interview with Left Wing Fascists and Moaning Lisas

What´s the name of your band? Left Wing Fascists Moaning Lisas

How was the band formed? 1987 1996

Can you tell about your band? Left Wing Fascists was some college buddies getting together at an open mic night at a hardcore bar called The Corner located in Norfolk Va.  Songs where written on stage live in front of audiences which was the launching pad for the Nationally released album produced by Stacy Heydon called A Mother's Nightmare on Rhino Records.  Moaning Lisas was started by Big Al Staggs and his late brother Lee Staggs back in 1996 all original members are still in the band except the late Lee Staggs that passed away in 2003.  The band is sponsored by Jagermeister after writing and recording the song "4 shots of Jager" Featured on the one of the Jagemeister Comp CD

Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? LWF Big Al Staggs Front Man Eric Nestor Guitar Scott Carlisle Lead Guitar Markus Wegener Bass and David Almeleh Drums MLS  Big Al Staggs vocals front man Richie Bohr Guitar Anvil drums and David Almeleh Bass

What was the ambitions of the band when you started? LWF to be a great party band but then it grew into touring with the Ramones as a support act playing Lollaploza with Pearl Jam Ice Cube and RHCP and having a National Release plus a follow up album. The band is back together writing a new album for 2015.   MLS was to just have fun and play out songs written by the MLS and many friends bands like Beat Farmers Southern Culture on the Skids and Mojo Nixon.

Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? LWF Fun High energy Surf Punk.   MLs Comedy Alt-country psychobilly rock n roll

Where was your first gig? LWFOpen Mic night at the Corner of Hampton BLVD and 38st in Norfolk in 1987    MLS Some gay bar in Norfolk on the corner of Killam and 46st Norfolk

Where was the latest gig? Lollaploza 2 30,000 people Walnut Creek Amp in Raleigh NC MLS Duck inn After Work party 6,000 people

Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics? Who has the best since of humor in the band?Big Al

What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? LWF Never ever have we gotten booed off stage even on tour with Ramones. MLS all the great work we do with Wounded Warriors and other charities to raise money  

Do you write your own material or mainly covers? LWF all original band with two albums and a third on the table.  MLS mostly covers but of bands we usually know and love.

Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? LWF A Mother's Night RinCon Cellar Door Rhino Records and All Fired Up on Ryllo Records  MLS The other White Meat

Do you have any clips on YouTube? LWF I drive a Yugo plus many other songs live and Like I do released in 2011 full Video filmed at a Frank LLoyd Wright House.

How old are you?/What got you started in music? Big Al  47 years old   Thanks to my high school band teacher Percy Ironmonger and my father was a rock a billy bass player and very established bluegrass bass player

At what age did you start playing? First gig I was 13 and sang with my brother's band Triax at a NASA Carnival

How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? LWF 19 years old   MLS 29

What year was the band started? LWF 1987   MLS 1996

Best/worst gig you've played? All of them are the best because if there is 3 people there or 30000 people I am going to put 120mph on the stage and that makes if fun for everyone.  I have never had a worst gig.  If I don't like a place I am playing I usually steal something in hopes of getting caught and fired. Usually candy or toilet paper

What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? LWF not sure about live working on new songs and recording.  MLS I am off the rest of this year but booked solid for 2015 and the most often you can see the band is Froggies on the Bay in Virginia Beach

Where have you played from then till now? LWF all over the country MLS East Coast NC to Maryland

Witch band is the best you´ve seen? I would say the Ramones because touring with them was such a great experience and the respect they gave us was top notch.

Is it always the same songs live? Never depends on how drunk the band is at the moment

What has been the best/most promising gig so far? All of them because once you gain the love of the audience they always return to see you and make sure you connect with everyone in the room every-time.

Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? Ramones Dead Milkmen 24-7 Spys all as support band but have opened for many famous acts.

How big crowds do you usually play for? LWF 200 to 2000 and MLS 10 to 500

What are the plans for the rest of the year? To take off and Write songs for LWF

Where do you usually play? LWF the Norva in Norfolk   MLS Froggies on the Bay Virginia Beach

How do you get psyched up for a gig? There is a switch in me and it just turns on and one of my 3 personalities takes over.  There is Big Al, Al and Alan.  Very few see Alan and that is usually only family and loved ones.

What are your goals with your music? To continue to see a return on our recordings because we never sold the rights to our music so when you download us on Itunes it comes directly to us.

When did you decide to go all in for the music? 1989

Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Older and usually friends

What are your sources of inspiration? Everyday life and how odd it can be.

What's the first step when making a new song? Something funny that happened to me. 

How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums?I enjoy it except you see the return on one song vs 10 songs.

What would be your dreams for the band? LWF to record and release the new songs in 2015   MLS to continue to be a mainstay in our town.

Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to?  I listen to underground garage and outlaw country on sirrus

What do you hold most dear? My family and staying true to my word.

What songs and what years were they released? Best to just google Left Wing Fascists and see all the songs on Itunes or Amazon

Have you been part of any other projects? I was a fill in singer for a band called So What once but really I have only been in two bands LWF and MLS I have done voice overs and am on the Grand Theft Auto game San Andreas

Have you been in any other bands? Only these two bands

What do you work with outside of the band and the music? I am a teacher but never tell anyone because all the good work I do there I don't want people who judge to find out because the difference I make is much more import then the music I have written and released on a national level.

What would you do if there was no music? Write some

How important are your fans? Very important and I make sure that I take the time for them.

What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? Oh boy can't really tell you that because it involved a girl.

Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? Little Itch and I drive a Yugo

What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? Fishbone

What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Togetherness of friends

Do you have any webpages? www.moaninglisas.com and www.facebook.com/leftwingfascists

Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? You have to connect with your audience and never stop smiling and give it all you got. 

Describe your show, visually and musically 120mph frontman who is considered really good at what he does. 

How do you view the musicindurty of today? Much different when I started we released our national disk in cardboard

What advice would you like to give other bands? Do what you love make every song yours even if you didn't write it.  Own it!

What are the biggest obstacles for a band? The van not breaking down.

What is best/worst with playing the clubs? Club owners are the worst  The customer is the best

Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? The best one would be the ODU Oyster Roast that I have done 19 years out of 29.  nov. 7 2015 will be the 30th year and it is located at the Holiday Travel Park in Virginia Beach rent a cabin or bring your camper. 

How would you describe your sound in one sentence Excellent

What is your favorite crappy instrument? My human kazoo that you can see on MLS video song Happy Boy

What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? When we had to fire our drummer who owned the van.  Stupid mistake

Whats your Pre-show ritual? Have a beer relax and visit with friends and fans

Do you have anything to add? Nope you did a very good job on the questio

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