See Jane Haze, Haze Jane Haze

A brief look into the history and the future of a local band ravaged by death, but rocking the area, nonetheless.

SUMMER 2002

Plattsburgh is full of local bands who make a name playing the bars. From Redneck Aliens to the South Catherine Street Jug Band, each group brings a head-bob or a drunken dance in a different way.

Hazin' Jane, a perennial area favorite, rocks punk-garage originals and alternative covers.

"Camel Toe," says Josh Lacombe, bass player for the band. "That was Hazin' Jane's original name. I know it's not a good name, but back then, we weren't a very good band."

"My best friend and band leader died. I didn't know how to handle it."

Four years ago, Jane Foy, a friend of the band, was visiting from Saratoga Springs while on vacation. Foy asked Lacombe 'what he'd been up to?' and he responded, "Ah, just hazing, Jane." Camel Toe was dropped in favor of the augmented Hazin' Jane.

Green Light Special
Photo by Jonathan Roberts.

Haley was a little jealous because he wasn't holding an instrument.

Josh Lacombe and Mike Clark are the founding members of Hazin' Jane. Former front man Dennis Rule passed away in a car crash last May in Peru.

"It sucked so bad," says guitarist Mike Clark, "My best friend and band leader died. I didn't know how to handle it."

The band disappeared for a while canceling all their gigs. Pondstock, a local music fest, was right around the corner and they really wanted to play that venue.

"We recruited Mike Haley from [the band] High Falls, and did the show," says Clark.

Killing in the Name Of
Photo by Jonathan Roberts

Hazin' Jane rocks for rape victims downtown at the monument.

As if Haley wasn't busy enough juggling a disgruntled band and a handful of groupies, he now had to belt lyrics for a band with quite a name for themselves already.

"High Falls was on the way out," says Haley, "We were losing our bass player, and the opportunity to sing with these guys (Hazin' Jane) was too great. They're just too damn sexy!"

"Hello, we're Hazin' Jane. Fifteen minutes late as usual," Haley said flipping his hair out of his face. "We're gonna start you off with a little Creed."

The band got together and jammed the smell off the hippies at Pondstock, a gathering of local bands and musicians at Twin Ponds campground in Peru, and have been doing it ever since. Awhile ago, another piece of High Falls was sucked into the Jane family. Drummer Todd Bailey, now, rounds off the quartet.

Click here to read Part Two of See Jane Haze- My personal experience with the band.

Email me at: editor@apnmag.com