Freshly Cut: Lawn Enforcement

Wilmington Alternative Rock band Lawn Enforcement, made up of vocalist and guitarist Max Agee (right), bassist Dawson Newman (left), and drummer Pierce Rickman (center), give us a glimpse into the shed and what's to come for the trio. Photo: Self Titled Media

To start us off, I want to dive into your discography a little bit. You guys cover a lot of sonic territory, going from songs like "Poor Soul" to "The Other Side" to "Eulogy". What does your songwriting philosophy look like internally that’s led to such a rich range of styles?

Agee: Our sound is always evolving just based off of what we are currently enjoying. I am always inspired by the local scene and enjoy trying different things just to see where they go. It's fun to say "let's make a _____ album" and just see how many different songs we can make in a certain style. That's how Lawn Of The Dead came to be. Everything before that was more trying different things within each song, not as a whole project. Experimenting has always been at the forefront of our writing and recording. However we think our next album Keep Off The Grass encompasses a blend of all of these things and has a bit more consistency. We are really excited to share it.

Rickman: I’d say as someone who was (and still is) a huge fan of the band before I joined, the wide range of feelings Lawn’s songs have has always been my biggest draw to the band. I think max can give more insight to the last part of the question, but as the drummer- I try to subscribe to the Ringo [Starr] philosophy of always playing what serves the song the best. Luckily in this project, that never gets old because the discography has such a wide range of styles and feels. It also helps that the 3 of us have so many different influences. I have been able to sit in the car with the guys on the way to shows and be exposed to hours of music I never would’ve listened to otherwise.

Interviewer: Love these answers so far guys. To get deeper on the topic, this next one is for each of you individually.

What artist(s) or styles influence your personal musicianship the most, and how do you carry that over into your contributions the band’s writing? I know Pierce mentioned the Ringo philosophy and that’s a great start, but what do you all draw from in your own part creation?

Newman: I’d say garage rock and indie bands like Dinosaur Jr and Title Fight have been bands that have recently inspired me when it comes to bass playing and songwriting. I love the instrument tones of each band and I think our more recent songs show that influence. Bands I grew up listening to like Weezer and Nirvana will always shine through in my playing and writing as well.

Rickman: That’s always a tough question for me. Growing up, some of my earliest memories involve music. My dad was in a band for a little while after I was born, so I remember going to some of his shows and always being so enthralled by the drums. My parents had a MASSIVE collection of CD’s in our house, and I remember sifting through all the different albums for hours and just being so intrigued by all the different bands and album covers. Their music collection ranged from the Rolling Stones, to the Meatmen, to Slipknot, to Dr Dre’s The Chronic, and some odd records such as 9353 or other smaller bands my dad had become a fan of through playing. For me, my introduction to rock music came from mostly classic rock. Metallica, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Dio, etc.

Agee: I have always enjoyed 90s rock since I was a kid. It might be obvious that Nirvana is a huge inspiration for Lawn. I grew up listening to them and grew obsessed in high school, which is where Dawson and I sort of decided "yeah we wanna do this" and we haven't ever thought about not doing it. The Beatles are also a big one but there are so many bands/artists both big and small that have made a huge impact on me in the last 3 years. Elliott Smith is a huge inspiration with his chords and lyrics. All of the great lesser known rock bands like Failure, Title Fight, Hum, and Dino Jr of course. But then there's bands that we've met personally that have made a huge impact. The Wearing Hands is an example of a world class band that just happen to be the coolest dudes you'll ever meet. They showed me that there is so much cool music out there, I really enjoy discovering music in person rather than on a phone.

Rickman: Everything changed when I got my first laptop and I could go pick records out to burn into my iTunes. I remember Slipknot’s self-titled album absolutely blowing my mind. I remember I would stare at the cover art for hours and once I gave it a listen, I couldn’t even comprehend the wall of sound coming out of my speakers. Nothing Shocking by Jane’s Addiction also changed my perspective on music. That record was super influential for me in terms of feel and dynamics. American Idiot was huge for me too. The Beatles phase hasn’t really ended for me either, I could go on for awhile talking about them. I’ve been influenced by modern music as well- I remember my cousin from up north put me onto Turnstile’s debut record Step 2 Rhythm back in 2016 and that was my first exposure to hardcore. I became super into those earlier Turnstile records, and led me to find bands like Angel Du$t, Trapped Under Ice, and Drain. Also love the Garden, I love Fletcher Shears’ drumming and the range of their discography. When I joined Narah in 2022, I got super into all the local Wilmington bands- Ridgewood, Cancel, Pleasure Island, Lawn (lol), and many more.

Interviewer: It’s so interesting that you all draw from stuff across several time periods and a huge diversity in genre, it definitely comes across in the songs. Speaking of which, I’d like to ask about a few specific tracks next.

One of my favorite songs in your catalog and one that stands out stylistically is "Plutonic", can you tell me more about writing that song? What were you feeling when those lyrics came out?

Rickman: I'm so glad you're asking this because if I was in your shoes I would probably be asking almost the same question.

Agee: That song was actually for my solo project originally. I have a version on SoundCloud I'll send. This was right around when I started getting to recording my own full songs. I believe the first version I did in Wilmington at my parents house in 2020 right before I moved to Tennessee for a year (which is where Lawn was formed). From what I can pull from my brain, it was this girl that I had a crush on, we hung out once and things seemed like they were going well, but she cut things off after the first date. I was pretty upset but got past it and wrote this song not long after. It wasn't anything serious but I think this was one of the first times I took a real situation and put it to music. I usually would just say random words and try to rhyme them. I remember my brother telling me these were the best lyrics I had made yet, which I didn't even think at first but then I was like yeah it does kind of have more weight to it when it feels like it's about something real. Lawn recorded it later on in 2023.

Interviewer: I will definitely be checking out that first cut, I really do love the lyrics and there’s a strong prosody with the instrumental you guys did as a group. Absolutely love it.

Moving to a live favorite of mine, One of the most dynamic and unique songs in your setlist is "Nothing to Break". What was the creation of that track like? Did you set out with the intention of contrast or was it more of an organic artistic choice?

Agee: That was the beginning of us trying specific styles "on purpose". Our friends had just started their hardcore band Anywhere Else, and you could say I got a little jealous at first, but then I was like wait I can do that too. It made me realize it can be cool to splice genres together, we have the quiet verses that are more melodic and catchy, into the metalcore inspired chorus with screaming and double kicks, we were just shocked at how well it came out. That was with our old drummer Jackson DeGrappo who was a big motivation for the heavier stuff at first.

Rickman: I remember seeing Lawn perform "Nothing to Break" and "In My Sleep" for the first time at Barzarre and my brother and I’s jaws were literally on the floor for those.

Interviewer: The genre splicing is definitely something that as a listener seems to define your sound. When that chorus hits it feels in the audience like the room is collapsing in the best way, and the shock of it coming so suddenly is a real head-turner. With that one especially I can see the grunge influence too, those sharp soft-loud dynamics bleed Nirvana in the best way.

Speaking of transitioning the drums, I’ve got one for Pierce. Coming into a band that already has a back catalog as a newer member can be a challenging feat. How have you remained true to yourself as a player in playing those older songs and how has the new material evolved with you behind the kit?

Rickman: Great question. It’s been a little daunting at times because honestly I looked up to Jackson as a drummer so much. I remember being a member of the crowd watching Lawn thinking in my head “God I wish I could play these songs, these guys are so fucking good.” 

I remember when Max first mentioned me possibly joining, saying Jackson gave me the blessing, and just shitting my pants because a) I never thought this would be a reality and b) I now had to start really learning all these songs. I think being such a big fan (Lawn was my top artist I listened to since joining Narah in ‘22) played to my advantage. I would actually sit down on my E-kit in my apartment and play along to Lawn songs in my free time. I try to pay homage and keep all the existing material true to form when playing them live out of respect to the material and the amazing parts Jackson wrote, but it has been the coolest thing for me getting to write my own parts for this upcoming record. The first song we did together was "Honest" and truthfully, I just tried to be myself, feel the song, and play something that best serves the feel and mood of the song. I remember taking the demo home to my roommates and girlfriend and we were all STOKED hearing the first song we did together with me behind the kit. From there, I started realizing that the three of us were building chemistry together quickly. I think allowing anyone to freely chime in with whatever input we have is huge- we never take offense to suggestions or changes and I think it helps the songs end up being the best they can be. I specifically remember having a tough day of practice and Max and Daws told me to just be me, and feel the songs. I think hearing their vote of confidence in me really helped me settle in and do my thing to best serve each song the best I can.

Interviewer: That was such an awesome answer, thank you so much Pierce. This next one is for Max and Dawson.

You guys have been friends for a very long time, well before the band. How do you navigate those two sides of your relationship? Are there times when those things have to be separated?

Newman: I think over the years we’ve learned a way about things and our communication styles through music. I think keeping the friendship in the music helps at least for me and is a large part of what music is about. But we both know when to get serious and lock in.

Agee: I think the band and music is one of the reasons we have been able to stay friends for so long. I remember in 2016-17 we were discovering Ty Segall and King Gizzard and were getting really excited about doing music with our lives. I told Dawson once I got back from Berklee we'd be on it and start something and it actually worked out that way. Plus, we are very understanding of our personal boundaries. We know when to not fuck with each other and when to speak up on something.

Newman: Yeah, making music with friends I think is a large part of the reason why we’ve been a band for so long and is a large part of what it’s all about.

Interviewer: This is great guys. Just two more for you and we’ll wrap it up.

You all have been very connected to the local music community for several years now, whether it was through this group or in previous projects such as Cancel and Narah. What’s your favorite part about the Wilmington scene and how have you had to adapt as the landscape has shifted?

Band: Reggie’s. 

Agee: It is simply a haven for a band like us. I feel like I won the lottery at times. The landscape will always be shifting, house shows come and go, bands come and go, to me that's part of the fun. Making it through the downs is how you find your place. You can't just join a scene because it's "popping off", that's not the right way to do it.

Interviewer: Reggie’s is definitely one of the most special places to see a show, and their support of local music is so important to giving bands a true stage to hone their craft on.

Rickman: My favorite part personally has been making connections and forming friendships with so many beautiful people. Wilmington has felt like home from the very beginning, and having the privilege of being a part of the scene is something that I’m very grateful for. I think the amount of different bands, artists, and genres is really cool too. I love seeing new bands pop up and I love hearing younger bands say that the era of Wilmington music we got our start in influenced them in some way. I think the “shift” many people have referred to it really cool as well. Whether you view it as a positive or negative shift is up to personal interpretation, but I think change and evolution are great and help redefine the boundaries of what kind of music is coming out of Wilmington; getting exposed to so many different genres, feelings, and styles can only further push the evolution of the scene. I’d love to see some more unity from Wilmington music. No matter what genre, what age, no matter who your friends are or what circles you’re in- I think our artists adopting more of a “if one of us makes it, we all make it” mentality and helping people in our community whether it be helping write, record, donate gear, or even just being there for someone in our community in need would help push this scene forward. If you’re a good person putting positivity out into our community, I want you to to be a part of it. I don’t care how you look or dress, how old you are, or what genre you play. I think looking for reasons to be divided will only halt our progress as a scene and community. I’d also love to see more mixed bills and I’d love to see more unity across genres. If music is our common denominator, it reasons to find similarities to bring us closer together rather than looking for differences to separate each other.

Last but certainly not least, with the release of lead single “Honest” and the approaching step forward in the band’s sound, What can you tell me about the next studio project?

Newman: It’s our best stuff yet for sure. I think we really pushed out stuff musically this album and for me it was our best recording experience so far. We also have some more laid back tracks mixed in with this record while still having our usual heavier songs and parts throughout.

Agee: Yeah we took our time with this one. Started working on these songs over a year ago I think. They have come a long way and we feel really good about it. "Honest" is a good glimpse into the work we've put in. It hits all the spots that Lawn is known for, but it feels like we are maturing and starting to really find our sound that can translate from studio to live. We don't want to sound too different from our recordings currently. This is one of the first times I didn't do a bunch of extra stuff. Just tried to keep it with what will happen live. I have also been a super control freak in the past and usually did the bass parts and taught Dawson after recording them myself. This time Dawson wrote and recorded all the bass parts and I think that added so much to it and especially for my experience. I forget how important it is to collaborate and let people do what they think will work best on something.

Rickman: I’m so excited to share this project with people. We’ve busted our asses and taken a lot of time and energy to try and make each song on this record something special. Max especially has put in countless hours and driven himself borderline insane with how many different versions and mixes there have been for some of these songs, and continuing to put the work in to tweak things to try and make everything the best it can be in our DIY setting. I think we’re all very stoked on how everything came out, and there’s a wider range of thoughts and feelings throughout the record. There’s a couple more experimental tracks (and a fun sort of surprise final track) mixed in with other songs that are well in our wheelhouse but still challenges what Lawn has done in the past. I think the record encapsulates the evolution of the band since Lawn of the Dead while also remaining familiar and true to the lawn enforcement sound that people seem to enjoy and identify with.

Interviewer: I would like to thank you guys again a ton for such deep and well thought out dialogue. This has been an absolute pleasure. For everyone reading: go check out "Honest" streaming now on all platforms, and be on the lookout for the full length album release, Keep Off the Grass, coming soon.