interview: The Dashing Suns

who? The Dashing Suns
what? an awesome band you should listen to
where? they are based in Oakland, CA
when? December 7th 2007 - present
why? because their music rocks

The Dashing Suns' self titled EP is great. Do you remember when critics insisted that The Strokes sounded like The Velvet Underground, The Clash and Television but you weren't completely convinced because to you, they just sounded like The Strokes? Well if were disheartened in the least that The Strokes didn't satisfy your expectations for an excellent mesh of those awesome bands, look no further than The Dashing Suns. "I Wanna Run" is sung much in the same vein as "Marquee Moon" by Television with a steady drum beat and great guitars to match. "Just A Moment" sounds like the song that new band The Soft Pack have been trying to write. In short, it's a great EP and makes me hopeful for a full length release.

According to Jeffrey, "We're going on a tour soon to SXSW from March 16th to 22nd. It will be our first tour and we are all very excited. We've also a song in a commercial that's going to come out sometime after."

You guys sound like a band straight out of the early seventies/late sixties. are you trying to bring back that sound or did it just happen that the songs you wrote ended up sounding like that?

We are influenced by many bands. We're not trying to bring back any "sound" we just want to play what we like to hear. We all were in high school during the 90's so bands like Nirvana, The Breeders, Red Kross, Weezer, Sonic Youth, Pavement, etc. were what we grew up listening to. Now we probably listen more to what they probably listened to like the Vaselines, Swell Maps and stuff like that.

If you could describe your music as an animal/natural phenomenon, what would you deem it?

We are like that video game Altered Beast. A praire dog that may have ingested an entire bottle of coolant.

Mick Jagger: genius or arsehole?

Matt: Both...no, he's not a genius fuck Mick Jagger.
David: Neither.
Jeff: He is very smart.
Kevin: Yes!

The state of mainstream music right now is dismal. Long gone are the days when Led Zeppelin and The Doors dominated the radio. What band(s) do you wish kids nowadays listened to?

Firstly, The Dashing Suns. Besides that Television Personalities, My Bloody Valentine, The Clean, Wire, Buzzer, Vivian Girls, Deer Hunter and The Ramones.

The Dashing Suns are distinctly American. What I mean isn't that you guys sound like Springsteen or Johnny Cash but that you take after the Ramones rather than the Sex Pistols. There's always been the American/British struggle for the rock crown. Are you guys vying to be a part of that?

We are not into rivalries, we are in it for ourselves.

You guys are based in Oakland. Did you all grow up in the bay area? Any crazy stories (like a bassist from Auckland or something of that nature?)

None of us grew up here. Kevin is a southern fried cracker, Matt is a kiwi, David is tequila, and Jeff is miracle whip. We have many funny stories, you should come to one of our shows and take part in becoming part of one.

If you could open up for any band, past or present, which would you choose?

Jesus' second coming. 2012.

What song do you (collectively as a band or you individually) love playing the most?

"I Really Like You". We will record it soon and everyone will be really happy.

Are any of you guys classically trained? Any music theory background? Or do you guys just play in the key of rock?

We just [play] poorly.

What are your road trip tunes?

We listen Wire, The Clean and My Bloody Valentine, Magazine, The Sound, Deer Hunter, Watch Children and many other songs that are too embarrassing to state.

The Dashing Suns- Your Line [mp3]

The Dashing Suns - Out of Your Head [mp3]

visit them on MYSPACE

catch em in concert:

Feb 25 2009 8:00P
El Rio, with Sister Grizzly, and Wild Things San Francisco, California

Mar 16 2009 9:00P
Bordello Los Angeles, California

Mar 17 2009 9:00P
The Ruby Room Phoenix, Arizona

Mar 21 2009 8:00P
SXSW Halcyon Lounge - ReadyMade Magazine Party Austin, Texas

Mar 23 2009 2:00P
Tylers Austin, Texas

Mar 28 2009 9:00P
Warehouse Party w/ The Have Mercys Oakland, California

Apr 5 2009 9:00P
The Uptown. Slash 30th Anniversary Party! Oakland, California

Apr 10 2009 8:00P
The Uptown w/Grand Lake Oakland, California