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Hidden Gems: Lawrence Zubia returns with Persuaders by Randy Cordova - Apr. 17, 2011 01:45 AM The Arizona Republic There have been tough times and an intoxicating brush with fame. But through it all, Lawrence Zubia has no regrets about dedicating his life to music. "My dad always told me to go for it," Zubia says. "He always said that he didn't want me to have regrets. And now I know what he's talking about." Music may not have been the smoothest path for Zubia, but it is the road he has traveled on for most of his 46 years. The Scottsdale resident recently launched a band called the Persuaders, but the backstory is more compelling than most. Zubia grew up in the Valley as part of a musical family. Zubia and his younger brother, Mark, learned to play guitar from their father, who still gigs as a mariachi. A love of music and classic rock hooks were two major factors in Zubia's formative years. In 1992, the Zubia brothers formed the Chimeras, which featured Lawrence singing lead. One of the members was Doug Hopkins, who was the songwriting genius of the Gin Blossoms and tragically took his life in 1993. The Chimeras changed their name to the Pistoleros and became one of the defining acts of then-burgeoning Mill Avenue scene. Zubia was a charismatic lead singer, with brooding good looks, a matinee-idol pompadour and gravelly voice that he would push to the limit. "I don't live in the past, but, dude, it was awesome," Zubia says, still sporting the classic-rock-and-roll haircut. "We used to play songs we wrote, all original tunes, all night long, and get paid a couple of hundred bucks a night. And we could do this three or four nights a week!" The band landed a deal with Hollywood Records. When the group cut its first - and only - album for the company, the history was overwhelming. They recorded at A&M Records in the same studio Cat Stevens once used. Lawrence sang into the same microphone that Karen Carpenter had. The group's album, "Hang on to Nothing," came out in 1997. The album was great but the promotion was not, and the group was off the label the following year. "I never felt so vulnerable in my whole life until I had a record deal," Zubia recalls. "Once I had it, I thought this was something they could take away. It's not a good feeling." But in typical Zubia fashion, there are no regrets. He remembers arriving in Miami to do promotion for the single "My Guardian Angel" and being met at the airport by a white limousine. "We got in, sat down, and our song came on the radio," he says, still marveling at the thought. "It's one of those wonderful, awesome moments. It's just crazy, but those are the kind of things that go along with the rock-and-roll lifestyle." After coming back to earth, the group continued working the Valley scene. They branched out, performing as the Zubia Brothers away from the Pistoleros, which have never officially disbanded. Mark became active in projects without Lawrence, which helped sparked the birth of the Persuaders. The group features Scott Andrews and Thomas Laufenberg (both of the Pistoleros), Philip Rhodes (ex-Gin Blossoms) and Jim Swafford (ex-Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers). "I always write songs, and we just got together to see what we had," Zubia says. "It was fun, and it became 'Let's do this every Friday night.' Then it became, 'Let's record these songs.' We never even thought about playing out at that point." The group made its official debut in March. The material has a darker, harder edge than the Pistoleros' jangly pop-rock, but it is also accessible. That was Zubia's intention. "Although we don't have any expectations of record labels looming, I am still trying to write the next Beatles song," Zubia says. "I can't lie: I'd love to hear my songs on the radio, and it's hard not to write in that genre." But Zubia and his bandmates know the '90s were long ago, and the music scene today is completely different. The folks who bought the Pistoleros' CD now have mortgages and kids. "It's not the same as it was in the days when you play at 11 p.m. at Yucca (Tap Room in Tempe) and people would be packing it in to see you," Swafford says. "You have to kind of adapt to your audience and try to find and play shows that your audience will come to. "Maybe now you're playing 5 to 6 p.m. It's different, but that's not going to stop us from being passionate about music." Zubia heartily agrees. He's a single father to three kids, with an infant at home. Lately, he has been wondering about why he does what he does. "We don't have 401(k)s and insurance coverage and things of that nature," he says. "We are driven by some creative force. The matter of getting onstage and feeling that vibration from really loud guitars and drums - it's addictive. I have no expectation of making any money on this, but it is very creatively fulfilling." What about money? Well, he still gets quarterly checks from ASCAP for "Hang on to Nothing," which is available on iTunes. The last check was for $68. "I have a lot of memories that are really priceless," he says, laughing. "They're priceless, but they're also valueless. What can you do?" [ They forgot to mention Larry's band "Live Nudes", wonder why. I may be getting things mixed up, but wasn't Larry also a member of Los Chingaderos, another Phoenix band with a name that isn't politically correct? ] Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849.
The Persuaders When: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 23. Where: Sky Bar, 536 N. Fourth Ave., Tucson. Admission: Free. Details: 520-622-4300, skybartucson.com, facebook.com/azthepersuaders. |