When it comes to starting a band, there is the period when a group of people come together to play music for the first time. This is a period of growth, when bandmates are getting comfortable with each other. After this period of growth is when a band begins to write the music that will define them.
Turlock-based band Second Hand Lions started in March of 2010 and recorded their debut EP “…And Seasons Still Prevail” in July of 2010. The EP was released Fall of the same year.
After years of writing music together, guitarist/lead vocalist Thomas Lobao and guitarist Eric Shields decided to take their love of music to the next step. Eric’s brother, Clinton Shields, joined in on bass and Tyler Horner on drums, forming what is now known as Second Hand Lions.
Over the year and a half since the debut EP was released, Second Hand Lions has been hard at work playing shows and writing new material.
“We are currently in the writing stage of new songs, while booking a few shows here and there trying to let people know basically we’re still around, slowly but surely working on new material,” Horner said.
The band is also planning on going into the studio by the end of the year. They have not decided if they will go in to record a full-length album or another EP, but whatever they decide to record, they are excited to release new material to their fans. The band has also discussed recording the new album themselves.
“I think all four of us would like to do a full length, but realistically at least as of right now we most likely will release another EP,” Lobao said.
“We have discussed finding ways to record ourselves, or at least make our own demo to show off and kind of hold it up till we have the funds for a real professional recording & mastering,” Horner added.
Second Hand Lions is eager to get their new music out, as they feel that they have progressed both in their writing and as a group of guys playing together since they wrote their debut EP.
“Our stuff still has the same SHL feel, just like on steroids,” Clinton Shields said. “I mean we have gotten bigger and better, but we have retained our old sound inside of that.”
“There is so many different emotions that comes with each of the new songs which I feel will give a totally different vibe when you hear each song for the first time as well as when you hear it the tenth time,” Lobao said.
Second Hand Lions will take the stage next on April 28 at the “One Night Bandstand,” an annual music festival put on by KCSS 91.9 FM.
For the most up to date information on Secondhand Lions, visit: www.facebook.com/secondhandlionsmusic, www.twitter.com/SHLmusic, or www.purevolume.com/secondhandlions.