After announcing their return to the stage last year, Savannah sludge-psych troupe Kylesa are introducing their new lineup. Joining founding guitarists/vocalists Laura Pleasants and Phillip Cope will be the former rhythm section of famed NYC crust punks Nausea, Roy Mayorga (drums) and John John Jesse (bass).
The revamped and rejuvenated lineup will hit overseas festivals Roadburn and Inferno before making their North American debut at Prepare The Ground in Toronto this summer, alongside Baroness, Khanate and Yob, among others. As of today, they’re announcing their first US shows as well: December 4th in Savannah with Royal Thunder and the Maxines, and December 6th in NYC with pageninetynine. Tickets for both shows go on sale at 10am local on Feb. 20th. In the meantime, we caught up with all four Kylesans for a brief chat.
Why did you decide to revive Kylesa?
Laura Pleasants: I think we started talking about it around three years ago. We reissued our first album, and I spent a lot of time getting that together. It was then that I realized that I was ready to do Kylesa again. I talked it over with Phillip, and he agreed. Because it’s such a large undertaking to revive an old band, it was crucial to get a proper team together to help launch the reunion. This took some time but the stars sort of aligned with KW and Mythos when they reached out to me about playing Prepare The Ground. What was going to be a 10-minute conversation turned into a two-hour hang session and I knew we had found a proper partner in crime to crush riffs with.
Why did you decide to seek out new members?
Phillip Cope: Laura and I are the founders and constant members of the band. Carl [McGinley] was our longest running bandmate for close to ten years, but we checked with him, and he doesn’t play drums anymore and has wished us his best. We have nothing but respect for all the past members. With most everyone living in different cities now, we decided to reform our rhythm section in a way that makes sense with where we are currently at, and we feel this is a really strong lineup.
How did you decide on Roy & John John?
Pleasants: John John hit me up on IG “reporting for duty,” should we need a bass player. We had already made our first announcement about Roadburn and Inferno, so word was out that we were reforming. Although we were talking about lineup possibilities in the background, we had not yet solidified a band. I was a bit shocked when I heard from John John, so I half-jokingly texted him back saying, “Sure! Just hit up Roy and we’ll be off to the races.” The next day I got a phone call from Roy!
When I called Phillip about the possibility of jamming with these guys, I could hardly contain myself. I was like, “Dude… ok… are you sitting down? I have some news…” I think it was Phillip who turned me on to Nausea in the first place when I was probably 18. We’re longtime fans and even covered a song of theirs back in the day.
Roy and John John, what was your experience of listening to Kylesa or seeing them live back in the day?
John John Jesse: I first saw them when we played together in the early 2000s in Brooklyn when I was playing guitar in Morning Glory. They blew me away, and I’ve been a fan ever since. A couple years after that, Laura messaged me on MySpace, I think. Yes, it was that long ago! They wanted to record our Nausea song “Clutches,” and she asked if it was cool.
Roy Mayorga: First time I ever saw them live is when I was on drums with Amebix. Kylesa did the northeastern part of the tour with us in 2009. The first time watching them live, I was blown away immediately. So heavy and greasy sounding and with two drummers on top of that.
What was the first practice like with the new lineup?
Cope: Honestly, it was mind blowing. I never thought I’d be in a room playing songs with one of my favorite rhythm sections of all time. When we used to cover Nausea, I could never have thought we would be jamming with these guys as band members. So, I was a bit nervous because you never know when you bring someone new into the fold how long it will take to gel. However, almost immediately it felt comfortable jamming with them. Everyone came in ready to work hard, and after a long nonstop practice the songs were sounding really powerful. It was an instant match.
Jesse: We’re all seasoned players and lifers in this game, so it came together super fast. Also, me and Roy had been a bass and drum duo for years earlier in Nausea—and then in Thorn—so we are super solid together. We grew up playing together as well as doing our first world tours and first LPs together.
Mayorga: For me, it felt very full circle—especially playing with John John again. This is the first time in 30 years him and I have been together in a band situation. I miss playing this kind of aggressive music, and grateful that I’m able to do it with these guys, who are cut from the same cloth.
Can we expect new Kylesa material at some point?
Cope: We haven’t written anything yet, but it hasn’t been ruled out. Just taking things one step at a time right now.
Mayorga: The chemistry is definitely there. I’m sure once we get to know each other even more, something really cool will happen. I feel it.
Kylesa 2025 North American Tour dates
May 31 – Toronto @ Prepare the Ground
December 4 – Savannah, GA
December 6 – New York, NY
