Facelift is quite possibly the most brutal band in the Coachella Valley. Its hardcore punk sound has made Facelift a house-party favorite—and landed the band opening slots for The Adicts during both of the band’s recent shows at The Hood Bar and Pizza. Facelift’s guitarist, Quanah Lienau, is the son of local desert-rock icon Herb Lienau (Dead Issue, Decon, Half Astro, Herbert). Decon recently reunited for a performance at The Hood—and Quanah stole the show while playing drums on one of the songs. For more information on Facelift, visit www.facebook.com/1000palmspunx. Quanah was kind enough to answer the Lucky 13; here are his answers.
What was the first concert you attended?
Post-birth, I would say Weezer at Coachella 2001 when I was 6 years old.
What was the first album you owned?
I can’t pinpoint it, but one of these three: Weezer, “The Blue Album”; The Prodigy, The Fat of the Land; or Aztlan Underground, Decolonize.
What bands are you listening to right now?
Usually my taste never changes, unless my tongue is burnt. Wakka wakka! I’m a true soldier in the lifelong realm of punk: Rudimentary Peni, Parliament Funkadelic, Slipknot, Primus, Lagwagon, Sepultura, Guru of Gang Starr, Jurassic 5, Decon, Snoop Dogg, my homies from D-Town known as Slipping Into Darkness and some Hawkwind when there is time. Aztlan Underground, Facelift, Blockh3ad, Obituary, Coltrane and whatever plays on The Forbidden Zone radio show. Oh yeah, and mothafukkin Rich Kids on LSD, BITCH! A definite fun mix to get you through the work day.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
This embarrassing new “mumble rap” or “trap” or whatever the fuck. No real flows; can’t hear a word they say; and if you don’t have a goal at being the best in what you do, don’t claim the title “Artist.” I get it! You get fucked up on codeine and try to fuck everyone’s girlfriend. Leave me alone!
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Either Rich Kids on LSD, Jimi Hendrix or Ramones in their prime.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
I don’t know what that means, ha ha. The signature Facelift chops/mutes are always there. Playing melody and harmony in one is dope.
What’s your favorite music venue?
Depends who or what we’re seeing. Heavy and epic—somewhere big like the Olympic Auditorium or The Mayan theater, both in L.A.—or some packed sardine punk show at the Observatory in Orange County. Any place with a fuckload of people with sick energy can be my favorite.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Peace and quiet only makes me ill. I’m hardly able to stand while I’m standing fucking still. There’s a silence in my head and its ringing really shrill but, if it breaks this fuckin’ boredom, it’s you I’ll fucking kill,” Dan Duran (of Facelift), “Hyper-Inactive.”
What band or artist changed your life? How?
I’d say the Rich Kids on LSD opened a new door to playing and thinking for myself. I’d never heard any dudes jam like that—such different approaches on instruments I thought I’d never think of before now are some of my favorite styles on drums, guitar and bass! Lyrics are in a different game on their own, leaving me in thoughts that help keep my mental strength along uncertain times in my life!
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Varg Vikernes: “So before you killed Euronymous, was he a bitch all the time?”
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Leviathan’s “Merging with Sword, Onto Them” and Judas Priest’s “Dreamer Deceiver.”
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Decon, Balls for Days BITCH!
What song should everyone listen to right now?
Aztlan Underground, “Natural Enemy.” (Scroll down to hear it!)
