Austin Sound Check

When Electric Touch takes the stage at SXSW this weekend, it will be their second time at the festival. In between SXSW appearances the band released a new self-titled album and played ACL, Coachella and Bonnaroo. Pretty impressive for a band that’s been together for roughly a year.

Now based in Austin, the alt. rock four piece did not start out here. Frontman Shane Lawlor (ex-IV Thieves) came to Austin questing after a girl, while the rest of the band came from various corners of Texas. Shane, drummer Louis Messina and bassist Ross Dubois took time to answer some questions for Austin Sound Check.

Read on after the jump to find out how life in Austin is treating Electric Touch, who they want to see perform at SXSW and what the band’s plans are for the near future.

Electric Touch plays SXSW at Stubb’s on Saturday, March 21, opening for Third Eye Blind, PJ Harvey and The Indigo Girls, among others.

Ana Wolken : How would you describe your music to a potential new fan?
Shane Lawlor : Tales of ordinary life presented in glorious technicolor.
Louis Messina : Pure ecstacy.

AW : What inspired the name Electric Touch?
SL : Inspired by A Clockwork Orange, we thought it made a great paradox and referenced modern times, however, everyone else thoughtit was the name of a vibrator, and that’s probably the band in a nutshell.

AW : Who are your biggest musical influences and why?
LM : As a band we all have one common denominator – The Beatles.But everyone has their own distinctive tastes ranging from, Aerosmith to Green Day to Nick Cave to Beethoven.

AW : How has life in Austin treated the band?
LM : The people and fans in Austin are fantastic, its the live music capitol of the world and its just the place you want to be if your trying to make it in a band….when we played ACL Festival recently we sold more records than any other Austin band by a long shot. So we keep doing what we do.”

AW : This will be Electric Touch’s 2nd trip to SXSW. How does it feel to return as veterans?
Ross Dubois : Inspiring. we know our way through the ins and outs, the demands the festival puts on you, so we get to focus entirely on our role within this giant circus with clarity and confidence.

AW : Are there any other SXSW artists that you are looking forward to?
SL : I’m looking forward to seeing PJ Harvey and Razorlight on the famous Stubbs outdoors stage. We hit that stage at 6pm on Saturday and it’s going to be legendary.
LM : This year is going to be amazing for us because our official SXSW showcase is at Stubbs on Saturday the 21st (6PM Sharp). To play at Stubbs is a blessing, because every year Stubbs is the place to be – all the biggest stars and rock veterans play there, so we are all extremely excited.

AW: What plans does the band have for the near future?
RD : We’re heading out to California for the Coachella Festival in April. it will be our second time there.
LM : Have a new record for the fans.

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