Schellenbach and Luscious bandmates relish performing

By Gautam Baksi

Daily Arts Writer

Sitting in a small, poorly heated Holiday Inn hotel room in central Ohio, Kate Schellenbach recovered from a cold and talked about life on the road. "It sucks to not play! Right now I'd like to be on-stage performing." With two days' rest before a show in Ypsilanti, Schellenbach took time off her Yahoo! Outloud tour with alt-rock radio workhorses Smashmouth to talk about Lillith Fair, Lollapalooza and drumming in her band, Luscious Jackson.

Beginning with her early days as drummer for the Beastie Boys, Schellenbach has had the opportunity to tour with dozens of national bands and meet the industry's most prominent rock stars. Through it, she and her fellow Luscious Jackson band mates, Jill Cunnif (vocals, bass) and Gabby Glaser (vocals, guitar), have stayed together tightly for ten years. Never straying far from their punk-rock roots, Luscious Jackson has received a consistent level of modest success throughout their tenure. "But it takes work to keep band going," she told the Daily. "[We've] all worked very hard ... there's no doubt the industry as a whole is hard and takes a toll."

Popularity for the band has come from various sources. After a solid set on the second stage at Lollapalooza in 1994, Schellenbach said she compared other tours to that concert. "Lollapalooza was a great show - there were some crazy people out there!" In contrast, Luscious' performances at Lillith Fair were easy and laid-back. "Sarah (McLachlan) did a really great job. Behind the scenes she was very professional. It had to be the ultimate tour to be on."

Between these huge national tours, Luscious vacillated between small, intimate clubs and large, sold-out arenas. "We've always matured ... The show is better, bigger and more exciting," explained Schellenbach, acknowledging the fact that Luscious Jackson is still without a headlining tour to their credit. However, after playing numerous smaller venues, Schellenbach is quick to praise St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit. As a point of interest, she adds, "The House of Blues theaters are really well done from an artist's perspective."

In 1995, Luscious entered the arenas with R.E.M. on their huge "Monster" tour. Inspired by a strong reception from the audience, the band returned to the studio the following year to work on their "Fever In Fever Out" CD with famed producer Daniel Lanois (U2's "The Joshua Tree").

The CD was a success and their break came that year when the single "Naked Eye" became a Top 40 hit. Although Luscious Jackson didn't become a household name, the album did greatly increase their fan base. After two years, Vivian Trimble, the fourth Luscious member, left the band claiming she was "sick of always touring." Left with the original trio, Luscious continued musically and released "Electric Honey" in June 1999. The Yahoo! Outloud tour is largely in promotion of that album, while also highlighting songs from their previous releases.

When not on the road, Luscious Jackson has been dubbed by critics as a soundtrack band. In defense, Schellenbach explains the advantages of releasing songs on soundtrack compilations and TV shows: "When you record an album, a lot of songs are left over. If you're not having songs on radio, soundtracks are another great way to get your sound out." Among many such releases, Schellenbach seems especially pleased with "Here," from the 1995 comedy "Clueless."

On their latest Yahoo.com-sponsored tour, Schellenbach expressed astonishment at the staggering number of youths in attendance: "It's surprising to look out into the front row and see a teenage girl!" Credit for bringing in the younger audiences goes to Yahoo. As part of sponsorship for the tour, Yahoo pays for all publicity and promotion associated with the show in return for their name on the tour docket. "It's a good deal. Each show is taken care of; Yahoo takes care of lights, production and such."

On a related note, Schellenbach seems unfazed about the recent increasing trends in illegal MP3's and Internet music piracy. "We're actually hoping the Internet stuff will shake up the music industry and therefore the artists will make more money." Elaborating, Schellenbach explains how Luscious Jackson "doesn't get a penny unless we sell a million albums." Growing up through the Seventies and Eighties, Schellenbach still favors LP's and tapes over newer, digital media. "It was fun looking at the liner notes and pictures. That's gonna differentiate us from the next generation."

As younger fans learn to appreciate the raw sounds of Luscious Jackson, Schellenbach and friends seem lackadaisical about their rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Instead, they try to focus on the music. "The three of us have wanted to be in a band all of our lives," she says, while explaining why a live performance is one of the most powerful experiences of a lifetime. Though shows may be great for fans in attendance, have the constant rigors of performing onstage taken their toll? Not at all, quips Schellenbach. In fact, "this tour has too many days off."

Call 734-487-1849 for more information about tonight's Yahoo! Outloud show at EMU in Ypsilanti, featuring Luscious Jackson and Smashmouth.

Courtesy of Grand Royal Records

Back to their original three-woman lineup, Luscious Jackson marches on.