Lyon and the Notary

In the hard streets of Chicago, IL, dwells a band that possesses the stature to be ranked with such acts as The Killers and Coldplay. A new age sound and the folk/glam rock influences to boot, Lyon and the Notary are going to be big stars within the coming years and many more after that.

Gabriel Lyon, a new ginger to add to the collection of redheaded rockers, is fronting his band and making music to make fans of Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Brandon Flowers swoon.

Gabriel Lyon started out with music in middle school, vying for the coveted spot of drummer in the jazz band. “Well, I started out as a drummer when I was like 12. A lot of kids were playing the drums and you know, you kind of had to be the best to get the spot in the middle school jazz band. And I wasn't really super into it, but this one kid who was drumming was a total dick to me. He always talked shit, like Nick Cannon in “Drum Line“, you know, saying he was the best and I'd never be better than him. so I learned drums out of spite. My family couldn't afford a drum kit so I learned by playing on our sewing machine, using the pedals on that. And I mean I caught on pretty quickly, and I ended up being way better than him and beat him out for the slot in the jazz band. I think he's addicted to meth now,” says Lyon in remembrance of how he got his start.

For a band that only fully formed a couple months ago, Lyon and the Notary seem to have their act together pretty fast. Gabriel states that the city around them doesn’t really influence their music as much as the music they grew up with does. “I don't think the location or the scene will really ever affect how our music sounds, we'll just keep putting out whatever we feel like we should be putting out, even if it's not really hip to what's going on in the scene.”

When asked about the scene Gabe conveys that he thinks it’s an exciting time for the indie scene. We discuss Vampire Weekend and the recent US success of Kings of Leon. He also conveyed his epic love for David Bowie in the beginning of the interview, stating that Bowie has, in many ways, shaped the way he sees, writes, and plays music.

With songs like “Prom Night,” which is about a truly evil girl who will fuck up your perfect moment in a heart beat, and “Eulogy,” this band will soon be facing a bigger and better fan base that you wouldn’t really expect of a newly formed act, but one by one LATN is winning over the hearts of the scene.

Listen to and purchase LATN at their Myspace.

Written By: October Elizabeth