Lapdog: Are They The New K.K. Slider??

I had the opportunity to speak to Fisher Huish (vocalist/guitar) about Lapdog, how they’ve evolved and where they’re going next. Other band members include: Josh Mack (Guitar), Wesley Wright (Bass), Toby Hegerman (Drums), Luke Strong (keys) and Colin (seasonal band member)

Laney: Where did the band all begin? How did you all find each other and how have things evolved?

Fisher: Lapdog started as a solo recording project that I had and then I had some friends that were doing a desert show campout in southern Utah and we thought it would be cool to have a band play to liquid light shows…we were like ‘Oh, it’d be way cooler if there was a band playing music to it” so it was kind of formed around that.

We’ve had a couple members change out through the years….[We started] back in 2019 so I think that was Lapdog 1.0 and I think we’re on Lapdog 4.20 now. Me, Wesley and Luke have been here playing in the band since 2019.

Laney: That’s really exciting. Kind of tragic to see people come and go.

Fisher: Oh y’know, it’s kinda fun because we kind of do a lot of improvisations…to have changing members is kind of a challenge because we gotta learn this new person’s style but it’s also fun….it’s fun to see [the band] evolve that way.

Laney: Since you mention that you improvise…I have been watching a bunch of your videos on your website and noticed that you jam on stage a lot and I definitely think jam bands are making a comeback. Do you think that will be a permanent market for you or are you looking at leading towards a different style?

Fisher: I think we will always improvise because it’s just so much fun and I think, as cheesy as it sounds, we can get on a different level of connectivity with the audience…it’s pretty much playing off the mood of what we’re feeling in that current moment and how everyone else is feeling y’know it feels pretty honest. I think we’ll always do that.

I think it’s funny that you bring up jam bands are kinda coming back right now because that was one of our goals starting this band because we play a lot of indie-style stuff and alternative rock and a lot of people who listen to jam bands don’t like that kind of stuff…we’re trying to collide those worlds. Kind of tricking the indie heads into liking jam bands…it started off as a joke at first but then we were like, “Wait,this is a really good idea” so we’re not necessarily tricking,but just making people realise that just because it’s a jam band doesn’t mean it has to be silly.

Laney: Yeah, I grew up with jam bands like Blues Traveler and The Dead so I’m wondering if they were influences on your creative process or do you have others that you take from?

Fisher: Oh, absolutely all the ones that you mentioned. But back when this was just a solo recording process, I was sort of anti-jam but Wesley was into it. But then I went and saw Phish in 2015 and it was a little moment of my life where I realised how much I love improvisation. It’s so fun and that’s all it has to be.

Other bands that influence us are like Mac Demarco, I think we’re all really into him and that kinda scene. We all really love Good Morning, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, and kind of a newer one is Ginger Root. I know Toby’s into a lot more jazz.

Laney: Naming all these bands it really makes sense why you all improvise and jam on stage a lot. Because of the jam sound, what has been your favorite venue to play at?

Fisher: I can’t speak for the rest of the band but I think my favorite venue has been house parties or Salty Toes. Do you know about Salty Toes?

Laney: I don’t.

Fisher: It’s a big music festival that they do out on the salt flats.

Laney: That’s so cool! Is that annual?

Fisher: I think there’s been about three of them. And I think they’re working on a fourth but that won’t be this year, probably next year. Last year it kind of blew up, there were a lot of people so I think it got a little stressful for them….We also played up at Snowbird for Oktoberfest [last year] which was really fun.

Laney: Oh ya, I saw you guys will be doing that again this year.

Fisher: That’s right, in August. But yeah, I think the best venues are the ones that are out in nature. I know it’s probably cheesy.

Laney: No, not at all. I feel like that’s a very common answer for people. When we interviewed some of the bands that played for Kilby Block Party, they all said ‘it was so fun to see the mountains when we played on that stage’ and I feel like music and nature just go so well together.

Fisher: It is so nice. Not to diss on any venue or anything but we did a show at The Urban Lounge where…Taylor Dickinson, he does liquid light shows for us, and he got together with another visual show guy and they collabed for our show at Urban Lounge. It was just like psychedelic, visual lights all in your face and that was really fun. Just like the visual of it is simultaneously overrated and underrated.

Laney: That does sound really fun. I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a show like what you’re describing but I have seen different pictures and videos of your band and a couple other bands like yours. And they’re all improvisation-based musicians so I wonder if that’s a part of the trade?

Fisher: There is an improvisational element to liquid lights because you put the music to the visuals.

Laney: Sort of like a rave.

Fisher: Definitely. Like in the 60s they used to do that in England. The employee would play raves and they would all jam to liquid light shows, but then they moved on to more band-oriented shows. 

Laney: That sounds insane. Bring it back right now.

While we’re on the topic of shows, I came across a video of your band playing Cool It Down by The Velvet Underground. And I don’t know if it was you or a different guitarist who was barefoot? Is that a usual occurrence, like does it help you play better? Or was that a one and done thing?

Fisher: I think it’s pretty frequent with us. It was probably Josh that you saw, he doesn’t wear shoes most of the time. 

It’s funny you bring that up because the first time we got together to jam with Josh, he came over and it was just me, him and Wesley, we played some music then he left. Then there was just a random pair of shoes at our house and we couldn’t figure out who’s they were and then Josh was just like, “oh ya, I forgot my shoes there.” Dude doesn’t like shoes.

Laney: Honestly I get it. Free the dogs for real.

Speaking of dogs, I’m just curious about your band’s name Lapdog. Where does it come from, is there any significance to it?

Fisher: When I was writing the first round of Lapdog songs it kind of came across and sounded a lot like K.K. Slider from Animal Crossing.

Laney: I’m going to stop you right there. I love that you just brought that up. That just brought back so many memories.

Fisher: I know, it’s kind of funny. I was playing that game a bunch on the DS and I really think a bunch of the music was inspired by K.K. Slider. Y’know K.K. is kind of like a Lapdog.

We have some bootleg merch where it’s K.K. Slider printed under Lapdog.

Laney: No way. Will it be at the show?

Fisher: For legal reasons I can’t say. The idea’s there, if we can get them printed we’ll have them eventually.

Laney: Well then you best get on that. I need my hands on that right now.

So, on the topic of our show coming up later in August…are you excited to fish with us? Are you a first timer?

Fisher: It’s literally my name. I’m born for it…if it’s going to be fishing themed we will be preparing some covers for you guys.

Laney: I’m definitely excited for that. Any final thoughts you would like to end off with?

Fisher: Come to a Lapdog show! All you have to do is have fun, there’s no expectations. We’re stoked to be playing this event…only good times ahead.

Like he said, make sure you come out to the show and check out Lapdog on all their socials here! See you at K-UTE Radio’s Gone Fishin’ at Kilby Court on August 30!!

Instagram: @lapdogband

Spotify: Lapdog

YouTube: @lapdog206

Website: lapdogband.com