Interview: Dogs Talk Indie Music, U2 and State of Music Industry
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Written by Adam Simpson
I interviewed Dogs, when they played in York on the 20th of this month. The groups lead singer Johnny Cooke took the lead during the interview and let me into his deep personality, the groups desire to make music they enjoy, for themselves and their despair at today’s music industry and the way indie music has turned mainstream, opposing the ideals from what it was formed.
Johnny also spoke fondly about the group’s relationship with Paul Weller, with whom the group have worked. Paul Weller is said to be a fan of the group, who liken their early sound to The Jam. Johnny told me how he is shocked every time Paul Weller calls him.
I was intrigued by Johnny’s punk ideals and his deep personality, I wondered whether he brought this into his song writing, as there is a lot to be said for dark lyrics, just take Ian Curtis’s lyrics with Joy Division, Damon Albarn while he has been with The Gorillas or even Morrissey, when penning The Smiths Lyrics.
“I guess I write about bad personal experiences, I’d love to write witty cynicisms like The Smiths, but I can’t. So I write about bad shit that’s happened, it’s hard to talk about really.”
I pressed further about the group’s punk attitude and their desire to deliver music the way they want. The group take a DIY approach, they have released their latest EP, ‘We Are The Dogs’ under their own record label and deal with the everyday running of a band themselves, whilst holding down full time jobs.
“I like the old indie vibe, but Indies turned into bands with major labels and it doesn’t make any fucking sense. It’s become useless and completely meaningless, but I think it’s starting to mean something again.” “I think there’s gonna be a great little underground scene with bands who do it for themselves, building a fan base and stuff like that. Were at home, stamping our CD’s, signing everything and everything like that, I’m back and forth to the post office with bags of things. We maintain our integrity and it makes success so much sweeter when you’ve done it yourself.”
We talked further on the indie scene and the music industry in general; I wondered who the group considered to play genuine indie music.
“Indie to me was always The Pixies and Dinosaur Jr, but it turned mainstream and it’s not independent at all.” “I’ve always loved the bands that not everyone knows about, the ones that you feel proud to have discovered.” Johnny went on to talk about today’s industry. “I can’t fucking stand the horribly over produced, over marketed bullshit that calls itself music in this country.” “Most bands come and go. The fashion and trends in musical taste change depending on what Radio 1 shoves down everyone’s throat.”
“Nobody can drop an anchor or make a little place for themselves and if you do, the labels fuck you off.”
Obviously a little disillusioned with the music scene I wondered then why the group are in a band.
Johnny told me he is addicted to it. “Once you start you can’t stop, it’s like smack.” The group’s rhythm guitarist Kevin Iverson explained further. “If it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood. Like when you play guitar, even when you’re by yourself, if you have your guitar your never alone.” Johnny went on telling me that he is excited by what the group are doing and the satisfaction he gets from the creativity they experience when writing and composing songs. Kevin went on to tell me about how solid the group are. “We trust each other and we have faith and enjoy what we do. That’s why it works, it works really well, it’s special. Were always inspired by each other.” The groups lead guitarist, Rikki Mehta went on further. “I think that comes across really. I mean last night (When the group played a gig in Birmingham) we gave it our fucking all. After that gig last night it had taken everything out of me.”
So what do the group blame for the problems they see in today’s industry?
Johnny explains. “I blame it on a small attention span and economic forces and a lack of real love for music, simple fucking trend following and money grabbing.” He backed this up by telling me how U2 were nearly dropped from there label. “Their 3rd album, October, was a bit crap, but if they were dropped, we’d have never had The Joshua Tree.”
With all the bad feeling surrounding the music industry is there anyone who the band admires?
Johnny told me about his respect for Kings Of Leon, who had been through the rounds and come out on top and The Arctic Monkeys. Kevin went on. “We’ve swept the fucking floor, we set up our own gear, we’ve done a bit of security when things have got a bit rowdy, so we appreciate it and we don’t forget where our routes are.”
So if the band members are not in it for the money or the fame, what is the ultimate aim from the group, who currently work full time, with the exception of Johnny who is unemployed?
Johnny explains that ultimately their isn’t one, he tells me that they will never be totally satisfied with what they do, so it is pointless to have goals. “It's like when you’re writing songs, you’ll never get it exactly as you fucking want, but one day you’ve gotta let it go.” If there is one goal for the group, it’s to be able to play music professionally. “We wanna be able to quit our fucking jobs and be able to do this full time. It’s stupid to not be, were too fucking good to not be.”
The group are passionate about what they do and have strong feelings about today’s music industry. It is clear though that they have no lack in enthusiasm or self belief.
The remaining copies of the groups EP, which was produced by John Cornfield, of Sawmills, is on sale through the group’s website www.dogsmusic.com or by download from iTunes.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
