After making a name for itself through its explosive and charismatic live shows, The Hard Lessons figured it was ready for its next assignment: recording a full-length album.
The Lansing/Detroit rock 'n' roll trio learned to make an album the hard way, crunching time in the studio during sparse moments of rest from the band's hectic touring schedule - which logged them more than 100 shows in less than two years.
"We recorded the album any chance we had, when we were back from tour or in between shows in Detroit or Lansing," said guitarist/vocalist Augie "Gin" Visocchi. "That really influenced the record. There's this urgency to it that we really like.
"It sounds like an urgent rock 'n' roll call to action."
After six months of recording in three different studios, The Hard Lessons will release its first full-length studio album, "Gasoline." A record-release party will kick off with a live show Friday at The Temple Club, 500 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing.
In addition to Visocchi's guitar thrashing, The Hard Lessons is rounded out with Christophe "The Anvil" Zajac-Denek on skins and Korin "Ko Ko Louise" Cox on vocals and organ/synth. The three MSU alums juggle their stage lives with day jobs, but they have all planned to become full-time musicians as of this summer.
"We're looking forward to a time when we can just focus exclusively on the music," Visocchi said. "We're all really willing to put it on the line because we love rock 'n' roll music that much."
Heavily influenced by motown tunes, but inspired by other genres such as country, blues, pop and soul, the group dipped into different sounds to create "Gasoline."
"We really are just fans of so many different bands and artists throughout the history of pop music," he said. "That's why the record is as diverse as it is."
The 11-track album, released on the label No Fun Records, is rough, fun and full of energy. Songs such as "Feedback Loop" and the single "Milk and Sugar" are deliciously gritty, and "Love Gone Cold" and "That Other Girl" showcase Cox's vocal prowess.
Although the band members said they have fun making and playing music, they also feel they are part of a bigger mission - crusaders for the cause of rock.
"The state of music is much better now than when Creed and Nickelback were out there," Visocchi said. "We still feel like there's a long way to go, and we're proud to sort of hoist the flag and say, 'This is rock 'n' roll music. Let's do this.'
"We're ready to take over the world with rock 'n' roll."
