MEET THE BAND: Vikram Shankar (piano, keyboards and orchestrations), Matthew Kerschner (drums and percussion), Brian Craft (bass)
A CULMINATION OF INFLUENCES: Kerschner, Shankar and Craft have played in local bands for the past decade, and the three played together in the local band Gravity from 2006 to 2014. "We took a break in 2014, so people could do other projects," says Kerschner. "I went to law school, and another member went to grad school." The three stayed in touch and then formed Lux Terminus two years ago. "Our initial plan was to be more of a jazz cocktail trio and play some gigs in restaurants," says Kerschner. "We started working on original music together, and it turned into the same instrumental vibe that Gravity had."
A CONCEPTUAL ALBUM: The band's bio explains the album's central theme. It's about two lovers, driven apart by forces beyond their control. "Vikram [Shankar] is the primary songwriter in the band," says Kerschner. "He was in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend. They're no longer in a long-distance relationship, but through the instrumental music, he was trying to convey the emotions of that whole experience."
WHY YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM: Songs such as the careening "Electrocommunion" combine prog rock with jazz, and "The Journey (III)" features a gentle piano melody like something from a suspense film soundtrack. The band tracked drums with Jim Stewart, but because Vikram has his own studio, he recorded his keyboards and the bass there.
WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THEM: facebook.com/luxterminus
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: Lux Terminus performs with Imminent Sonic Destruction, Lower 13 and EGO at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at the Foundry in Lakewood.
