Lillix
Photo: Frank Ockenfels

After a week-long stint in Japan that followed an extensive tour of their native Canada, Lillix had little time to unwind. With less than a week off, the female quartet packed its bags once again to embark on the inaugural Girlz Garage Tour.

Surprisingly, it's also their first real tour of the U.S. After the release of their debut, Falling Uphill, in May, Lillix played scores of radio-sponsored festivals this summer before performing before their fellow countrymen. Luckily, the girls are not traipsing the nation alone. For the month-long trek that begins Monday (October 20), beat-laced rockers Brassy, pop quintet Peak Show and female-fronted punks the Start will also perform (see "It's Ladies' Night: Girlz Garage Tour To Spin Off Warped Tour").

"We're so excited to do this tour," bassist Louise Burns said. "As soon as we heard that we'd be on the bill, we knew it'd be a great experience. It's really well planned out. And it's our first, huge official tour so we're really excited."

Their mamas must have taught the Lillix ladies some manners, too, for they won't be visiting your town empty-handed. They're bringing along the gift of song — three new ones, in fact. "Duncan" and "Loser" were written by keyboardist Lacey-Lee Evin and guitarist Tasha-Ray Evin, respectively, while Burns takes credit for penning "Turpentine."

"It has to do with isolation and loneliness," Burns explained of her song. "Those feelings run through me once in a while. It's kind of about getting some anger and aggression out. I've heard a lot of bands say this: You can be in a crowded room or onstage and have all these fans in front of you, but you just feel lonely.  You feel like sometimes nobody truly understands you and you just want to vent that out."

Outside of the tour, the new material will have to wait until Falling Uphill runs its course, which could be some time since the band wants to make sure the newest single off the LP, "Tomorrow," has plenty of time to run its course.

Linda Perry lent her hand on "Tomorrow," one of only a few of the album's tracks to feature a co-writer. Still, the songwriting superstar had one of Lillix's oldest songs to work with.

"Tasha actually wrote this song a very long time ago," Burns said. "It was one of the first songs we ever really played together, and we kind of forgot about it for a while. When we worked with Linda Perry, we were just kinda jamming around the rehearsal space and Tasha started playing it on the keyboard, and Linda's like, 'Hey, I like the sound of that.'

"So she grabbed the guitar and we just jammed to it," the bassist continued. "We wrote a new chorus and bridge and 'Tomorrow' was born."

The girls actually brought another new song into their world over the weekend. Their cover of the Go-Go's' "This Town" will be used as the theme song to MTV's "Rich Girls," a program starring Ally Hilfiger and Jaime Gleicher which is slated to premiere October 28.

It will be Lillix's second cover to be used as a TV theme (their version of the Romantics' "What I Like About You" was used by the WB show of the same name) (see "Lillix Pair Angelic Voices With Rock Sensibilities On Debut"), but they have a slightly stronger connection to the source this time out.

"The Go-Go's are an awesome, inspirational female band so it'll be an honor to cover that song," Burns said. "And plus, it's a song you don't really hear that much. It's almost a rarity. It's going to be really cool to bring that back to life and hopefully make it our own while still doing it justice."

Some members of the band feel stronger about the Go-Go's than others.

"[Drummer] Kim [Urhahn] loves Gina Schock," Burns explained, "so hopefully Gina will hear it and say, 'Oh, that Kim drummer is great. And then they can hang out together and talk about drums. She's such a drum nerd."

• Lillix

Lillix
Photo: Maverick

The Warped Tour's Ladies Lounge has grown up and moved out to the garage.

Inspired by the success of the Lounge — a staple of the Warped Tour since 1998 — organizers have put together the Girlz Garage Tour. Five primarily female acts — Lillix, the Peak Show, Northern State, Brassy and the Start — have been tapped for the trek's inaugural run, kicking off on October 20 in Boston. Organizers have lined up a month's worth of dates, stretching through November 23 in Detroit.

"There are so many strong female-fronted acts that this tour is never more relevant than now," said Warped founder Kevin Lyman, who is also presenting the Girlz Garage outing.

The jaunt will give Lillix their first bit of extensive road work since releasing their debut album, Falling Uphill, in May (see "Lillix Pair Angelic Voices With Rock Sensibilities On Debut").

Girlz Garage itinerary, according to tour officials:

• 10/20 - Boston, MA @ Axis
• 10/21 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
• 10/22 - Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
• 10/24 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
• 10/25 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 10/26 - Norfolk, VA @ Norva
• 10/28 - Atlanta, GA @ Cotton Club
• 10/29 - New Orleans @ House of Blues
• 10/30 - Houston, TX @ Engine Room
• 11/1 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's BBQ
• 11/2 - Dallas, TX @ Indigo
• 11/4 - Phoenix, AZ @ Bash on Ash
• 11/5 - Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy
• 11/7 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst
• 11/8 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
• 11/10 - Seattle, WA @ Graceland
• 11/11 - Portland, OR @ Roseland
• 11/12 - Boise, ID @ Big Easy
• 11/14 - Salt Lake City, UT @ DV8
• 11/15 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird
• 11/17 - Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
• 11/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Galaxy
• 11/20 - Minneapolis, MN @ Ascot Room
• 11/21 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
• 11/22 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
• 11/23 - Detroit, MI @ Shelter

• Lillix
• Northern State
• Brassy

Fresh off the holiday weekend, the Lillix chicks lead the new-releases charge. Falling Uphill features an all-star cast of producers and songwriters including Linda Perry and the Matrix, plus the touchstone single, a cover of the Romantics' "What I Like About You," which also opens the TV show of the same name. Their latest single, "It's About Time," is a poppy, feel-good hit.

Next up is the "2 Fast 2 Furious" soundtrack, which boasts one of the movie's stars, Ludacris, on "Act a Fool" and "Pick Up the Phone." Other residents on the soundtrack are Fat Joe, Dead Prez, Joe Budden and Trick Daddy.

Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil serves up Live One Night Only, a collection of the finest sleaze the Crüe had to offer, including "Girls Girls Girls," "Live Wire," "Dr. Feelgood," "Smokin' in the Boys Room" and the requisite power ballad "Home Sweet Home."

And finally, Local H are no fun. But you already knew that if you knew the name of their new EP, No Fun. The Chicago duo deliver a six-song collection of cynical songs that includes "Birth, School, Work, Death." Now, let's turn our attention to the rest of this week's releases.

Out Tuesday, May 27:

• 14A - Karma (Orchard)
• Agent Zero - Agent Zero (Orchard)
• Devendra Banhart - Black Babies (Young God)
• Maggie Bell - Live at the Boston USA 1975 (Angel Air)
• Amedeo - Coming Home (Orchard)
• Big Moe - Moe Life (Wreckshop)
• Black Circle - Armageddon (Orpheus)
• Paul Brill - Sisters (Scarlet Shame)
• Califone - Deceleration Two (Perishable)
• The Carter Family - Collection [Mi Plus] (Mi Plus)
• The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her (Go)
• Clockhouse - Every Android That I Know (Orchard)
• Curse OV Dialect - Lost in the Real Sky (Mush)
• Cuts - 2 Over Ten (Birdman)
• Rue Davis - Heaven Has Sent Me Your Love (Kon-kord)
• De La Soul - Timeless: The Singles Collection (Rhino)
• Ronnie James Dio - Stand Up and Shout: The Dio Anthology (Rhino)
• Ex Models - Zoo Psychology (French Kiss)
• Mary Fahl - Other Side of Time (Sony)
• Carla Fischi - Wonderlust Album (Orchard)
• Dan Fogelberg - Full Circle (Morning Sky)
• Carlos Franzetti - You Must Believe in Spring (Amapola)
• A Grape Dope - Missing Dragons (Galaxia)
• Hella Brown - Hellafied (Orchard)
• Jools Holland - More Friends: Small World Big Band, Vol. 2 (Rhino)
• Frankie J. - What's a Man to Do (Sony)
• Jacquel - You Gotta Work It (Wilbe)
• Salena Jones - My Love (JVC)
• Paul Kelly - Buzz (Orchard)
• Labtekwon - Hustlaz Guide to the Universe (Morphius)
• Led Zeppelin - How the West Was Won (Atlantic)
• Lillix - Falling Uphill (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Lillix Pair Angelic Voices With Rock Sensibilities On Debut"
  Buy Now: Falling Uphill (Warner Bros.)
• Little Bruce - California Slim (Thizz)
• Local H - No Fun (EP, Thick)
• Michael McGinnis - Tangents (RKM)
• The Meteors - From Beyond (Raucous)
• Moe Money - Mainza Yero (Armada)
• Motograter - Motograter (Elektra)
• Mountain - Roll Over Beethoven (Simply the Best)
• My Dad Is Dead - Engine of Commerce (Vital Cog)
• Vince Neil - Live One Night Only (Image)
• O.A.R. - In Between Now and Then (Atlantic)
• Odd Nosdam - No More Wig for Ohio (Anticon)
• Party of One - Caught in the Blast (Fat Cat)
• Johnny Paycheck - Collection (Madacy)
• Pet Shop Boys - Disco: The Remix Album (Simply the Best)
• Phantom Tollbooth - Beard of Lightning (Off)
• The Pietasters - 92-96 (Morphius)
• Honest John Plain - HJP & The Amigos (Angel Air)
• Megan Reilly - Arc of Tessa (Carrot Top)
• Dieter Reith - The Best of James Bond: Arrangements of the James Bond Theme (Hanssler)
• Todd Rundgren - With a Little Help From My Friends (Madacy)
• The Scarecrows - Rattlesnake Law (Hayden's Ferry)
• Smile Empty Soul - Smile Empty Soul (Atlantic)
• Sonny Sixkiller - We'll Take It From Here (Vital Cog)
• Sullen - Paint the Moon (Thick)
• Al B. Sure! - Very Best of Al B. Sure (Rhino)
• Tizzy - Down With the Furies (Vital Cog)
• Utp Playas/Skip - Juvenile Presents: Street Stories (Orpheus)
• Sal Valentino - Positively 12th and K: A Bob Dylan Tribute (Dig Music)
• Where's Leo - 6 Feet on the Ground (Orchard)
• The Windbreakers - Time Machine (1982-2002) (Paisley Pop)
• Link Wray - Guitar Legends (Mi Plus)
• X - I Love Rock 'N' Roll (EP, Laughing Outlaw)
• ZYX - Letter to God (Orchard)
• Various artists - "2 Fast 2 Furious" soundtrack (Def Jam) Read: "Ludacris, Tyrese, R. Kelly Team Up On '2 Fast 2 Furious' LP"
• Various artists - Best of Both Worlds: Van Halen Tribute (Versailles)
• Various artists - Best of Soul - Let's Get It On (Madacy)
• Various artists - Chicano Rap Oldies (Sideshow)
• Various artists - It's Still Workin': Tommy Boy's Classic Cuts (Rhino)
• Various artists - Leaders of the Pack (K-Tel)
• Various artists - Looks Like Rain (K-Tel)
• Various artists - R&B Hits '60s (Madacy)
• Various artists - Rock Underground (Sony)
• Various artists - Slammin': The Original Rap Hits (Time Life)
• Various artists - Soul Bands (K-Tel)
• Various artists - Soul Funk '80s (Madacy)
• Various artists - Soul Love 1970s (Madacy)
• Various artists - Ultimate Southern Rock (Madacy)
• Various artists - Wacky 911 (K-Tel)

June 3:

• Jewel - 0304 (Atlantic)
  Read: "Jewel Bites Into A Musical Pickle-And-Peanut Butter Sandwich"
  Buy Now: 0304 (Atlantic)
• Monica - All Eyez on Me (J)
  Read: "Monica Revises Leaked LP With Help From Missy Elliott"
• Sugar Ray - In Pursuit of Leisure (Atlantic)
  Read: "Babies, Marriage Somehow Lead Sugar Ray To Write A Club Song"
• Train - My Private Nation (Sony)

• Duran Duran - Singles Box Set 1981-1985 (Capitol)
• Justin Guarini - TBD (RCA)
• Metallica - St. Anger (2 CDs, Elektra)
  Read: "Metallica Album Preview: Damage Inc. Is Back In Business"
  Buy Now: St. Anger (2 CDs, Elektra)
• Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (Capitol)
  Read: "New Radiohead Album, Hail To The Thief, Due In June"
• Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father (J)

• Petey Pablo - Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry (Jive)

• Gang Starr - The Ownerz (Virgin)

• Beyoncé - Dangerously in Love (Sony)

• Macy Gray - The Trouble With Being Myself (Sony)

• Lillix
• Led Zeppelin
• Vince Neil

Lillix
Photo: MTV News

Imagine poring over an album for months only to scrap the entire thing and start over again. Now imagine that you're not in Limp Bizkit.

Lillix, the young female quartet from rural Cranbrook, British Columbia, predated Fred Durst's fickleness by more than a year, but instead of starting over with a new member in the band, the group started fresh with several folks who work their magic behind the scenes.

Falling Uphill, due Tuesday, was as painstaking to create as the title infers. It's the culmination of a two-year ordeal that paired bassist Louise Burns, drummer Kim Urhahn, guitarist Tasha-Ray Evin and her sister, keyboardist Lacey-Lee, with a host of songwriters and producers, including the Matrix (Avril Lavigne), Philip Steir (No Doubt), Linda Perry (Pink), John Shanks (Michelle Branch) and Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette).

"We basically started with one record and threw it away and started another one," 17-year-old Tasha-Ray explained.

"We were just trying to find the right producer that matched our work the best and best captured our sound," added Burns, also 17.

The process seems to have worked. After introducing themselves with a cover of the Romantics' 1980 favorite "What I Like About You," which served as the theme song for the WB TV series of the same name, the album's first single, "It's About Time," is a certified hit. The harmonic and hooky musical equivalent of hard candy has been a "TRL" staple for weeks, and the song is beginning to get momentum at pop radio.

The popularity surge has brought major changes to the group's lifestyle — not that long ago half the band probably would have been in fourth period rather than speaking with MTV News in the middle of the day last week. Success has also brought about some strange requests from media outlets that pay more attention to Lillix's looks than licks. During a recent photo shoot for a teen magazine, a stylist suggested they "do something crazy" and make "Home Alone" faces.

Needless to say, the ladies politely declined the opportunity to mimic Macaulay Culkin's signature expression from 1990.

"They always ask us to do crazy Avril Lavigne things," complained Burns, "and we're like, 'No. We're not that.' "

You get the sense that they'd sooner follow Culkin's footsteps and hang with Jacko's pet Bubbles the chimp than face another comparison to their "Complicated" Canadian compatriot. No one's pulling the parallels from the ether, however. Lillix sound like the sum of their songwriter-and-producer parts. "It's About Time" was even written with the assistance of the Matrix, the trio that also helped Lavigne get noticed beyond Napanee (see "Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne Fall Into The Matrix").

The major difference between Lillix and the artists their hired studio guns have made famous is the length of time each has dedicated to their craft. Despite their ages, Lillix have been a band for six years, Tasha-Ray has played guitar for nine, Urhahn has drummed for 12 and the Evin sisters began writing songs together shortly after they were able to hold a pen (see "Lillix Pair Angelic Voices With Rock Sensibilities On Debut").

"A lot of people assume that we were put together right after Avril Lavigne's success, but it wasn't like that at all," Burns explained. "It has nothing to do with a trend or anything. It just happens to be the best of times and the worst of times for us.

"We're a band, and [our record label] understands us," she added, "so there's no dance lessons or stuff like that. There's definitely pressure to look a certain way, but we're who we are."

—Joe D'Angelo, with reporting by SuChin Pak

• Lillix

Lillix
Photo: Frank Ockenfels

They look cute enough, but Lillix are more than just four pretty faces.

"We're definitely a rock band with pop melodies and harmonies," said 19-year-old keyboardist Lacey-Lee Evin.

The female quartet entered the pop fray with its version of the Romantics' 1980 hit "What I Like About You," which served as the opening theme for the WB show of the same name. With their current single, "It's About Time," the ladies have changed their tune from classic rock to a sound firmly planted in the here and now. Bouncy verses bloom into lush choruses about living life to the fullest in what is a logical next step on a trail paved by Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton and Avril Lavigne.

Both songs can be found on Lillix's debut, Falling Uphill, due May 27. Fine-tuned by an array of producers including the Matrix (Avril Lavigne), Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera, Pink) and Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette), the album teems with angel-voiced harmonies and jangly melodies, both the good and bad aspects of it.

The video for "It's About Time" was filmed in Los Angeles by director Liz Friedlander (Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch) in an abandoned hospital the girls described as "creepy but cool." Working with Friedlander proved beneficial for the new band, whose naiveté might have even taught the experienced helmer a thing or two.

"Liz was awesome to work with because she made us feel really comfortable with what we were doing," Evin said. "She totally connected with us. She was like, 'If you don't want to do this, I totally understand.' But we were open to try things and so was she."

"We love [the video] because there's a lot of live performance in it," added Evin's younger sister, guitarist Tasha-Ray. "And that's what we wanted to focus on because that's what we do. We're a band."

And surprisingly enough, they have been for nearly half their young lives. The Evins and bassist Louise Burns formed a band when they were in seventh grade (drummer Kim Urhahn rounded out the lineup only last year), though they began playing instruments at a very young age. The sisters claim it was when they were about 4 or 5.

Fans can get a taste of how they've progressed since those days in the Evins' basement when the group hits the road beginning May 10 for a series of radio-sponsored festivals that run through the end of August. So what can fans expect from live Lillix?

"They can expect to see a band," Lacey-Lee said.

"A good, solid rock show," Urhahn added.

"Once you watch the show, you'll see how much we care about our music," summed up Burns. "It shows through our passion. We're not doing this to make money or become famous or anything."

Consider the strides Lillix have made thus far as a welcomed side effect then.

"I just can't wait to start playing in front of thousands of people," Lacey-Lee said. "I've been dreaming about that since I was a little girl. I love writing songs. I love performing in front of people."

• Lillix

• Lillix

Spankin' New Summer Music 2003 Photos

• Ludacris
• Ruben Studdard
• Mya
• Lillix
• Ashanti

MTV Exclusive: Lillix Photos

• Lillix