Lavoy’s band mates are all from the Valley: singer Tyrell Tompkins, guitarist Sean Riley, bassist Ryan Monson and drummer Kipp Riley. Tompkins described Lavoy as an indie rock band with a wide-open range.
Released in 2008, the first CD, “...Said the Quiet Hands,” is gaining Lavoy recognition throughout the state.
 Courtesy photos Lavoy band members, from left, Tyrell Tompkins, Kipp Riley, Ryan Monson and Sean Riley. Following the success of the group’s first CD release in 2008, the band is heading to Long Beach, Calif., to record its second. |
“The CD we just released has keyboards on it and a real indie pop feel,” said Tompkins. “The stuff we’re working on now is more of a cross between Bob Dylan and Broken Social Scene.”
Tompkins is the only survivor of Lavoy’s original line-up and is largely the band’s leader. He was born in Wisconsin but soon moved to Wasilla where he was homeschooled. He is the first to admit he was sheltered, but he credits this with developing his musical tastes.
“Homeschooling gave me a unique and different perspective on things,” said Tompkins. “I was listening to oldies when everyone else was listening to Nirvana, so I missed that whole movement.”
Tired of bands trying to be clever with their names, he named Lavoy after his grandfather’s middle name, and family has been a big part of Lavoy’s music ever since.
The original line-up included his brother and two cousins. The band had a more progressive and epic sound, he said, which was not the exact musical direction Tompkins was hoping to go.
They soon decided they needed a keyboardist, and Tompkins wanted to step back from playing the guitar to focus on vocals.
He contacted Kipp Riley, who Tompkins claims was a born drummer playing keyboard at the time. To take the guitar load off of Tompkins, Kipp called his brother Sean.
This six-piece band was more experimental and indie and was moving in the right direction, said Tompkins.
Six months later, Tompkins’ two cousins decided the commute from Anchorage to the practices in the Valley was too much, and they parted ways with the band. Lavoy needed a bass player, and Kipp and Sean suggested Ryan Monson.
“I trusted their musical tastes, and everything clicked,” said Tompkins. “At this point, we were going the way I wanted it to, but Kacey (Tompkins’ brother) was going in a bit of a different direction.”
Kacey was the band’s drummer, but Tompkins knew Kipp was more than capable of handling the percussion. In what he describes as the hardest decision he has ever made, Tompkins decided Kacey and Lavoy had to part ways.
“That’s when we finalized the band. Now were a four-piece.” said Tompkins. “We don’t have a keyboard player anymore, and we’re very happy where we’re at.”
The indie rock world must agree, as notable small-label producer Jason Martin signed on to produce the album. Martin is the frontman and producer for Starflyer 59, produced a CD for Cold War Kids and is strongly affiliated with Tooth and Nail Records, an independent record label.
“We’re getting ready to record with a pretty big hero of ours,” said Tompkins. “We’re hoping that someone from Tooth and Nail hears our CD and likes it.”
A contract with a record company will break Tompkins away from his job on the North Slope. He currently works two weeks on, two weeks off as a pump man on the rigs.
“It’s not always easy being with the band for only half the year,” he said. “Eventually, I’m going to work my way out of the Slope and into touring, putting together a down payment and downsizing our house to something more affordable.”
In the meantime, the band is focusing on developing a strong fan base in Alaska, having no misconceptions about touring in the Lower 48.
“We’ve seen a lot of bands go out of state just to do the same things they do here,” said Tompkins. “We’re not going to get out until we feel like there’s a reason to do it. You can’t do something different just because you’re in a different place.”
Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.
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1 comment(s)Alaskan_Stranger wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:33 AM: