So how long has the band been together and how did you get together in
the first place? Are the band where you thought they would be when you first
started? Ie Level of interest in the band, musically and band level wise?
The band has been together for about two years. We got
together as just a couple of friends who wanted to just play music in a basement
again. We eventually played some shows and got an exceptional reception
which
surprised us. On the strength of that we made a demo and that circultated
for
a few months. This prompted some interest from labels which in turn got us
a
record deal with CMH/Crosscheck records based in Los Angeles, California.
The time came for our debut record which is Savin Hill and we have toured
in
the
states and played regional US dates in support of the record. The response
to
the record and band has been way beyond our very modest expectations. We
are
pleased with the way things are evolving for us. The interest from people
wanting to know about the band in the US and more recently Europe has been
significant. It comes as a big surprise to us.
As far as the band members and how we feel about the group, the members
of this group are committed to the group 100%. Come hell or high water we
play. That is the band's personal mandate.
How was your debut album Savin Hill' received and what was
your
favourite track on there?
The record, like I mentioned earlier, was received very
well by fans and
critics alike in the US. In Europe we have also received some strong reviews
which took us off guard somewhat because we do not have European
distribution on Savin Hill but somehow word has travelled overseas and we
are pleased. Very soon we will putting something out in Europe, most likely
with our soon to be new label Side One Dummy records.
My favorite track on Savin Hill is Declaration as it bemoans the state of
fluffy, superficial radio and music video in the US. The month Joe Strummer
passed away was tough on this band as each member of our group are huge
Clash fans. In our estimation it should have been automatic that he grace
the
cover of Rolling Stone magazine that month, following his tragic
passing. Tragically that did not happen. Instead some flavor of the
month, constructed by the industry pop tart, graces the cover. This insanity
is
what prompted us to write and record declaration. Yeah we are wearing it
on our sleeve in a way but who fucking cares! Whats right is whats right,
Joe
Strummer was and always will be remembered as a legendary songwriter and
performer. He should have been accorded more respect.
How much do you think that living in Boston influences your sound?
I
think living in Boston influences our sound tremendously. Most of the members
of this band grew up in the area. You grew up surrounded by the likes of
Gang
Green, The Freeze, Slapshot, SSD, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and The
Bruisers. You attended their shows. You went crazy in the pit and this can't
help but get into your blood and influence you once you decide to get into
a
band and write music.
Also the environment you grow up in is bound to be reflected in the lyrical
content of the songs you write. Boston definetly finds it's way into our
music.
Why the name 'Street Dogs'? What over band names do you rate?
Street
Dogs early on in the band's life was a possible song idea that was never
formally used or recorded and then I came up with the idea that we name
the
group Street Dogs. My reasoning for the name was that every member of the
group, at one point in their life, was just a kid growing up on the streets
of a middle class neighborhood and running with a gang of kids. This
formative period in our live's still today impacts our outlooks, views and
beliefs to some degree. Basically the name just says that we have not or
will
not forget where we are from. We are not classically trained musicians from
a
high end music and art school. At the same time we are not slamming people
who do have that background but we are just a group of guys who hailed from
different neighborhoods and streets who later in life decided to get into
music and bands because of the urgency and power of some of our
influences. The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, The Ramones and The Replacements
are some of those urgent influences. Plus the way we see it is that in order
to make it and weather all the crap that you go through as a band is that
you need to stick together like a pack of desperate and hungry dogs. Does
that sound a little too dramatic? Of course it does but it is the truth
and
that is the impetus and reasoning behind the band name.
As for your question of what over bands names do we rate, I don't understand
the question.
Who have you toured with so far, and which bands would
you like to
work with?
We have played some dates in the past with Flogging Molly
and we will be
playing more dates with them this fall in the US. We toured with The Briggs
who hail from Los Angeles and they are a phenomenal street punk band who
you
must check out, if you have not already done so. We have played with the
Bouncing Souls before who are great. We also played with Roger Miret and The
Disasters and that was an honor to play alongside Roger Miret.
As far as bands we would like to play with I would say that Against
Me, Rancid, Social Distortion are a few of the bands that come to mind as they
are some of the favorite bands of members of the Street Dogs.
Tell the readers five facts about the band / band members
they will
not know
1. Johnny Rioux(Bass) has a cell phone surgically implanted
in his right
ear.
2. Anthony Modano(Drums) used to be in LA Cosa Nostra.
3. Markus Hollar(Guitar) is a rodeo champion from Texas.
4. Gary Schwindt(Our Manager) is secretly attempting to take over the world.
5. Me, Mike(Lead Singer, Jester, Aspiring Politician) I will one day run
for elected office in the US, probably Congress!
If Street Dogs were a type of alcohol, what drink would they be and
why?
Wild Turkey whiskey would be the type of alcohol that
Street Dogs
would be as Wild Turkey has a significant alcohol content in it and you go
for broke crazy when you drink it. If we were going to be alcohol we want
to
one of the craziest!
How have you seen the scene change since you first got involved
and
what can be done to make it better?
The scene is way more divided then it
once was. I think the media as in magazines, music television and record
companies are the culprits as they have put titles, genres and marketing
names on bands. That needs to stop. We also need to desperatly go back to the
time of radio and television giving equal time to Rock N Roll as they both
are innundated with Pop crap. Music has got to become urgent, dangerous and
infrormative again. Radio in America and I can't speak about Europe on this
but in America radio is petrified of Punk Rock as they believe some of
their demographics would be offended by the sound but you can see it work
like in Los Angeles you have 103 FM who is playing rock and punk and people
of all ages are listening.
Plans, gigs and releases planned for 2004.
We are releasing a new record in the fall on Side One
Dummy, our new label
, and that will coincide with a fall tour in the states with us opening for
Flogging Molly. We are touring Europe this summer and we will be very busy
next year as well.
Any final comments?
Live Free Or Die. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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