Page 98 - ION Indie Magazine JanFeb 2018

THE LOUD ASS CRACKERS -- The Lacs, for short -- have a unique sound that can’t be ignored. CLAY SHARPE
and BRIAN KING grew up as part of the “mix tape generation.” Clay explained, “We were the first generation
to grow up on rap, country, and rock...I made a new mixed tape every weekend.”

Brian listed a range of musical influences from TUPAC to HANK WILLIAMS JR. to NIRVANA. Clay jokes that
they rap because they “can’t sing all that well.” Kidding aside, The Lacs, feel their new genre speaks to the
time that we’re living in, “things aren’t all that different from JOHNNY CASH in the 60’s. Cash’s music would
probably be a rap song now because of the beat and flow,” Clay said.

The availability of music and technology have helped The Lacs create a dirt rock country Rebelution. On their
most recent album, Clay and Brian worked with four different music producers. They traveled across the
country, hitting studios along the way, covering eight different states.

On their journey across the U.S., Clay and Brian were able to meet different people and integrate their ideas
into their album. Clay said they worked hard on trying to incorporate the sound from the area.

Brian and Clay reminisced about a studio that was in a little farm house off a dirt road. The Lacs laughed as
they remember, wondering if their bus would fit down the driveway. Brian said when they entered the studio
there was corn painted all over the walls.