About this story: When it comes to local music, Galesburg bands deliver everything from bluegrass to punk to country. In this series, we’ll profile a different band each Thursday in our Out & About section. Have an idea for us? Email features editor Robyn Gautschy at rgautschy@register-mail.com.
MONMOUTH — Chris Lefler is a Monmouth musician known for his lead guitar performances in local band The Inhumans. He’s also a songwriter and tinkerer in his own right, releasing homemade punk music as Neutral/Drive and even composing songs on an old Game Boy under the name of Chip_Dumpstr.
You can check out Lefler’s “Spokes/Pros and Cons” single at neutraldrive.bandcamp.com.
Lefler has been seeking to turn Neutral/Drive into a full band, and has been performing solo acoustic shows to raise his profile in the area. We sat down with him at Buenos Aires Bakery Cafe to talk about his work.
RM: How long have you been making music in the area?
CL: I lived in Monmouth my whole life, and I’ve been playing in bands around Galesburg for the last 10 years. I started playing at age 20 just out of high school.
RM: You call yourself Neutral/Drive. How did you come up with that name?
CL: In my old car, the gear shifter said Reverse/Neutral/Drive, and “Neutral/Drive” sounded cool.
RM: How would you describe this project?
CL: It’s like pop punk … yeah, I like to write fast music, fun, loud. I always liked fast music like The Descendants or MXPX. They’re a Seattle pop-punk, skate punk group.
RM: So far all the material you’ve put own has been just by yourself.
CL: Just me. I’m working with a drummer right now and trying to see if we can gel musically. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I was having trouble finding the right people with the same musical vision. I started writing songs and recorded a demo by myself just to get something out there, so yeah, I’m working with a drummer right now, and hopefully will find a bass player soon and start booking shows. I play The Beanhive’s open mic occasionally, play my material acoustically. I actually want to record an acoustic EP. Mostly, I’m working on getting ready to record and getting a band formed.
RM: What are your songs about?
CL: My songs are kind of about how I feel. Writing songs for me is a way of working out frustration with life, I guess. I also have a song about nostalgia, and looking back and thinking, “Oh man, I wish life was the way it used to be,” but it’s important to remember you can make today as good as you want it to be.
RM: What are your hopes for the future of your project?
CL: I would like to get a group of guys together, get nuts and thrash our guitars around. I’d really like to put out an album at some point like that.