This Richmond, VA band first caught my attention in June, during their support stint for JIMMY EAT WORLD and NO KNIFE . And although their time as an opener was only for two-weeks (a mini-tour that took them up and down the East Coast), Lazycain vocalist Cam DiNunzio, explains that "it was like Christmas every day. We had never toured so consistently before--playing to at least 200 kids every night, free/stolen beer, free food, TOWELS. Of course everybody was there to see JEW and No Knife, but we didn't really mind. We just did our little thing, sold a bunch of records, and made a lot of friends." But when pressed for a few good tour stories, Cam responds, "Besides the normal drinking, smoking, and "general acts of male bonding?" [Nothing] that wouldn't get at least one person in trouble...we kept everything NC-17 for the most part."

Touring, for Lazycain is a frequent venture. They recently finished a six-week jaunt with Piebald and have plans to hit the road twice again in the near future. "We're doing a week and a half on the East Coast in December, most of the dates [with] Hot Rod Circuit...then another national tour with Jejune sometime in late winter, early spring.

"Touring for us, is a take-it-as-it-comes kind of affair. The record is still new to most people, and we're such an unknown band that we basically go out whenever we're invited, just to spread the love, you know? We can't afford to be too picky, but luckily we've been invited on some really cool tours recently." The constant on the road status has been to support Lazycain's debut full-length "Five Days Eighty Hours," released by Boston's Big Wheel Recordings (home to Jejune, Piebald, and more) earlier this year. The band were ep and compilation veterans before hooking up with Rama and Big Wheel, but it was a meeting between drummer Dan Duggins and Chris Jejune that kickstarted the signing of Lazycain. "Rama's biggest thing, I think, is that he feels some sort of friendship with the bands he puts out. With us, I feel like it was more of a gamble on his part that just happened to work out. He "signed" us first and then we got to be friends later.... He does a great job with all the bands...we're really happy to be on the label."

And Big Wheel is certainly keeping them busy. A split single with Jejune, a tribute to The Smiths in which they cover "Handsome Devil," should be in stores any day now. And slated for release in January is a split with No Knife. "We've been No Knife fans for a couple of years now, so we were really fucking stoked about it...Once we toured together, it made sense that we should really do something together." Following that, a 4-song ep, featuring two songs recorded by J. Robbins, will be released on Doghouse. And if that's not enough the band will begin recording their second full-length, possibly with Robbins and Brian Paulson (Archers Of Loaf, Wilco) in the spring.

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and pick up Lazycain's "Five Days 80 Hours". Comparisons aren't fair, but it's safe to say the come from the J. Robbins school of music, with intelligent punk rock structures washed with distorted guitars and emotion. Amazing stuff.

Make sure to visit Lazycain's website

(photos by Bryan Sheffield)