Looking Glass War told us about their music and how they work to make it. Let’s see what they have to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
Goddamn Glenn: We had this running list of band names. Then one night I put on this movie “The Looking Glass War,” which is based on the John le Carré novel of the same name and features a very young Anthony Hopkins. I loved the neo-noir vibe of the film and added the title to our running list of band names. We dropped the “The,” made a logo for it, and “Looking Glass War” the band was officially christened.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
Goddamn Glenn: I’ve been playing in bands since I was 13. I was strictly a hair metal kid until I discovered Jane’s Addiction and sold all my glam rock CDs. (Kinda wish I didn’t do that now). After ducking out of music for several years, I started a band called Parlour Bells, which Tony [Porter, drums] from this band is a part of as well. Tony and I wanted to try collaborating on something new, which is how we connected with Pete [Zeigler, guitar] and Mike [Ackley, bass].
Pete Zeigler: Similarly, I’ve been doing bands since I was in my teens, and wanted badly to get away from some of the Americana work I’d done in the past and back to my true love of post-punk and UK indie. Writing for this band and working with these guys has been the culmination of that journey.
Mike Ackley: I’m originally from the UK and grew up on Manchester bands like Joy Division/New Order, The Smiths, Stone Roses etc.: I actually learnt bass relatively late, in my early 20s, I started playing in bands in Leeds alongside bands like the Kaiser Chiefs. Fast forward “a few” years and after relocating to Boston I played for a while in Strangeways and briefly in The Shallows before getting together with Pete. After a few frustrating starts we got together with Glenn and Tony and things took off.
How would you describe your sound?
Zeigler: Classic post-punk with some chimey bits and a helping of glam rock. Your favorite mixtape from 1990.
Ackley: Take all your favorite musical references from the late-’70s through early-’90s, with a heavy weighting to post-punk. And what comes out is Looking Glass War.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
Zeigler: For me, a major influence is Roger Miller from Mission of Burma. I had a chance to sit down with him, guitars in hand, and it really helped with shaping my approach to voicings and overall sound. Also Peter Buck’s early REM work, Richard Oakes from Suede (but weirdly not Bernard Butler as much), Johnny Marr, Andy Bell’s RIDE stuff, and Robert Smith, particularly Seventeen Seconds through Pornography. Also should include Rob Hardy from a band called Desperate Journalist.
Tony Porter: Out of all the members of Looking Glass War, I felt like I was coming into this from the outside. I wasn’t very familiar with many of the influences the others were mentioning, but kept an open mind and was willing to learn about their interests. The biggest distinction I’d make is that I grew up listening more to American alternative and hard rock such as Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden, Tool, etc. I think it’s a strength that the members of this band approach the sound from different “angles.”
Goddamn Glenn: I draw my influence from a range of crooners and matinee idol types, some contemporary, some not so much. Elvis, Sam Cooke, Bowie, Ian McCulloch from Echo and The Bunnymen.
Ackley: For this project I’m leaning heavily on influences like Joy Division, early U2, The Bunnymen, Gang of Four, The Church and The Chameleons.
What’s the last song you listened to?
Zeigler: “Walking Wires” by High Vis.
Goddamn Glenn: “Like a Ghost” by Faster Pussycat.
Ackley: The new Slowdive stuff “kisses” and “skin in the game.”
What’s your source for hearing new music?
Zeigler: Bands we get compared to.
Ackley: AI generated playlists & radio.
Who is your dream producer?
Zeigler: Martin Hannett. He probably won’t call though.
Goddamn Glenn: Brian Charles of The Sheila Divine mixed our EP and he’s pretty dreamy. Does that count?
Ackley: I’m 100% with Pete on this one.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Zeigler: DJ Shadow
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
Zeigler: If a song I wrote, or helped to create, in some way improves anyone’s day, even if just for a moment, it is all worth it.
Goddamn Glenn: Growing up in the ‘80s, music suddenly became this very 24/7 highly visual thing because of MTV and the icons it produced. There were suddenly all these exotic, flashy, gender-fluid characters beaming into your living room. For a weird, creative kid like myself, they created a place of belonging and I longed to become part of it so I could extend that sense of belonging to someone else.
Ackley: Growing up in a working class town outside Manchester, amazing music permeated your whole existence. You couldn’t not be influenced by it.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
Zeigler: With us it usually starts with a chord progression and rough song outline that Mike and I get going. Then we work on core arrangements with the group and record an instrumental demo live in the room together. Glenn takes that very rough draft and drops it into Logic to craft a melody and lyrics. That is the real magic. He also adds arrangement changes so that it can all come together.
Goddamn Glenn: There’s nothing more important to me in a song than a great vocal melody. I don’t want to simply add the words, but I aim to give each song a persona. Give it character.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
Goddamn Glenn: For all its more recent failings, social media undoubtedly extends the reach of an artist like nothing else can. Just today someone from the West Coast put a comment that they were playing our new single in the bar that they work at. Random connections like that can totally make my day.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/looking_glass_war/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7xDE7coL7FyHgpF76Gq8dB?si=19e6a0bba9274600&nd=1
Bandcamp: https://lookingglasswar.bandcamp.com/track/arrive
What’s next for you?
Glenn: Well, we just booked our first few shows – including The Middle East in Cambridge on August 2 – and we also have new material to share with people. Because we are being “received” for the first time, I’m very curious and excited to find out what’s next for us. In just a few days, the response has been overwhelming, so who knows where the trajectory will take us. But I’m ready to get in front of people and get a sense of their reaction in real time!
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
Ackley: Look out for the next few releases over the summer. “Arrive!” was a banger to put us out there, but we’re really excited about the next release, “I Can Tell by the Cars (Extremist Romance)”, out August 11!
BIO: In the Fall of 2022, Goddamn Glenn and Tony Porter (both of Parlour Bells) came together with fellow Boston scene veterans Pete Zeigler (The Easy Reasons, The Rationales) and Mike Ackley (Strangeways) to see what would happen when this group of seasoned indie musicians made noise together. Each needed it as much as the others.
The spark was immediate. A new post-punk-meets-glam sound emerged, melding Glenn’s theatrical vocals with Pete’s shimmering and sputtering post-punk guitar, all driven by Mike’s propulsive UK bass lines and Tony’s precise beats. They called it Looking Glass War.
