Lucas Harwood
{{short description|Australian bassist}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Lucas Harwood
| image = Lucas Harwood (2016).jpg
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Harwood performing in 2016
| birth_name = Lucas Skinner
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alias = Lukey
| occupation = Bassist
| years_active = 2010{{endash}}present
| current_member_of = {{hlist|King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard|Heavy Moss}}
| past_member_of = Atolls
| spouse = {{marriage|Liza Harwood|2019}}
}}
Lucas Harwood ({{ne|Skinner}}) is an Australian bassist known for his role in King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard as well as Atolls and Heavy Moss.
Biography
=Early life=
Harwood is a native of Geelong, Victoria.{{cite web |last1=Glasgow |first1=Isabel |title=King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Reflect on Their Anxious Energy: "That's Where the Magic Is" |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/king_gizzard_and_the_lizard_wizard_reflect_on_their_anxious_energy_thats_where_the_magic_is |website=Exclaim! |access-date=4 February 2025}} When he was a child his parents took him to music festivals such as the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Queenscliff Music Festival which helped foster his love for music. Harwood had been in a garage band before joining King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and said band kicked out their bassist, with Harwood transitioning from guitar to bass to pick up the slack.{{cite web |title=King Gizzard Bassist Reveals Which Pedals & Effects He Uses, Speaks on Picking With Fingers vs Using a Pick |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/king_gizzard_bassist_reveals_which_pedals__effects_he_uses_speaks_on_picking_with_fingers_vs_using_a_pick.html |website=Ultimate Guitar |access-date=4 February 2025}}
=King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard=
{{main|King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard}}
Since 2010 Skinner has been the lead bassist for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.{{cite web |last1=Benja |first1=Neisan |title=King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: All About the Australian Psych Rockers |url=https://vocal.media/beat/king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-all-about-the-australian-psych-rockers |website=vocal.media |access-date=4 February 2025}} Although not a member of the original trio of Eric Moore, Joey Walker and Stu Mackenzie, Harwood would be with the band in its earliest form, joining as the fourth member as a student project for a RMIT course on Contemporary Music Performance.{{cite web |title=A Conversation With King Gizzard's University Professor |url=https://kglw.net/blog/conversation-king-gizzard-professor.html |website=kglw.net |access-date=4 February 2025}} Harwood said that his favorite part of being in the band is the freedom the band offers to pursue new musical styles.{{cite web |title=Bassist Lucas Harwood Names Best Thing About Playing in King Gizzard, Gives His Top Advice to Young Musicians |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/bassist_lucas_harwood_names_best_thing_about_playing_in_king_gizzard_gives_his_top_advice_to_young_musicians.html |website=Ultimate Guitar |access-date=4 February 2025}} During the development of Flight b741 Harwood stated that it was an intentional decision for the band to lean into 60's and 70's classic rock, as "It’s just you and your instrument. And it’s like, ‘What can I do without all the other bells and whistles that technology affords?’"{{cite web |last1=Fauria |first1=Krysta |title=Aussie band channels rock ’n’ roll’s heyday for album’s sound |url=https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=298ed5cf-7a23-4ef5-88be-9583e0ae263a |website=Baltimore Sun |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=4 February 2025}} Harwood also commented that the band was working on another album concurrently with Flight b741. As bassist Harwood uses a EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker, and a Big Muff. Harwood stated that he liked it when the band tours in smaller cities, as "In places like that, the fans are so pumped and appreciative that you’re coming through their town."{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Jonathan |title=Exit Interview: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Lucas Harwood on Prolific 2022, Bed Bugs, and Basslines|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/12/king-gizzard-lucas-harwood-exit-interview/|website=Spin |access-date=4 February 2025}} During live performances Harwood is placed on a riser alongside Michael Cavanagh.{{cite web |last1=Garcia |first1=Christina |last2=Gross |first2=Joe |last3=Hernandez |first3=Raoul |last4=Toland |first4=Michael |last5=Towers |first5=Julian |title=The Most Memorable Moments of Levitation’s Thursday and Friday |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2022-10-29/the-most-memorable-moments-of-levitations-thursday-and-friday/ |website=The Austin Chronicle |access-date=4 February 2025}}
=Atolls=
{{main|Atolls (band)}}
Skinner founded a band named Atolls in 2011 as a side project between work for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard recruiting Oli Grinter and Sam Ingles to bring some Demos he made that didn't fit with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's tone, to life.{{cite web |last1=Narinli |first1=Celline |title=INTRODUCING: Atolls |url=http://whothehell.net/archives/tag/lucas-skinner |website=whothehell.net |access-date=4 February 2025}} The band was noted for its "laidback" and "shoegazey" style and its high use of distortion. After releasing two EPs; Hair Machine in 2013 and New Dreams in 2014 respectively, the band fell apart in late 2014. Near the end of the bands existence it was described as "criminally undervalued and perpetually overlooked."{{cite web |last1=Tell |first1=Stephanie |title=Live Review: Atolls, The Demon Parade |url=https://themusic.com.au/reviews/atolls-shebeen-bar-stephanie-tell/4Qzy9fT39vk/24-04-14 |website=The Music |access-date=29 January 2025}}
=Heavy Moss=
{{main|Heavy Moss}}
When visiting his home in 2022 between tours for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Harwood happened across Ingles. After reconnecting the pair formed a new band: Heavy Moss.{{cite web |last1=Sterdan |first1=Darryl |title=Albums Of The Week: Heavy Moss |url=https://tinnitist.com/2024/11/21/albums-of-the-week-heavy-moss-dead-slow/ |website=tinnitist |access-date=29 November 2024}} As the pair where work-shopping some demos Harwood made that didn't fit with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's style, they also brought on Kyle Tickell and Bec Goring rounding the band out to its four members.{{cite web |last1=Wilde |first1=Thomas |title=Heavy Moss: Dead Slow [Album Review] |url=https://thefirenote.com/reviews/heavy-moss-dead-slow-album-review/ |website=thefirenote |access-date=29 November 2024}} The first album by Heavy Moss was Dead Slow, released on 22 November 2024 with Harwood and Mackenzie mixing half the album while on tour, while the other half was mixed by Michael Badger, who mixed Nonagon Infinity.{{cite web |last1=LeSuer |first1=Mike |title=Heavy Moss Take Us on a Journey with Gentle New Psych-Odyssey “Treadmills” |url=https://floodmagazine.com/180665/heavy-moss-treadmills-first-listen/ |website=Flood Magazine |access-date=29 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Heavy Moss – “Star” [Video] |url=https://thefirenote.com/videos/heavy-moss-star-video/ |website=thefirenote |access-date=29 November 2024}}
Personal life
In 2019 following his marriage to Liza Harwood, Harwood took his wife's surname, becoming Lucas Harwood.
Harwood has a brother named Michael who fronted a band called Mallee Songs that collaborated with Stu Mackenzie.{{cite web |title=INTRODUCING: Mallee Songs |url=http://whothehell.net/archives/tag/lucas-skinner |website=whothehell.net |access-date=4 February 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard}}
{{Heavy Moss}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harwood, Lucas}}
Category:21st-century Australian male musicians
Category:Australian rock musicians
Category:Australian rock bass guitarists
Category:Psychedelic rock musicians
Category:Musicians from Geelong