?

 

Rob: West Coast Lie Life is alright. Finishing up the movie for the Without Mirrors album. I premiered it at a sports bar a few weeks ago. Also finally starting to work on some new tunes. Watching a ton of NFL. But mostly trying to live well in general.

 

JpK: How did the premiere go? Sports bar?

 

 

Rob: It was an art show at a sports bar. They had the movie playing on about 9 different TVs and the Seahawks game on the other 5. Some people were into the visuals, brah.

 

JpK: The idea of the super psychedelic Without Mirrors playing with the Seahwaks game on is even more surreal. The visuals are intense. And man do they walk hand in hand with the Lie sound. Additionally intense. I’ve mentioned this before. I admire your ability to brand yourself so convincingly. The movie feels like a direct result of the very first Danbury Lie release. Minimalist and strange, but hypnotic. Do you have an image of what the perfect setting for the watching Without Mirrors would be? I’m imagining you in a theater in front of a big screen and guitar. Is that the design?

 

(I have to admit. While writing this, I’m watching the YouTube video of Without Mirrors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohVBD3KYLlk. It’s deliriously distracting and compelling)

 

 

Rob: Without Mirrors is best experienced in a home theater with the music blasting and your eyelids held open Clockwork Orange style. But if that doesn’t work … The movie is also cool to watch on the bus through your smartphone or in a cubicle during lunch break. On drugs.

 

 

JpK: lol!!!!!! Yes. I picked up on the lysergic add on’s that would benefit viewing. Even straight…once I stared watching, I couldn’t stop. Tell me about the new material. Have you been expanding the Lie sound? What you listening to these days?

 

Rob: I haven’t fully figured out a direction for the new stuff. I tried recording some experimental guitar loop stuff, some aggressive punk metal, I even played around with some EDM samples. Now I’m working on a song that’s probably a bit closer to The Danbury Lie that 2,000 Facebook fans know and love. Eventually the next direction will come together organically … or it won’t. We shall see…

 

 

JpK: OK, So let’s tilt at some windmills.

 

How important is playing gigs to being an original musician?

 

Rob: Gigging is a whole lot of bullshit and a whole ton of fun. I would love to do more gigs, I have only done 1 full-band gig as The Danbury Lie and it would be great to do more. But when you write weird, technically complicated psychedelic folk music, it’s not the easiest thing ever to find bandmates. Go figure.

 

JpK: Do you believe the idea of a Local Music Scene actually exists, or is local now ‘Earth’?

 

 

Rob: I definitely think local music scenes still exist, and it’s great to have a small community here or there that becomes friends and support each other’s music. In the end music is a form of communication and I think in many cases it can become great when the local scene develops its own dialect. I’m starting to realize that things maybe aren’t as different from the past as we think. At least for independent artists.

 

JpK: The internet? Played out for music promo or just getting started? I mean you and the world.

 

Rob: The internet is a mirror of reality. In real life, people like dogs and food more than my record. And I get that. The Danbury Lie is a pretty cool band but dogs and food are probably cooler.

 

JpK: What is your favorite song you’ve ever written/co-written and why. Also what makes you love one song more than another?

 

Rob: I really like the song “Gates We Pry” (https://thedanburylie.bandcamp.com/track/gates-we-pry). The solo kind of reminds me of David Gilmour and I like the buildup at the end. It’s also probably the best vocal take I’ve ever done. Plus I have fond memories of recording it, so it’s a combination of factors.