The Locust was formed by Justin Pearson, Bobby Bray, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor. After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at their current four-piece lineup in 2001, consisting of Pearson, Bray, Gabe Serbian, and Joey Karam. Originally a powerviolence band with a strong tendency towards synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. On the band's unique sound and live presentations, singer/bassist Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." Their music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."
The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas. Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live. The Locust boycotts Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues. This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas as well as another tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows. The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to political commentary and critiques of religion.
How To Build A Pessimistic Lie
The Locust Lyrics
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The lyrics to "How to Build a Pessimistic Lie Detector" by The Locust seem to be a commentary on the power dynamics that exist within systems of control. The imagery of "cracking skulls" and "tearing flesh" suggests violence, and the reference to a heart attack seems to imply that those in power are willing to sacrifice the well-being of others for their own gain. The lines "send 'em in, send 'em in" and "why don't you try pushing all the goddamn buttons" suggest that those in power are willing to take risks and use others as experiments to achieve their goals.
The lines "if the shoe fits, fuck it" and "self model shoe-switching correlation may be dyslexic" hint at the idea of conformity and the difficulty of breaking free from societal norms. The references to "research," "frequency tampering," and "reconstructing codes of silence" suggest a manipulation of information and a deliberate obscuring of the truth.
The final line, "when flies ate men, the procrastinating never started," is a confusing image that may suggest that those in power are waiting for something catastrophic to happen before taking action. Overall, the song seems to be a scathing critique of those who hold power and the ways in which they abuse it.
Line by Line Meaning
Cracking skulls, tearing flesh.
Engaging in violent behavior.
Have another heart attack.
Expressing a desire for someone to experience extreme emotional distress.
Send 'em in, send 'em in, why don't you try pushing all the goddamn buttons.
Encouraging someone to take action and manipulate situations to achieve their desired outcome.
Maybe just one of them will suffice.
Suggesting that a simple action may be enough to achieve one's goal.
Go back to the golf course.
Mocking someone for their privileged lifestyle and lack of concern for important matters.
If the shoe fits, fuck it.
Indicating that one should not be concerned with criticism that applies to them.
Confidence minimally confirmed, the more unsuspecting conclusions occur.
Suggesting that the more one believes they are right, the more likely they are to be wrong.
Self model shoe-switching correlation may be dyslexic.
Implying that one's self-concept and behavior may be contradictory or confused.
Folded and removed, all signs of any research.
Hiding or destroying evidence and information to hide one's true intentions or actions.
2 + 2 not equal to 4, hours and hours of frequency tampering.
Questioning the validity of established facts and suggesting that they may be manipulated or false.
Not to mention variables, reconstructing codes of silence.
Acknowledging the complexity of a situation and the need to manipulate or control information to maintain power.
When flies ate men, the procrastinating never started.
Referencing a catastrophic event to highlight the need for immediate action in the face of danger.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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