Bay Area Profile

LEFTY

By: Tracy Crouch
From: THE BAY AREA SOURCE
Sept.29, 1983
HTML: Ellen Bakvis

It seems that every musician has been influenced by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. It seems that every musician has been playing professionally since the age of 16. It seems that every 'local' band is in search of that magic record deal. So how is Lefty different? "Because we're the best ... Other bands play rock-n-roll; other bands talk rock-n-roll; Lefty IS rock-n-roll !" explains the group. Perhaps this sounds a bit egoistical, but justifiably so. To be the best, you must first believe you're the best. And to the audience, they give their best. To see Lefty live and not be thouroughly entertained (if not thouroughly impressed) is to be unconscious ! It could be said with conviction that Lefty moves around on stage more than any other rock-n-roll band - even "you know who." The music they play - copy and original - is power rock, and their performance every bit as powerful as the music. " We always try to put on a show," frontman Greg Mangus says. And part of that show is the famous Lefty synchronization. "We have very choreographed movements, but it's spontaneous," adds lead guitarist Kenny McGee. « Johnny Lee Middleton

Small crowds nor slow nights discourage Lefty. From the opening cue, they rock ! As Greg explains, "We go out there and try to blow the people away every night." And that is exactly what they do. It is not every night that a 'local' band is requested, by thunderous applause, to perform an encore.

Lefty is rock-n-roll in both sound and image. The group's sex appeal makes Van Halen's seem like boyish charm. Much like the Def Leppard story, Lefty will prove to be "young rockers make good." Quite often a younger band is a hungrier band. Lefty is no exception. They have what it takes, and the confidence to make it real. "We are going to be rock-n-roll stars," declare Kenny, "We all want the same thing." And acquiring that mutual goal takes mutual work. "We work more than the average businessman in polyester - we work seven days a week, " says lead guitarist Larry Ingram.

Lefty has been together about 7 months. And it's been 7 months of hard work. Kenny explains: "To show you how hard we work - Johnny and I came in contact with these guys ( Larry Ingram and drummer Rob Gilbert, formerly of the Ease) on a Tuesday niht. We started rehearsing on Wednesday night. That Suinday, we opened for Stranger and the next week, we left for Georgia and have been on the road ever since." And about five months later, they released their lead singer of his responsibilities and brought in present frontman Greg Mangus, without missing a night. The personnel cange seems to have been advantageous, as Greg is a good representative of the Lefty image, offering that all-important charisma which makes a good frontman.

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Lefty pictures :