The Legionnaires: Long Time Comin’

In honor of all things alcoholic, it seems only appropriate to find music which best compliments a night of drinking. The Legionnaire’s album Long Time Comin’, self-described as a “plain beer-drinkin’ anthems for drunks,” is just that. Think Weird Al meets Hank Williams, Sr. meets Saturday Night Live – but far more talented and quite a bit more lewd.

“Drinking is definitely an aspect of our show,” explains Josh Reinhardt, The Legionnaire’s lead guitarist. The Fargo band describes their sound as “corn whiskey poured down the throats of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and David Allen Coe and lit, regardless of which end it came back out of.”
As far as shows are concerned, the band prides itself on delivering lengthy sets, keeping the first half pretty mellow to allow for people to socialize and drink with their friends. “Our shows are really more of a social gathering,” explains Reinhardt. “Towards the end is where we start rocking.”
Songs entitled “You Never Let me Pee On You” or “You Got the Worms,” should speak as a potential disclaimer to any soul searcher looking to find the answer to life’s quandaries: you won’t find it hidden in the lyrics. For the record, lead singer Pat Lenartz did not have a girlfriend at the time most of the album’s songs were written.
Reinhardt explains many of the band’s earlier songs are the result of people getting together to make up funny lyrics to country songs. Songs certainly are funny. Funny and original. You can guarantee Bing Crosby never covered the Legionnaire’s Christmas single “Suck My Balls, It’s Christmas.”
“A lot of our songs were definitely whiskey-fueled,” said Reinhardt. The band’s credibility shines through once the initial shock of did they really just say that? settles. These are guys who definitely knew their country legends, including Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Ironically enough, none of the band members are strict country fans.
“We work really hard to get that good country sound,” said Reinhardt. That good country sound is achieved with impressive slide guitar, giving songs a solid country twang.
The Legionnaires are currently working on their second album, which Reinhardt explains as having the same country element with more of a rock edge. While Long Time Comin’ is more of a parody, the new CD is more straightforward rock.