Lloyd's Rocket: Intense, Tight Mix

Who are the members of Lloyds Rocket? David Bos, lead guitar Craig Roberts, vocals Jon Whitney, bass Brian Gardner, guitar Nick Thomas, drums Members of Lloyd's Rocket squat like condemned prisoners in their tiny cell of a practice space. Cigarette smoke stains the air, a veneer of sweet-smelling incense is just discernible through the haze. The muffled throb of neighboring bands reminds visitors that people are here to play music and maybe have some fun. Coffee, smokes in tight rotation and the musicians' drive, drive, drive fuel the fun for this Rocket.

"It started with me and Brian in a band," says Roberts. "That band broke up. Then we found Nick. We kept on playing, then found Jon walking down the hall in our old practice space. Then came David. It just all came together."

"We caught onto a vibe right away," explains Gardner, shaking his head. "We had no idea what was going to happen. The vibe came about. The puzzle was slowly pieced together."

For a band that seemed to form itself, those pieces fit right away. Roberts and Gardner had been playing together for about five years, and were set up as an acoustic band called October with a gig booked last August at the Crocodile Cafe. Suddenly, the gig set up for the acoustic stylings of October became the maiden show for Lloyd's Rocket.

"We sort of snuck in the drums, the other guitar," Gardner remembers. "We did four songs, no one knew what to expect - the audience was like `clap . . . clap . . . OK, what was that?!' "

But whatever the reaction, Lloyd's Rocket knew that playing together live was what they were all about.

"We are definitely a live band," says Gardner. "That's where the heart of this band is at."

"I think people recognize and relate to that energy," adds Whitney.

"We always thought of ourselves as best live anyway," muses Gardner. "We don't want to sound like a studio band. We want the live sound to transfer as best as possible to recordings."

If they sound half as intense live as they do on tape, a Lloyd's Rocket performance must shred any stage to pieces, leaving nothing but a couple of nails that couldn't possibly be as sharp as Gardner's piercing guitar work, hammered home with the dull-steel throb of the Whitney-Thomas percussion wall. The intensity and joy Lloyd's Rocket plays with is palpable on tape and not just a happy accident.

"Oh, we're keeping our nose to the grindstone," says Gardner with a laugh. "We do everything possible to stay sane! It's easy to forget everyone here has lives."

"The fact is," says Roberts, "if communication in a band breaks down, the band breaks up."

"I mean we've had our rough times, it's gotten vicious," adds Gardner. "But we get all that crap out and stay focused. We talk about it, file it, and move on. Our goal is to make sure we're all on the same level. We had to make a big realization that we're all part of a team - ourselves, our management, others - and that keeps us focused."

Where to catch Lloyd's Rocket: Today the band will be featured at 6:30 p.m. with Mike Jones on KISW-FM 100; tomorrow, see them at Colourbox, 113 First Ave. S. in Pioneer Square; 340-4101.