Transcription
Hello, it's George. Keanu, Brett, and Rob from Dogstar are on their way over, and they requested a very popular cookie, the chocolate chip. So, I did both my chocolate chip and also my M&M sea salt. So, we have to find out which one they prefer. I will let you know.
But I'm so honored because I think I might be the first person sitting down with the band to talk about their new album, All In Now. I've heard it. It rocks. I'm so excited for them. I'm excited to dive into both the cookies and the new music. They're here. Yes. Hi, guys. Well, you're so bundled, Brett.
>> Oh my gosh.
>> How are you? Welcome. So good to see you. Come on in. Run.
>> Oh, this is really, really special. Oh my god. Ooh, the prisoner. You are not messing around.
>> Okay, bye. That's all I needed. Oh my god. Thank you. That is really
>> That is really nice.
>> Welcome.
>> I'm really excited about this model. Thank you, Rob. Look at these great food.
>> Thank you. I You know what it is? Someone gave this to me as a gift. This was the last performance of Nirvana at the forum in 1993. And the way that that picture made me feel created this obsession with with music photography and then I started collecting color.
>> Yes.
>> And actually look at this Nirvana. You can tell I'm a little Nirvana obsessed. But this poster that I got, this is the original poster. This show never happened cuz look at the date. April 8th.
>> Wow. Yeah.
>> Isn't that unbelievable?
>> Everything I need to know I learned from Led Zeppelin. Yeah.
>> Wow.
>> They are my favorite band. I someone of course becoming Led Zeppelin was at the premier.
>> Like the I want the next one.
>> But that's the whole point. It's about becoming Led Zeppelin. You know, it's just how they came together and how they came to be and then like it literally cuts out like as they're about to like be on the brink of stardom. But I feel like that's really cool
>> cuz you really I loved it because it just focuses on four individuals, friends who just are people who just trust their art and create their own path. I just thought it was so cool to see that, you know, I don't know if that would happen today because you've talked about it before when you're bored or when you have nothing else to do is when you lean into the art and kids today are not bored. They're constantly stimulated,
>> right? And they're never alone.
>> Those guys were all um obsession.
>> So talented. Such talent coming together. Like it was cosmic, you know?
>> Right. Did you ever know this girl Kiara Dagorio who was a promoter for she worked for the concert promoters.
>> Anyway, she she invited me over once. This is has to do with Led Zeppelin to the the Johnny Carson's last episode. Oh my.
>> And and and she was Do you remember her? She drove the Harley. She had blonde hair. She What a
>> badass. She was and still is a bad and she um she was Yeah. Come come over. We're going to go to Joe Walsh's house.
>> And we're going to we're going to watch the last episode of Johnny Carson. I'm like that seems weird, right? Like Okay. Unreal.
>> Yeah. I'm like that seems like a dream because I I love Joe Walsh. So we go there. We go into this like man cave area which is his I guess Joe's you know, viewing room little bar and behind the bar is this sort of English dude and he's sort of making his drinks. It's just me and Kiara and this guy and we're like where and I'm like where's Joe? Where's Joe?
>> And and I he's like Joe who's not coming down right now. He's not feeling so good or something.
>> Well done with the Okay. So we're then we're we're sort of watching the car like Joe's not here. So I'm finally talking to this guy like who what's Rob? He's like Terry. And he begins to tell us a story. Who? It's Terry Reed. It's the guy that was supposed to be
>> Yes.
>> singer for Lin. And he was telling us this story about everything about
>> how all that didn't want to get too dark and you know, he wasn't depressed or anything, but he
>> I was like, "Yeah, you in your own right." He's a legendary singer,
>> of course.
>> Yeah. And that was um and he went on and on about Led Zeppelin and how lovely it was and
>> oh my god.
>> But he was he was like yeah it was yeah right that one. Okay.
>> Oh look Johnny.
>> I was like yeah I was like oh look Ben Midler.
>> That was kind of like but that was the closest I ever got to like a
>> that's pretty that's pretty surreal awesome.
>> I cannot believe guys I was thinking about it. Carolines and palm trees was three years ago now when you guys isn't that wild to think about and you guys came on the show and we were first talking about you know the comeback album and it's been a minute and it's like just so exciting and now you have this new album now we're in my home now we're here with cookies I feel like that's just growth isn't that like in
>> a blink of an eye so much growth
>> so much growth and you said it was a good cookie right
>> I mean it's
>> this is a good cookie
>> look at a good cookie And that's almost what you named the album.
>> It was the first I mean there's there's jokes in the rehearsal room, writing room and so yeah, the one of the first titles was good cookie, working title.
>> Working title I'm sorry. First working title was
>> what was another working title?
>> We can't say there intersections
>> which we've been told is the worst idea for
>> I don't know, I'm kind of feeling good cookie but I do like that we ended up in Allin now. I do. I am GL. I think that was the right move.
>> Like I think that was the right move. Like obviously I'm partial to Good Cookie, but Allin Now I think is the move.
>> Yeah, it's got a good energy to it.
>> It has a great energy. How did you How did you How did you decide that that was the right name?
>> Well, Keano came up with the title and then Brett had to write lyrics to that song
>> from All In Now, right? It was a title first
>> and then as we were looking to going through trying to find an album name like you know, which is really hard the name especially we don't want to be on the
>> so hard
>> you know and and then sometimes people do it with the songs that are in there and
>> and then I thought oh that was a great title but I was like oh no but then that would make everyone focus on that one song and I was at that time sure like well that maybe that's maybe it's a joy or another song that they're going to focus on why would we name after this song when maybe the Q Prime and everybody that wouldn't be the first single and then they love that song and that's the one they wanted first. So because it's sort of like bam
>> it was like a happy accident and it's just
>> you had you had a first last and always or something.
>> Oh yeah, first last and all. Yeah, first last always. Yeah,
>> there's a lot of
>> Oh no wait, was it first last?
>> Now then always after maybe sometimes
>> before it was very deep.
>> I think it was before after always. 100 years of solitude.
>> Got it.
>> As you can see, we kicked around quite a few ideas. And uh
>> so why tell me about Allin now. Is that sort of like an indication of where you are right now as a band in your personal lives? Like
>> Yeah, I think so. I mean, the last record we were we were rediscovering ourselves, right? And now after all those experiences of the last couple years and all the festival stages and and
>> rocking out with our peers and
>> being, you know, it was just so much. So, uh,
>> you know, it's like we're in the middle of it now. You know,
>> you're in it to win it. You're all in.
>> I don't know if it was biographical, though. Like, I don't think we picked that because that's how we're feeling. So, let's call the album or the song All In now. I don't think it was bio biographical.
>> It was just more of a vibe.
>> Yeah. for that song.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think
>> but it fit how we felt a little. I mean,
>> fair enough. You know,
>> fair enough.
>> No more no more tentative like sticking our toe in the water.
>> And that song is very aggressive, too. It's like it's like right. There's no like hidden subtle subtext to it. It It's just right what it is, you know? And I thought
>> that was great. Ko does that a lot. He'll come up with these names and then Brett has to go write lyrics to them. It's almost like a game, you know. Happy dog. that Brett has to go write a song about a happy dog. Fever dog fever cat.
>> What I love about this album is it really you can hear Nick Len's
>> influence. I mean of course he is known for bringing out that visceral rawness of artists whether it's Nick Cave or Yeah. Yeah. Yas or Idols amazing band amu and the sniffers. So he's like he's done legends, he's doing the next wave of artists and I could feel what did he bring out of you? What was it like working with him?
>> We got the leftover magic dust of Emil and the Sniffers. He came right off of that to us. Yeah.
>> Badass. He came in and was like, "Listen, here's how it's going to go. You're going to be alive. You're going to sound like you're playing live. There's not going to be any overdub. There's not going to be any click tracks. There's not going to be."
>> And we're like, "Okay."
>> Yeah. And so it was it was fun. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and uh
>> and he was so proud of that record where he came from. You know, it wasn't easy to make a that kind of a record and
>> that's such an interesting band. And it came that record came out so good. so good.
>> And and so as Brett was saying, like we got he got that energy sort of spilled over even though we're not that same kind of band, but in a way, you know, there's just three of us and you know, they're very similar instrumentally
>> and I think he really he brought that energy with him and it definitely we felt it. But then plus all that stuff you were talking about his past stuff how great he is with guitars and vocals and how he blends them and
>> his sort of and he got that
>> vibe that we were going goes he's like it's like Manchester gloomy fun pop my favorite that kind of that world that he goes I know that world
>> yes that's his world
>> and these sort of really it was just a we were so lucky we we just saw his name on a list from our great managers Q prime
>> and Brett and I were like that's a mistake he's never gonna work It's like Nick Lette.
>> It was like all these names and at the very bottom. Oh, and this guy and we're like
>> we thought it was just like like Steven Spielberg like I know he's a legend.
>> Yeah. We'll never get Steven Spielberg, but let's just make the And then that's And then he's like, "Yeah, Ry." And then he's the nicest person in the world, you know? He's one of those guys. We sitting right here. He's just lovely to be with and he's hilarious and funny.
>> I love the way he like gets you to do what he wants to do. like he's totally like got this charming. You have no idea he's doing it and then before you know you're agreeing with him and you're like,
>> "Wow, that was really that's skills that you picked up over 40 years ago."
>> Yeah, that's like Jedi mind tricks kind of thing.
>> Did he surprise you that did he see you guys in a way that you didn't see yourselves? Were you surprised what he was able to get out of you?
>> I think maybe for me I think more going after that live sound. I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting more of a studio album and knowing the albums he's done a lot of, you know, the NXS album. I was really familiar with
>> the Midnight Oil stuff, which actually has a good live sound. But
>> yeah,
>> I was shocked that he was going that route with us,
>> but that's
>> I love how it turned out. I mean, it rocks, you know, it's instant. It is raw.
>> He He got it. You know what I mean? It sounds live.
>> Yeah,
>> it sounds live for sure.
>> Yeah. And All All in Now is great. I think it's the perfect first choice. And there's a moment on the album, Allin Now into Exalted, which is another one of my favorite songs. I really love that song.
>> Yeah, I love it.
>> Yeah, I like that, too. There's a lot of imagery and you know,
>> Brett's love the way you sing it and it just it's just nice story. It kind of I get lost in that a lot. So, playing drums in this album, I tend to space out a lot because I just get lost in the music. I'm like, "Oh, wait a minute now. I'm in the band."
>> Like, I'm not Sometimes I feel like I'm like a fan. I'm like, "I love this." And I realize, "Oh, shit." You know, you you better get you're in the band. You're not like over here.
>> I do. I get lost a lot.
>> I do that live sometimes and I realize that, oh, I didn't sing. I forgot. I'm not I'm not watching the band. I'm in the
>> But it took years to get to that point where like I love the I love the you know the what we're doing. And I think Nick really took us to this other place. But I think we were on our way there. It was just this it's always the sound we always kind of dreamt in our heads we wanted because we all love the cure. We love those kind of bands as well. We all have different musical tastes, but we we do in common. We have those those things in common. And Nick, I guess he picked up on and the tones that these guys are already brought in with their amps and their GK gear and and Brett's gear. Like they already had that almost there. These guys on their own. And so Nick was like, "Ah, I see where you're going."
>> He was like the catalyst that really brought that out of you guys.
>> And he's like, "I get it."
>> Wait, and you recorded this at East West Studios. I mean, we need to like kind of lean in on this. I mean
>> all the way and everywhere everywhere you go.
>> How legendary. I mean Beach Boys, Sinatra, the Stone. I mean
>> Mission Impossible.
>> Like when you Mission Impossible, right? When you are are in a room or studio where like Pet Sounds was created like does that do does that change the way you play? Can you feel that history?
>> Uh it has a vibe. Yeah. I mean, we there were three studios there, so we we toured them all and decided this was the Well, the Nick actually decided this was the best one for us, but um you could feel it.
>> You feel the ghosts in there. You can feel the walls. You can feel the the just the way the air moves
>> or doesn't move,
>> right?
>> Um
>> but yeah, I felt it when we got into studio 2.
>> I definitely had a couple of overwhelmed moments where
>> I was thinking, am I standing in the same spot Tom Petty was? I'll bet I'll bet it was right around here somewhere. I had a few of those like stop, look up, look around, soak it in moments. And I think it made me personally rise up and
>> just do as the best I could do, you know?
>> Yeah. And then remember Candace would tell us like she sort of runs the place Matt and she would tell us where people were used to set up or maybe the drums or how Blaine might have been over there. Then Nick's like, "Oh, go over here." And and it was sort of Yeah. So they knew the spots and that she was sort of telling us little tidbits while we were there. And
>> yeah,
>> they have a vocal room designated for the singer, right? So there's windows and it's off to the side and I was looking at it. I'm like, I wonder wonder, you know, when I go in there to sing what how many people sweat in here, how many and then and Nick walks by and goes, "Yeah, we're not going to use that. We're going to go." I was like, "Oh, like I spent two days envisioning like
>> you're like, "This is where MC Jagger
>> I walked around in there.
>> Frank Sinatra,
>> feeling the walls." I'm like, "This is great." And he said, "Now we put you in the middle of the room with some baffles around you."
>> Actually, it's in a new room that no one's ever been in before. It's like, right, it's hilarious.
>> Watching him set up mics was really interesting. I was like, "Wow, I never You set up mics, you think, oh, I'm just going to mic the drums, right?" You mic them. Yes. And then he'll mic everything. And then I'll put one over there and then one over here and then one over there with inside of a box or something. It's just so weird.
>> Just the sound. I love what you think of the right place.
>> I thought it was really impressive.
>> Yeah, he seems to know what he's doing.
>> Yeah, he seemed to be like so much experience and and knowhow.
>> He spent a lot of time like on one knee like fix fixing things, moving things. Like he was like super hands-on. He wasn't he didn't have an assistant going, "Hey, move that, you know, move." He would just go there and do it. Wouldn't even just go. Oh, there's a problem. This needs to be moved. He wouldn't even ask anyone. Just
>> Brad, tell about that the Waw Wa what he was doing with your Waw Wa pedal.
>> Oh, yeah. I was playing some guitar and uh we were in the control room and he he goes, "Do do you mind if I get down and control your pedal?" I was like, "No, it's okay." Cuz he's like, "I want it just a little. I don't want it too." So, he's trying to like do it. And he's like, "Just keep playing. Keep playing. Keep playing." And he's messing around with it. Messing around with it. He's like sitting on the floor and then he's reaching up on the desk of the studio desk and he gets a pencil and he sticks it in there so it doesn't close all the way and he's like no. Then he gets up and he gets a Sharpie.
>> He's like MacGyver
>> fatter and he puts it in and he's like he's like, "Yeah, yeah, go." And he's like, "Perfect, perfect, good."
>> Willy Wonka.
>> I know. He's like
>> So like I didn't even have to work the wall pedal. Yeah. He just on one song.
>> He was like working a joy wheel on a keyboard. He was just doing
>> He just really knew exactly what he wanted. And every time I saw something like that, I just let go even more because I'm like, he's so into this.
>> A, it's so great.
>> To have a producer that you have 100% confidence in makes you not have to worry about anything except having fun. And
>> and his one of his specialties is mixing, too. So we And so that's people hire him just for that, too.
>> I know. And he did and he mixed the whole
>> Yeah. And that that's what I was so excited about because, you know, it was everything sounded great when we left and I was like, "Oh, now he he hasn't even done his mixing yet." That's unbelievable. And I really noticed a a difference. That was like a whole another level of
>> mixing is such a beautiful art.
>> He mixes so loud though. When you go into a room, it's so loud.
>> He's just has it like it's like a club.
>> Like a wall.
>> I was like, "Nick, how you are you okay?" He's like, "What?" Like this is like 100 dB.
>> He's old school, man. He just
>> Yeah. Yeah. I was like, "Whoa, what are your neighbors?" That's awesome.
>> It's a lot of fun. It's about as good as much fun as you you could have making a record.
>> Yeah. So, how do you feel now that it's completed? Like, do you feel accomplished? Do you feel excited? Do you feel nervous to put it out? How are you feeling?
>> This is our last interview and we're done.
>> It's I don't know.
>> How many of
>> It's exciting. What are you guys talking about? It's [ __ ] awesome. Coming out. We just made some music. Hopefully, people like it.
>> It's [ __ ] awesome.
>> So great. You got to go tour. Get to go play.
>> Let's talk about the tour. Let's talk about the tour. Okay. I mean, hopefully people like it.
>> They're going to love it. I'm I'm telling you, I think that this one really It's like, oh [ __ ] this rocks like really like it's got that that bite.
>> We shifted gears a little bit from the last
>> I know. And I'm excited about that shift. It It has teeth. It has a lot more grit. And I think it's going to be sick live. And so you have a headlining tour in Europe. You're going to be doing festivals. You're doing download. You're doing a fall tour in the US. Headlining.
>> [ __ ] Now I'm nervous. Yeah,
>> I'm like your hype woman. Like we got this. Yeah, it's pretty sick though. Like you have a pretty intense amazing year ahead.
>> How do you physically prepare and mentally prepare?
>> Well, I live in the hills, so I walk I'm walking in the hills.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm at the gym. Uh trying to get the the cardio ready as as the singer.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Just mentally preparing. I'm not quite there mentally yet. I'm working on a physical right now, but as as we get closer, I think the mental will come in to
>> to play more.
>> Mhm.
>> You guys doing?
>> What how are you preparing?
>> I'm playing bass. I'm like I'm getting gear. I'm getting geared up. It's fun when we go on tour to redo the gear. Like I'm looking at other amps. I'm
>> getting some inner ears going. I'm changing strings. Maybe I'm working with Fender. Maybe they'll get we do like a little bassy thingy.
>> Great.
>> I'm just getting I like the swag. I like figuring it out.
>> You had a real pivotal like sonic moment when we at when we played um up in Napa when you we watched Duran Duran and you met that guitar tech uh the bass John Taylor's tech Yeah. You really Bernie and you got this and you went down this gear. I mean you've always used GK stuff too so wasn't Yeah. Gallen Krueger which is great but
>> the relationship you have so he's Yeah. the sound you because you mentioned excited about sound and then Brett's got a new beautiful red guitar which we used on the album and that's changed a lot you know the song Joy is all these different sounds so I think like the whole gear prep is is nerdy and funum totally totally
>> it's like a chef with knives like I'm bang out all my knives cookies it's like a whole plate of tools the tools you're sharpening the edges I might need this tool I might need this one.
>> Yeah,
>> maybe I do need a thousand watts. Maybe I do need, you know,
>> it's funny because we we did some music videos the other day and he goes, I'm I'm using two times the amount of amps I did before. And I'm like,
>> oh,
>> and speakers.
>> And yeah. So, I'm like, that's going to look weird with my little tin. Okay. So, I'm like, all right. So, I
>> You're like, well, now I got to get
>> I need two times the uh that sit on my side of the stage, please. And everyone's like, why? I'm like, just cuz I do. Cuz it's going to be lopsided otherwise. I'm stuffing a sock down my pants
>> because on my
>> pyro. You can always add some pyro. You can be like Tommy Lee style. You can be like, you know, upside down
>> my pants. I I I actually I I took a drum away from I only have a four two toms. I actually took one away. I'm going the other way.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. The more drums I have in front of me, I'm like, "Oh god, I have to hit that at some point."
>> You do you.
>> Yeah, exactly. After the old Charlie Watts setup, just
>> Yeah.
>> That's enough. You know what's amazing is the last time you guys were on the show, you were talking about Peter Hook's influence on you and playing and then that clip really went viral and Peter Hook reposted it and it was really this like beautiful moment. You know, when you see your heroes acknowledge you, does that change the way you view yourself as a musician?
>> No, not for me. But but it sure is really sweet and cool and special.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I mean, if they say something, but I'm not. Yeah.
>> But no,
>> it does for me for sure.
>> Yeah. It I had a few moments
>> last summer where or when we were in Europe where like Perry Ferrell walked up to me, you know, and knew who I was, which was like I was like, "Wow." And then Eddie Veter came up and talked about my guitar playing and the sound of my guitar. So there was a couple moments that that stopped my world there,
>> you know, that that I I mean, I used to play in bar bands in San Francisco and cover these guys music, right?
>> I used to play Jane's Addiction Stop. I used to play, you know, Alison James Pearl there
>> in like ' 88 ' 89. And
>> to have those guys approach you is like one thing, but to talk about your playing and
>> as a musician, right?
>> You kind of it's like some validation and some like
>> Yeah. Well, part of it's because of you guys cuz that's why I'm here because I learned from
>> a
>> you know, Mike McCre's guitar parts. I learned from
>> I learned from I learned disco. I learned, you know, I learned everything and to meet those guys and have them be so kind is really
>> mind-blowing for sure.
>> Is there like an album or an artist that you continuously go back to just sort of as like a to like pump you up or as a soundboard or like for me I put on Jeff Buckley's Grace like all the time.
>> That documentary. So good.
>> I just I actually started crying.
>> I did too. like a looked like a I was balling my eyes out.
>> Yeah. I think it depends on if you want to be in a mood or if you want to, you know, in Santa Cruz we played this little club and
>> I was backstage playing on my phone. I don't even know what it was, but I found some kind of like pop disco hit
>> and it was just super high energy and it got it got the room energized and you know it was really fun. I was totally couldn't wait to get on the stage.
>> Sometimes it's a YouTube song. If I'm feeling melancholy, I'll listen to that in the headphones and I'll just absorb that and I'll take that out with
>> I know we love you too. We bonded about our love for you too. I hear a lot of you too on the album. I hear a little you two little muse, you know? It's like that beautiful melodic soaring. I I love it.
>> Yeah, those guys are incredible.
>> Mhm.
>> To calm me down, I like listening to the album Avalon by Roxy Music.
>> Oh god. Yeah.
>> I don't It just puts me in that but that particular record, you know, out of all their
>> I don't know what it is. It just maybe it's the drumming. Andy Newark that I think is one of the greatest drummers ever. It's just something about it and it just sort of calms me down a bit, you know, if I'm
>> Yeah. But you're right. Brett's right. Like it depends what mood you're in. Sometimes it's the clash or the jam or the
>> Yes.
>> how you're feeling or
>> But yeah.
>> What about you, Keano?
>> Huh? What? Well,
>> is there like is there um a record uh or a song that you find yourself keep going back to just as like a
>> Let's go. Um
>> national anthem.
>> I do. I love the national anthem,
>> but it's the Canadian one.
>> No, I love American.
>> No, I love like looking up American just the great renditions.
>> Well, the Whitney Houston version is literally the best of all time. That's it. And they should just play that every year.
>> That should just be played on the stage.
>> I agree. I Whitney Houston's version is hands down.
>> That would be the hardest song to sing.
>> It is. Yeah.
>> If someone asks you to sing that, how do you
>> Well, especially now that Whitney Houston has sung it the way she did, it's like impossible to follow that up.
>> Oh man.
>> Yeah. What are you listening to? Like do you do you before the shows? Do you do you
>> What are you doing in those headphones before the show?
>> Yeah, I'm warming up.
>> What are you
>> What are you listening to? I'm just playing songs just trying to warm up. But um I don't know. I was just listening to some broken social scene.
>> Oh, amazing.
>> That was cool. I don't know if that's um Anyway, I just was listening to broken social books on tape.
>> Yeah.
>> Right. Right. Howtos.
>> TS Elliott doing Denim Elliot.
>> Denim Elliott doing TS.
>> We did some uh kind of blues. I did some jazz the other night.
>> That's cool.
>> What about any new music? I mean, Amy and the Sniffers is so awesome. It's so great that Nick did that album. It's that's mind-blowing stuff. That's just
>> She's such a badass.
>> I'm loving how surprised I am that that's being received the way it is. Like that's
>> Well, I will tell you that punk and rock is back. It is on the rise. It's young. It's exciting. It's real. And I think that it makes perfect sense. It never went away. That's my world. It's always been amazing, but it's creeping its way back into mainstream for the first time in a long time because I think that people are so starving for authenticity right now because our world is such a filtered, polished AI. So to have humans back making music that's so visceral, I think is really refreshing.
>> A lot of the artists and and fans, but I talk to the I don't talk to that many fans, but a lot of people do come up to us and go, "You guys no backing tracks. That's just all you guys, right?"
>> Mhm.
>> And we're like, "Yeah." And they're like, "Yeah." They're so excited that there's no backing tracks, that there's no,
>> you know, so what you're what you're saying is people are they want that
>> that energy.
>> Of course, just more human more human energy.
>> The way it all started.
>> Yes. Exactly. We're back there again
>> in a garage.
>> And you guys have such diehard fans. They they travel across oceans for you guys. Like they really like when we put this interview up last time like they like I people were like obsessed like when are they coming back? They're going to be so excited about this interview. Like you have such a cult following. How does that make you feel? Like do you feel like pressure? Do you feel a responsibility? Does it just feel like family? Like how does that make you feel?
>> It's pressure to never cancel a show for me
>> cuz you just don't know who went out of their way to come how far, you know?
>> Yeah. I mean, I notice when we play in anywhere in Europe or in the middle of the country, especially in America, anywhere, people are just I just like looking at people's faces and they're they're smiling, you know,
>> and it's just good to see people
>> just feeling good, you know, in in in a world that's sort of all over the place.
>> And just for an hour or so, I feel like they're listening and they're and they're just enjoying themselves. and um just it's like an an escape like you said and
>> you know playing music and listening to it's one thing like we're fans of music we go to shows too and it's the same thing it's it's the same feeling you have to put yourself in the in the audience like how many shows have we've been to probably more than we've played as a band you know so I think I enjoy you know we enjoy that seeing that reaction and um and you never know what it's going to be like you know you don't know but I I think when we played some of the new songs at the at the Regent Theater which was the last show we played. We played some of the new albums and we really noticed I I really noticed them jump like more bouncing around more, you know.
>> Wait till they hear the new music.
>> Yeah,
>> they're going to be like headbanging.
>> Yeah, we played a few of the songs.
>> Wait, don't let's not get carried away with the the rocking and the head bashing and the mocking.
>> You never know. Don't underestimate.
>> That's not what we do. That's not how it is.
>> Well, I I don't know. I was headbanging a little bit listening to this.
>> No, you weren't. No, you weren't. I'm just saying.
>> No, you weren't. No, you weren't. You weren't. You weren't.
>> You don't know about
>> There's a few moments that's possible.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. There's a Yeah. A couple of like Yeah. Like Yeah.
>> No. All in now. All in now.
>> See, it Hello.
>> I know. But it's not like
>> that baseline is just gets you going.
>> It's not It's not Slayer. It's not
>> It's not It's not Slayer,
>> but it has some some moments, you know, just like Afghan.
>> And what And what And what is What Is is even faster. That song What Is is even more intense. Mhm.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> I don't know where that song came from. I love it.
>> I'm not saying it's Walk by Panta, but I'm saying that it's it's a dog banger.
>> Yeah.
>> It's a banger.
>> It's a banger. That's what Nick would say. I'll take That's what Nick would say. Well, thank you constantly because this is a banger.
>> Nick and I are basically
>> I'll take I'll take it's a banger.
>> It's a banger. Okay. It's a banger. I can't tell you how many texts we got from Nick like, "This is a banger.
>> It's a banger." So, tell him I agree.
>> Yeah. And I had to look that up. Like what the hell is a banger? Bangers and mash. I was like, what?
>> Right. It's banger.
>> Is that food?
>> Wait, can I can't help but notice you are enjoying the cookie.
>> You really liking it.
>> Good cookie.
>> Thank you. Thank you. It's good though, right? Thanks, Rob.
>> It's good. I'm Yeah. Yes. I was
>> press on a diet.
>> I'm not. I'm thinking about taking it home now for the drive home.
>> Talk to me about the three of you in a band. Of course, you guys have been friends now for decades. Been in a band now for decades. What does it mean now to be in a band today versus when you guys first started out? Like it's it requires a lot of effort and and and work and commitment to be in a band as adults with other careers and other and families, etc. So, what is it that keeps you guys together and what makes it work?
>> The music I think is we I I mean for me I mean when we get together I feel it's like a communication without talking, you know. Mh.
>> I like I get to know so much about these guys just by playing with them, you know.
>> Mhm.
>> And um just I feel like the way I approach it is like I like to be the last one in. And I know sometimes for drummers that seems weird like you the beat should be, you know, maybe first or in the middle, but I feel like with this kind of music, with the vocals, there's such a storytelling vocal.
>> Like this kind of band could could go on acoustically or can go on with or, you know, with or without certain instruments. So for me what brings me together as I feel is that communication listening to this music you know and I feel I get to know these guys more and more just by what they execute on the guitar and bass like oh you're feeling that when you're playing that riff and that's a feeling that you know it's more of a feeling of how you're feeling that particular day or if someone's feeling down there's some sad stuff or guitar I can almost tell like how the guys are
>> feeling by what they're expressing on their instruments and it kind of brings me closer. Oh, it's beautiful. It's an extension of them.
>> Yeah, it's part of that.
>> It's great. And I and I learned a lot from that and I want to fill that in and support it with with the,
>> you know, as best I can. You know, for
>> me, it's that feeling of like when I'm driving to rehearsal or or writing sessions or something, even in the studio, whenever I'm on my way there, I get that fun, excited feeling of being like a little kid.
>> So, it's still a nice escape from the rest of your life. You're going, "Oh, I get to go do this now,
>> right?
>> It's just so fun." That that's it for me is is just and it's not always fun playing in bands with people, you know. So,
>> it's hard work.
>> Yeah. But we make it easy on each other. I think
>> it's like it's like recess when you're a kid. When the bell rings, it's like recess and you run out to the playground. I feel like
>> that's what dog shows. It's like the bell goes off. It's like recess and I get to be with my kids on the, you know,
>> Yeah.
>> on the playground, right? And
>> definitely keeps you that youthful energy. Keanu, what what freedom do you get or joy you get from the band that you might not get from some of your other work?
>> I don't know. There's it so distinctly it's itself. So, I don't know. I mean, it's very creative. The writing process, the playing live, the rehearsal. Um, yeah. Like music, playing music, being in the moment, creating. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Can't really do that anywhere else,
>> right? It's probably a unique type of freedom that you get with music. Like you said, you lose yourself.
>> Freedom. I don't know. Play.
>> Yeah.
>> It's more play than maybe
>> the cuddling, the love making.
>> There's also such mutual respect too between us that if if one of us says
>> a band or like an album title for example. And if the other guys don't like it, then there's no like ego really of like
>> we never use my ideas, you know? It's always your idea. There's none of that. It's just well all right. It didn't until we'll keep going till the three of us come up with something. Mhm.
>> So that I think helps a lot too. There's no egos. There's no weird
>> right
>> annoying band member that you're like, "Ah, if that guy would just leave this band would be great."
>> What has been being in this band taught you about yourself?
>> That's a tough damn tal about taught about yourself about yourself.
>> I think for me personally, especially that we
>> Okay. the break that we took and then came back. Yeah. I think that kind of taught me to
>> uh stay optimistic. You just don't know what's around the corner.
>> So things seem like they're going one way in life. You just can't get caught up in it because you just don't know what tomorrow is.
>> So I think that this band has taught me that.
>> Optimism.
>> That's great. and to to sort of, you know, trust, you know, your friends and to not be so worried about getting in your head, you know, as an as like an any kind of art or performance, the more the less you can get out of your head,
>> right?
>> And I think that's why I like playing music so much because you tend to forget there's always that eye that's always judging you, you know, there that whatever Freud called the id or the super ego, whatever. And if you can just shatter that for a bit then you're like little kids don't I don't know if they have that when they're playing when as sometime when you get an adult you get this like judging up like how do I look on my face and you get this sort of
>> you know and I'm sure it happens as you people get older and you know people get bullied or it starts whatever that thing that starts where you start to look at yourself if you can shatter that as an artist
>> it's great and I think playing music sometimes you do that whether you're listening to music on headphones or playing. And I notic in this band when we're really in a moment,
>> I I feel like I'm floating. I don't have that like judging eye
>> being self-aware.
>> Yeah. Exactly. It's just sort of like it's just like I just want to break that. And then once you do, you're free. Imagine if Jackson Pollock had some paint and as he was throwing on the canvas, he's just like trying to like
>> like do it, right?
>> Yeah. Like whoa. Let me try to make this. Yes.
>> That's one art form and that's his choice. But I mean there is something to be just throwing the paint down and not being so anal about it and like oh everything has to go here and perfectly and sometimes that works great too
>> you know that's like pointalism or something but
>> but I know this in music there's something about like h shattering that and for me I've learned to trust that it's a trust thing because once that's gone then you're on your own or you're not on your own you're on something else you know
>> I think sometimes I've heard other actors you know talk about the h happening where they just completely everything they've prepared in a scene just goes away and it's something magic happens. They don't know what the hell happened and they go cut and they're like what the hell was that? They're like I don't know. And it was like print moving on and they're just like ah
>> well you're both actors. Does that happen for you?
>> Not for me
>> piano.
>> Have you ever had that sort of just magical thing that just wasn't
>> Sure. Sure.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean you guys have been friends now for a while. What is it that you admire about the other two or what has changed or what has stayed exactly the same?
>> Everything's changed and everything's the same.
>> Oh, that's the album. That's the album.
>> Uh just for me the generosity of these two
>> a
>> they're open to all my ideas and and uh you know likewise that but what has changed I think maybe our Maybe we think about we're I don't know, maybe I should speak for myself, but the business side of it, pay a little more attention to that and the professionalism of showing up on time and things like that.
>> I think that's more I pay more attention to that now than back in the day. I didn't I was a little wild and young and didn't really care so much and let everyone else figure that out. And
>> I mean, that's good.
>> Yeah.
>> It's just that's something I've noticed differently this time around. One of the cool things when we got back together for the first time a few years ago was the comfort of slipping right back in to the same spots in the same rehearsal room and the same everything and it
>> it did feel very comfortable. It did feel very much like oh yeah this is cool. This is where we belong, you know.
>> That's great.
>> So I don't know for me what do you guys anything change for you guys?
>> You going to tell them tell them
>> I'm I'm learning something about my van right now.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I see. I It's a little bit of a therapy session.
>> We're the rhythm section.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> We're the rhythm section.
>> Uh just I feel lucky and just blessed, you know? I look back and like
>> you don't take things for grant. I don't take things for granted anymore. You know, like think, oh, this should happen. This is I'm just very I just wake up in the morning and go like, you know what? You can complain about things and I know your life wish it was this way or that way, but sometimes it's just we're just lucky to be here, you know. and to be able to do this, you know.
>> That's awesome.
>> Yeah. So, I I'm come to peace with that. I'm just gratitude.
>> Oh, that's great. K, anything to add there?
>> No.
>> He's like, "Fuck you. I hate you all."
>> No, no, I mean, I think you just I think, you know, we're like
>> I love you, man.
>> I love the vin diagram of Dog Star. We're like these three people and then when we come to a place to play we like and there's like that that thing that
>> cuz we're not overlapped but that part that kind of we overlap
>> the intersections.
>> Yeah. We hug before we do a group hug before we take the stage.
>> Yeah. And that's a performer thing.
>> We always do we always do a hug. We don't purposely hug. We just get right out to go on the stage and then it's like oh yeah let's somebody will initiate it like oh wait oh yeah okay. It's not like it's like a ritual and then after after we put come off the stage, we have another ritual.
>> What's that one?
>> Three three three beers.
>> We get we get three beers, we click them and we just right.
>> That's adorable.
>> Just it's like immediate like as soon as we as soon as we disappear, it's like clink clink and we just
>> Well, cheers to you guys. Let's do some clinking now. I kind of want to be part of this tradition. We have to get some briskies. Cheers. Congratulations, guys. This is a really exciting chapter ahead.
>> Thank you. We are grateful for the hugging, the bruskis, the van diagram,
>> the music,
>> and I'm excited for the world to hear.
>> Make the music, hear the music, speak about the music, the passion, the love of music.
>> Exactly. Well, that was awesome. especially because Rob brought me this beautiful bottle of the prisoner. I'm also just dying that I served them my cookies and that the working title for this album was good for me and I made it up. Uh I think Allin Now was the right move though. Um love these guys so much. They're just so humble uh so grateful and I'm grateful that they came over here today and I'm excited for you guys to hear this new Dog Star album. It rocks.