“Brian [Johnson, vocals] was larger than life – like he is on stage – but it almost didn’t feel like we were talking to one of the biggest bands ever. When we were sharing a beer with them, it was just like hanging around a bunch of regular dudes who’d been friends forever and loved making music together.”
To call Kingswood’s recent run opening the nine-date Australian leg of AC/DC’s Rock or Bust tour a dream come true wouldn’t do justice to what the experience meant to Laska. The guitarist grew up a protege of the band, studying Angus Young’s fiery guitar playing and manic stage presence, even purchasing a Gibson SG as his first guitar; the model Angus swears by.
Being so well-versed in AC/DC’s style meant Laska had little to learn musically from watching them onstage every night. Instead, he says the experience gifted him an understanding of how such a huge live show comes together, which has spurred him to think about how to apply similar ideas to his own band’s show.
“We’re not all of sudden thinking, ‘Let’s get cannons and 20-foot blow-up dolls in our live shows’,” Laska explains. “But watching an AC/DC show just triggers your mind to think about how to be creative and make a rock’n’roll gig an unforgettable experience.”
Next up for Kingswood – Laska, singer Fergus Linacre, bassist Jeremy ‘Mango’ Hunter and drummer Justin Debrincat – is a New Year’s stint at Beyond the Valley in Gippsland. After that comes the recording of their second album, the follow-up to their 2014 ARIA-nominated debut, Microscopic Wars.
Laska confirms the band already has some of the material ready to go, and you’d expect this next album to be brimming with hard-rocking energy given the band’s quality time on the road with Acca Dacca. But Laska is determined to make sure this next record isn’t dictated by what people expect.
“I don’t want our mentality going into this next record to be defined by anything we’ve done before. I just think having an open mind and not looking just to meet peoples’ expectations of you is the best way to do it.
“I talked about this on radio recently – and it was taken out of context – but I said I wouldn’t care if there wasn’t one guitar on the next Kingswood album. It’s still going to be a rock’n’roll album – that’s in our blood, we can’t just stop playing rock’n’roll – but at the end of the day, if the song sounds good and it feels right, then that’s all I care about.”
Contributing to Kingswood’s open-ended approach to their second album is Laska’s unique songwriting process. “I’m writing the lyrics only at this point. My reasoning is if the song comes out and its lyrics and melody are pure enough that they sound as good played on a piano or an acoustic guitar as through an amp, then I’ve achieved what I want to.
“By the time we get into the studio, I’m hoping we’re not restricted in the instruments we can choose from to make these songs.”
While they wait for this lyrically founded second-offering, Kingswood fans can take the edge off their hunger for new material by listening to the recently-released deluxe version of Microscopic Wars. New originals Vlad and Baby Doll feature alongside the 13 original tracks, both of which pair strutting stoner rock with Linacre’s distinctive yowl. But it’s the five live cuts from the band’s show at the Forum Theatre on March 13 that offer the most to listeners.
Kingswood have become known for their powerful live delivery, a reputation built on years of relentless touring. Laska confirms this played a part in the re-release’s track-listing.
“We first got signed by our booking agent off of our live show, and I hear many people say they really start to get us as a band when they see our live show if they didn’t from the record. So we’re definitely a live band.”
Working in close quarters with AC/DC for a month had one other notable effect on Laska: it renewed his – and his band’s – desire to see out the grandiose career plans he first conceived as a teenager.
“We want to be the biggest rock’n’roll band in the world one day. That’s why we’re doing this, ultimately. We realise it’s probably going to be a long way from where we end up, but even so with that as our aim, even if we only get halfway there we’ll still be pretty happy with what we achieve.”
BY ALEXANDER DARLING
