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Club Lazy Genius has supported many bands’ first foray into live music, which is one of the night’s guiding and endearing principles.
Ran by Lazy Genius Promotions, founded by Tom Johnson, the company also handles PR and band management.
Running on the first Monday of every month, the free entry night has become a must-see for anyone wanting to check out new bands as well as groups in the ascendant.
Mojo has been the event’s home for the past two years, the event welcomed into the club that was originally established in Leeds.
The Back Berry St bar has seen its profile increase sharply in recent months with the video for Miles Kane’s debut single Inhaler shot on the premises.
The space also hosted some acclaimed Sound City gigs, including venerated indie act Django Django.
Tom also oversees the monthly Chemistry Set night, which takes place at Studio Two on Parr St. Currated by Fo’netiks, the band have sought to showcase electronic and rock acts in keeping with their genre blurring sound, in addition to playing the night themselves.
Lazy Genius’ memorable name was arrived at long before the venture was established.
Tom explained, ‘I came up with it back when I was in school. It was in my head for a long time and when it came to putting a name to something like a night, or the promotions company, it sprang straight to mind.’
The event has a genuinely across-the board booking policy, with electronica, rock, shoegaze and acoustic acts all featuring on the events’ line-up.
The acts on the night have to complement each other musically however, to make for a cohesive line-up. Tom explained, ‘I’m happy putting on eclectic bills, but they have to be line-ups that fit with each other.’
Similarly, the night doesn’t feature the same familiar faces rotated in different orders, which would become tedious for gig goers. Tom said, ‘We’ve got bands that are fairly regular, but we don’t have residencies. We try to get in as much different stuff as we can.’
In a management capacity, Lazy Genius is primarily associated with Super-Cannes and December Giant.
Literate art rockers Super-Cannes released their debut EP Idée Fix to excellent reviews in May, accompanied by a sold-out launch night gig at The Shipping Forecast.
Similarly, December Giant filled the Leaf Café in April on their EP launch night, prior to the group undertaking a short UK tour. Both bands went on to play well-received sets at Sound City.
In addition to music promotion, Tom also works freelance at Another Media, which handles press for frontline live events in the city such as Sound City and Africa Oye.
Tom also does consultancy work for much-touted Liverpool band Strawhouses as well as Being Jo Francis, who recently moved to the city from Coventry.
The hugely successful Above the Beaten Track event, organized by Another Media, held at The Bluecoat last year is returning for a repeat run in August.
An event so successful the bar at the arts centre literally ran dry, Lazy Genius are hosting an hour of the day’s programme in the Gallery Room.
Tom said of the line-up, ‘Ritchie and Davy from Super-Cannes are going to do an acoustic performance and Thomas J. Speight from LIPA, who’s known for playing with Ragz is also on the bill.’
Lazy Genius will celebrate its third birthday in September and plans are already being made for the celebrations. The headline acts for the gig is under wraps for the time being, the supports will include the bands who have made waves at Club Lazy Genius over the past 12 months.
Groups who are making their first moves in the live arena Tom tips for bigger things presently include Get Back Colquitt, Hot Light Fiesta and Heights.
All of whom are highly likely to feature at future Lazy Genius events when the night returns after a summer hiatus.
Club Lazy Genius runs the first Monday of every month at Mojo (Free Entry) and will resume following a summer break in September.
http://lazy-genius.co.uk/