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Jellyfish Truth – The Weird Side of the Internet

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Jellyfish Truth

Jellyfish Truth – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

So we’ve all heard of it. You’re at the beach with your friends, playing volleyball, someone takes a break to go traipse through the edge of the surf and before anyone has a clue what’s going on; a scream. Someone just got stung by a jellyfish. And every guy there realizes that the proper first aide for this emergency came standard equipment. But who is confident enough about their “long straw” to draw the short straw?

Peeing on a jellyfish sting to ease the pain is something that Emily Post is conspicuously silent about. I have first aid training, like Red Cross training, and nowhere in the course did it instruct you to get the consent of the injured party to whip anything out. (PSA when actually administering first aid, always get consent to treat, if they’re responsive) I have never heard of anyone in the situation of having to pee on someone else’s leg for pain relief.

Cause guess what? It doesn’t work. The social contract of the beach need not be challenged.

The ammonia in pee is supposed to change the acidity of the jellyfish venom, which is in principle true. But it’s too dilute. White vinegar is the go to. Also, pee can have bacteria.

So now you know the truth. If you’re on the beach, and you’re called upon to hose the pain away, feel free to apply some science to the affected area. Unless you just like peeing on people. In fact, if you just like people, just hang out on the beach and pretend you didn’t read this.

I’ve still never heard of anyone actually peeing on anyone’s leg. Not that someone would take a pic and throw it on Instagram. Are jellyfish stings bearable enough to just have someone say “put it back in your pants, I’ll just bite the bullet.”

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Outta My Head – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Outta My Head

Outta My Head – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

OMH: We truly admire The Phoenix and The Raven and Against The Reign. Those guys are always super humble and willing to give a helping hand wherever and whenever needed and they’re always super supportive of other musicians and venues! When we first had the opportunity to share the stage with them, the musicianship blew my mind. Very well written songs that have a lot of emotion and get the listener into it. Those guys have been super supportive of not only OMH, but all the other bands and venues and staff who are involved. Truly amazing people!! But honestly we admire the whole scene. Bands, Venues, Bookers, Fans, Supporters… There is this amazing network of people from one end to the other.

The love and support is like a family, for sure.

RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about the music you play?

OMH: We think the Metal genre in general gets a bad rap… Most people (that don’t listen to metal) Think it’s satanic, evil, or violent, and while that may be the case sometimes, We think that’s the exception and not the rule. Metal music frequently touches on subject matter that most avoid. Pain, strife, sadness, great loss, and overwhelming challenge. To address those things head on is brave, not evil, and to heal someone who the music speaks to is healing, not destructive.

RRX: Is there a favorite time of year? What time of year does the band have the most shows? Is there a recurring thing in the year that’s particularly memorable?

OMH: We are not fans of winter gigs. Snow, ice, cold, difficult and potentially dangerous travel. Not just for us but for our fans too.  That’s not to say we won’t play a show in the winter if something special comes up, But we usually reserve winter for studio time and gig from May to November. Within that time period, there are a few gigs/venues/bands that we will always do our best to make time for because they were there for us since the beginning.

RRX: Is there a song you wrote that really died on the vine? Something you all like but somehow just couldn’t make it work. You swear never to play it live, that sort of thing? OMH: Not swear to never play, but yeah there are a couple songs that we haven’t played live because we were worried it wouldn’t translate well. That’s not to say that those songs aren’t fun to play or catchy. We’d say that these songs were made to capture a specific feeling or moment, within a time where it really staples our development as a band more than anything else.

RRX: What historical era would you like to visit if the sole purpose was to put together a Battle of the Bands? How would you set it up?

OMH: Jeez, probably the whole 90s era. Music as a whole in that decade was on fire. If we were able to line up a fantasy Battle of the Bands, in no specific order, it would be: Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Alice In Chains, Godsmack, Pantera, Sevendust, SOAD. We could keep going, but then this battle would take 3 months.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where do you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

OMH: Our goal isn’t to be a household name or to be super famous. Our goal is to Keep doing what we love and hopefully gain a strong enough following to get to a point where we get the chance to play the “big one”. A massive show in front of thousands of screaming people, and have them rocking with us and loving our art! That to us is our “made it” moment. That’s our goal. Whatever happens beyond that… who knows?

Link to our music:
Link to Everything else:

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

“Extreme Music Awards” @ Empire Live, 1/11/2025

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The 2nd Annual Extreme Music Awards were held last night at Empire Live.

Photography by Joshua Scarselli.

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“Empire State Cannabis Cup” – 1/11/2025

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Amsterdam, NY.

Photography by Joshua Scarselli.

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Thomas Baker, Illusionist – An Xperience Interview

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Interview by Joshua Scarselli. Photos provided by Thomas Baker.

Given the state of the world today we could all use a little bit of magic in our lives. I caught up with Thomas Baker, an illusionist from Saugerties, NY. Thomas tells us a little bit about the magic he brings to his audiences.

Aftershow magic at Rhinebeck’s Starr Theater

RRX: How old were you when you first got into magic?

TB: I was only 12 when I first got into magic.

RRX: What got you into magic?

TB: I got into it because of performances of “America’s Got Talent” and “Penn and Teller Fool Us” that I’d see on YouTube.

RRX: How did you go about learning illusions?

TB: I invent my own illusions with my own original techniques. I’m completely self-taught!

RRX: How do you come up with your own illusions?

TB: As a magician, I have an arsenal of moves and sleights that I have developed over the years. When it comes to inventing new tricks or acts, I tend to create a general idea of what I’d like to achieve, look at the various techniques, get as creative as I can, and try to make everything work together to create a wonderful result. Scripting, believe it or not, has a huge role in my tricks because scripting is the very essence of misdirection. With misdirection, almost any effect I can think of is possible.

RRX: What type of illusions are your favorite to perform?

TB: I love all sorts of illusions, but I mainly perform card magic and illusions with everyday objects such as coins, dollar bills, and all sorts of other stuff.

RRX: Do you have any plans to invent any large-scale illusions?

TB: In terms of larger scale illusions, I find many of them to feel too gimmicky and tacky. There are a few larger scale illusions that I use in my show, but they don’t require trick boxes, or specially made tables; they use everyday items. I want magic for an audience member to feel personal, intimate and organic. Making a borrowed-and-signed dollar bill disappear and then appear on the other side of the room, inside a locked box, and in an audience member’s hands, (to me) is 100 times more impressive than sawing a person in half or any of the cliched magic that everyone else has done! A very famous magician once told me, if there were such thing as real magicians in this world, they wouldn’t carry around giant wooden boxes to prove they were “actually magic.” They’d do incredible things with what they had around them at the time.

RRX: Which magicians have you been inspired by?

TB: I have been inspired by Dani DaOrtiz, who is a psychology-based magician, Joshua Jay who is an incredible storyteller-magician, and Darwin Ortiz, who always knows how to leave an impact on audiences! They all inspire me, and I hold them all in the highest respect.

RRX: What can someone expect when they see you perform?

TB: When you see me perform, you can expect a show that will lead you down the paths of your mind that you’ve never explored. You’ll change your perspective and see my view of the world, and most importantly, I will leave you questioning reality and blow your mind.

RRX: What do you like people to take away from your act?

TB: What people take away from my act is something more than just entertainment; it’s memories and illusions that’ll stay in their mind for a very long time. These illusions will take you away from your reality and bring you into my own creative space, where you will witness the philosophies I live by, and the psychology behind everything I create!

Rhinebeck’s Starr Theater welcomes Thomas Baker to the stage

RRX: Where do you perform?

TB: I have performed all over! From private company parties like the world-famous makeup brand L’Oréal Paris. I have also performed in theaters like the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, the Orpheum in Saugerties, and the Starr Theater in Rhinebeck. Also, festivals like East Durham’s Pumpkin Fest and the Hope Rocks festival held in Saugerties. I have also performed for the #1 haunted house in America, “Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses.”

RRX: What is one of your biggest goals to accomplish as a magician?

TB: I think one of the greatest goals I’ve accomplished as a magician is establishing a name for myself in my community, and transitioning from a hobbyist to an actual professional who gets many gigs and makes good money off it! I think my biggest accomplishment, though, was performing for the corporate executives of L’Oréal!

RRX: Where can people find out about your upcoming performances or book you?

TB: You can find out all about my next performances on my Instagram and Facebook pages, and can also contact me directly about bookings as well.

Instagram: @tbakermagic

Facebook: Thomas Baker

Phone Number: 845-616-0367

Email: Tbaker@exit20.com

More from Joshua Scarselli …

JB aka Dirty Moses – Xperience History

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JB aka Dirty Moses

JB aka Dirty Moses – Xperience History – by Liam Sweeny.

Photo By: Robert Cooper Jr.

Originally published December 2022.

There are over 170,000 words in the English language. And the human mouth can make close to 800 distinct sounds. It’s nothing that we think about, but as an

instrument, the mouth is more versatile than just about any other. And in the world of music, it is hip hop that plays the human voice as a slick, fast arpeggio.

JB!!, aka Dirty Moses, is an award-winning hip hop artist. His lyrics are expansive

and dripping off the microphone with meaning. Originally from Harlem, he’s been

playing in the Capital Region for years.

I sit down with Dirty Moses, and we discuss the power of the pulse.

RRX: All music tells a story, even instrumentals are painting pictures of old

Victorian houses and little silver gear sprockets revolving through the innards of a

pocket watch. But hip hop is where lyrics are central, forward. How do you use the music to push the lyrics in your work? Which comes first?

JB: I like to create music or work with a producer whose music leaves space for me to become another instrument within the song. I love finding the pocket inside the beat and flowing as well as giving the listener an education on wordplay, similes and punchlines.

The process to creation though, varies depending on the vibe and feeling and message I want to convey. If I hear something that gives that creative spark then I am off and running, painting a musical landscape that relays the message intended. Sometimes I may freestyle to myself and say something witty and jot it down to use later. My phones have several notes that somehow build into song form at some point.

RRX: You won the 2020 and 2022 Eddie’s awards for Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the

Year. I won an Eddie in 2022 as well. It feels like a vindication of effort, but it also is a challenge to not rest on laurels. How do you take it to the next level as we go forward?

Also, if you didn’t win the 2023 Eddie, who would you wish to lose to in this area?

JB: Congratulations, Liam, on your Eddie. I also won the 2022 Listen Up award for Favorite Hip Hop artist and Favorite R&B/Soul/Funk act with Victory Soul Orchestra.

As for the next level or should I say, my next act, I intend on making music that translates to a wider audience pushing my creativity to new heights.

Presenting much more entertaining video treatments, more shows and touring. The plan is to be better than my last outing. My next project will do all of that.

As for who I wish to lose to, I don’t wish or plan on losing. Haha! If I do lose I wouldn’t mind it being to someone that is working just as hard if not harder than me.

My favorites right now include Ohzhe and B. Chaps. Albany Lou is working hard, I like what he is doing. Sime Gezus is still producing quality material to watch for. I also like Camtron 3000.

RRX: Hip Hop is a story of what’s real clothed in the wild fantastic. It’s like you can

say anything in rap as long as you’re saying something. This is true of all art, really;

maybe the definition between substance and style. Do you feel that there has to be some core thing being said, or can it all be just lyric and flow?

JB: I believe in balance. There can be braggadocious rap and conscious rap. There is a place for all of it. Moods change so, there are times I want to dance and party and club hop.

Other moments call for contemplation. I enjoy listening to battle rap and don’t mind the super lyrical material. But, if I put on Pharoahe Monch, Busta Rhymes or Eminem, I want to hear how they ride the beat (flow).

As an artist and consumer I listen to see what has not been done or talked about and what pocket/lane I can fill without sounding like everyone else.

RRX: Sampling is one of the cooler aspects of hip hop. It’s just as much an

evolution of sound as a guitarist finding a riff that sounds like Zeppelin and going with it. We cling to things from the past that are familiar, and as a sample, hip hop challenges

us to reimagine it. I imagine every artist has favorite areas to sample from. How about

you?

JB: I tend to sway towards the obscure and uncharted b-sides. Jazz, Funk, and Soul have all been conquered and re-imagined. If the vibe is right I will go in that direction.

But, when record shopping (digging in the crates), I look for the most impressive artwork first unless it’s an artist I am familiar with.

A little tip for the crate diggers: most albums with a scantily clad woman on the cover are fire. Don’t be afraid to take risks and pick up someone you’ve never heard of. You may find some gems.

Remember, there is an art to sampling and making new what was old.

RRX: You feature a lot of other people in your work. I recently came across a story,

on Facebook, I’m sure, where someone brought up getting paid to feature. And it started this thing; should the offer to feature be considered musical collaboration, or should it be 1099 work? Where would you fall on this debate?

JB: This is a tough one. On the one hand, we as artists deserve to be paid for our work and most importantly our time. This is to be respected as our most precious commodity. Ask for what you are worth.

On the other hand, if I vibe with you and we already have a long-standing relationship, I doubt I would charge or expect to be charged. Same goes for when I produce music for others and vice versa.

Money clouds things and can strain relationships. With that being said, remember, this is the music BUSINESS. If a collaborator wants to be paid for their work and time, pay them. If you don’t have the means, make that clear in the beginning so time is not wasted. I am huge on creating relationships. This goes a long way in business. no matter what type.

I love collaborating though. Hearing other artists take on a song idea can catapult a small b-side into a huge single.

“We can achieve a lot by ourselves — we can create impressive and important things, even — but when we collaborate, what we can achieve is greatness” – Sydney Welch

RRX: You’re from Harlem, and came up to Albany. On the one hand, they’re

different. But we’ve been getting NYC transplants for centuries, so Albany couldn’t

exactly have been like Timbuctoo. We’re urban cousins. What does the Harlem part of you offer Albany, and what does the Albany part of you offer Harlem?

JB: I like this one…

The Harlem side offers a grittier perspective at a fast pace. Harlem gave me so many jewels growing up. It opened my palette to several cultures and a way of life most aren’t privy to. Harlem gave me the slick talk, the grind and hustle mentality. My wit, humor and charm is all Harlem. My grit is Harlem. My flashy looking lifestyle, player and pretty boy attitude is all Harlem.

Now, Albany has slowed me down a bit to help me put everything I have ingested into perspective. Albany helped me realize my purpose and balance me out.

With Albany not being as congested one finds space and time to relax with your thoughts and grow. And, as you age, you should create space to do those things, no matter where you live. Carve out that time.

The Harlem grind and NYC life doesn’t necessarily give you the opportunity to do that. So I offer both cities a balance. You will hear all sides of me in my music. (Long winded, I know)

RRX: Are you working on anything, what’s on the horizon?

The new project is completed and is titled Ultraterrestrial. I am looking to release two or three new music videos in the coming months to kick off the release. I may tour if I can find time and I will probably do a few album release parties throughout the North East Region. I am happy to see this artform shape television, cinema, clothing and pop culture as well as push boundaries and bring people together and get the respect it deserves. 40 years ago it was considered a fad. Now Hip Hop is everywhere and is the most consumed music worldwide (besides Taylor Swift haha).

Https://JBakaDirtyMoses.com

Https://VictorySoulOrchestra.com

@JBakaDirtyMoses on instagram

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Pine Hills Band – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Pine Hills Band

Pine Hills Band – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

PHB: One of our fans recently described what we play as “Yacht Grass” – we suppose some terrific amalgamation of Yacht Rock, which seems to be enjoying a revival, and bluegrass. We thought that was a fun way to think about what we do, which is influenced a lot by the instruments we play, which are sort of standard bluegrass instruments, and the various cover songs that we sprinkle into our shows, which are a mixture of classic Americana and roots music, some great old country and western songs, and lot of 1960’s late-folk meets Dylan’s discovery of electricity at Newport (much to Pete Seeger’s dismay).

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

PHB: The person who had the biggest impact on our musical lives is the late, great MotherJudge, whose spirit and energy shaped so much of the live music scene in the capital region. She was unfailingly generous and supportive of us when we were starting out, and her open mics were an early place for us to get our musical sea legs as a band. She is missed, and we hope that we are carrying on her life in our music.

RRX: In the musical world, there are many supporting players. Recording engineers, sound techs, cover art designers. Who are three people that support the craft that you would like to shine a spotlight on?

PHB: We started out as a “family band” – a group of friends from Pine Hills who were refugees of other music projects that had been put on hiatus by our lives as parents of young children. We realized we were looking for an outlet for our musical energy and that we could get our kids together on Friday nights, feed them, and let them play while we played music together. As this whole thing has grown up, we have been supported by our partners who aren’t in the band (four of us are married to other people in the band, although not all to one another). So, the biggest thanks goes to Sarah Moore, Rebecca Newell, and Mark Gregory for sharing us with each other!

RRX: Playing out is tricky because you never know what’s going to happen when you get there. Sometimes everything goes wrong. What was your worst show like?

PHB: Like all working bands, we’ve had our fair share of comic challenges: from playing in windblown parking lots, to playing short 20 minute showcase sets where it takes the sound guy 18 minutes to get our levels right, to trying to fit a seven person band onto a stage meant for two. But, honestly, those are the moments you look back on with a smile and laugh, and are the glue that holds bands together.

RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about music, or the music you play?

PHB: If it sounds good, it is good.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where do you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

PHB: One of the things that has kept us together for almost 10 years is that our dreams are simple. We play music together because we love playing music together, and all we want are cool places to do that and fun and interesting people to share our music with. Thankfully, there are lots of all of those things right around us!

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

REVIEW: Jupiter Queen’s “Just a Taste” EP

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Review by Jesse Skinner.

Jupiter Queens debut EP, “Just a Taste,” is a perfect mix of heavy soulful riffs, catchy lyrics with soothing vocals, and an abundance of bass-thumping rhythms. Even though this is their debut EP, the band are no strangers to the local scene. Deriving from the band Black Belt Jones, Jupiter Queen went through numerous lineup changes before finally settling with Mike Langone, Tom Omarra, Eric Braymer, and Michael Foote. They are a force to be reckoned with; Jupiter Queen delivers the goods with their debut.

Cover art by Sarah Petrucci

Musically, they achieve a high-energy stoner rock sound, with an early-Black-Sabbath-mixed-with-a-Queens-of-the-Stone-Age feel. Each track on the EP effortlessly flows right into the next. The lyrics are written as artistic renditions of personal experiences. The band’s chemistry flows so well together that it creates the impression they have been performing together for a significantly longer period than expected. This EP gives a taste of what the band is capable of accomplishing, leaving an anticipation for a full release.

The artwork on the EP is a painting done by local artist Sarah Petrucci, which adds to the artistic approach to the release. Jupiter Queen also has a video out for the title track, which is directed by another local artist, Maxime Tarccardi. He is known for his dark imagery and artwork. Maxime helps to portray a nostalgic ’90s feel with the video.

The EP is more about quality than quantity, so it is difficult to highlight just one song. The title track, “Just a Taste,” is a perfect song for a radio single. My personal favorite is the ending track, “Longtime”. Every song on the EP may have you suffer from “stuck song syndrome” because of how unforgettable these tunes are.

Photograph by Rachael Skinner

Jupiter Queen have a couple nominations for the 2025 Extreme Music Awards, including Best Video for “Just a Taste,” and a nomination for Best Doom/Goth/Stoner Rock Band. I was fortunate enough to see them live this past summer, and I highly recommend catching a Jupiter Queen show when you can. Jupiter Queen is a rising local act that will leave a lasting impression.

 

“Elvis’ Birthday Bash” @ Hangar on the Hudson, 1/4/2025

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Johnny Rabb and the Tichy Boys brought along a few special guests to help celebrate the King’s birthday.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from Timothy Reidy …

Dogs Don’t Deal – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Dogs Don't Deal

Dogs Don’t Deal – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

MV: So the first set of songs we did was during lockdown, and we had a female vocalist in too.  It was a lo fi vibe and was pretty mellow and chilled. Our new stuff is the polar opposite. Cobbler – When we first started making tunes, I was really into loops and samples. That led me to make beats that were quite trip-hoppy in their sound. Mikey went off and had a baby, and a friend of mine gave me a guitar.

I spent a few months experimenting, then when Mikey came back, I dropped the backing track of Animal on him! It’s definitely a different vibe but the thread of Mikey’s voice and lyrics runs through them both.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

MV: We just wanna keep releasing the music we wanna make. The animal’s back seems to have been well received so we’re hoping we can capitalize on that and just keep building and building the old school way. We’re working class, what other choice do we have?!

Cobbler: We’re at a point where we’ve stopped worrying about what is “commercial” or “pop”. We make what we feel like making on any given day. It’s a really liberating place to be, and I think it’s made us more expressive. Once you throw off the shackles of trying to “be something”, you can actually just be yourself.

RRX: A band is a business. A business of love, but you got to work for it. Let’s pretend, instead of a band, you all owned a business. What would it be, and why would it be good?

MV: I’d own my own skate shop or skate park and teach Cobbler how to skate. It would be great cos I’d skate for free. Ultimately, I wanna be out there doing this full time to the masses!

Cobbler: I think you’d be fighting a losing battle there, dude! I am a total disaster when it comes to any wheels on my feet. For me, I’d like to own a retro van, and set it up with a portable crepe station in the back. I’d sell pancakes at every festival in the land!

RRX: In the universe of music, anything can happen. Bizarro doppelgangers can walk down the street in feather boas. Who would be your musical opposite and why? What do you think the “anti-you” band would sound like?

MV: Probably like our first 8 songs!!

Cobbler: It’s true, we’ve undergone quite the transition but like I said earlier, Mikey’s voice ties the two eras together.  The anti-us, let’s call them Cats Can Cope, are like S Club 7 made up of posh girls!

RRX: What do you think is the most dangerous song to cover from the perspective of criticism? Who do you think is too hard to cover, and why?

MV: Surely anything by Queen, Jeff Buckley or Radiohead, to name a few.

Cobbler: Yeah, anything with a distinctive vocal is tricky, but for me it’s possible to cover anything as long as you change it radically enough. The worst covers in my opinion are where people just do what is essentially a karaoke version with a different singer. Get some imagination!

RRX: Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Or so they say. Whether you’re off the wagon, on it, or never been, there’s something you got a thirst for. What are some of your basically harmless vices?

MV: Cobbler loves a cuppa. I have an obsession with retro video games that is getting out of hand. That’s as far as it goes for me and harmless vices. But we ain’t got time to list all the harmful vices!

Cobbler: I play way too much Football Manager! It’s a problem. And we need to talk about my cheese obsession….

RRX: With the exception of singing, everyone has an instrument, an inanimate object that has the distinction of being a lifelong friend. Smooth or temperamental, these objects have a character. So pick someone to answer, can you tell us something special about what you play, your technique, your instrument?

MV: I started by playing guitar then moved on to the piano and a bit of drums, amongst a few other instruments I’ve had a dabble with! I think I just need to at all times be in a room with a musical instrument. Throughout the day as I’m wandering around the house I’ll often twinkle the keys on my digital piano for a bit, or grab my guitar off the wall and have a little jam.

Cobbler: My first instrument is trumpet. It’s the only thing I ever had lessons on and I learnt all my music theory that way. Even now, if I’m trying to work out a melody, I’ll do the trumpet fingering in the air to help me. But the instrument that most shaped me is the drums. Rhythm is at the root of all music – it’s what hooks people in, gets them moving, signifies when they stand up, sit  down, put their hands in the air!

RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.)

MV: define solidly received!

Cobbler: For me, I’d like to be critically acclaimed far more than to be famous. We’re good musicians and it’d be nice to be recognised as such!

RRX: We let it out differently when we play music. The happy, sad, good and back; it can all be put out musically. Overall, do you feel better when you sing about the better times, or the worser times? Is there a difference you can describe?

MV: I’ve always felt it’s harder to write a happy song than a sad song. Not that I only write sad songs, because some songs are bittersweet or neither here nor there. But yeah writing a happy song without being cheesy or too trying can be hard. But I feel better hearing happy lyrics than some of the dark stuff. Sometimes you write stuff and go “fucking hell, I didn’t realise I was that miserable”. Haha

Cobbler: The magic trick is being able to do both at the same time. I listen to someone like Guy Garvey write about love, and he makes you feel happy and sad simultaneously – like an overwhelm of emotion.

RRX: Different people in the band will like different songs. A drummer’s favorite song on the release will be different than the guitar player’s. What are each of your favorite songs from your most recent album?

Cobbler: Well, the album’s not out yet so most people won’t have heard these tracks yet. I’m just going to say that Animal is the tip of the iceberg!

MV: It’s a tough one but I think my favourite has to be Living Again. – It just builds up and ends massively. It’s not as in your face as some of the others, but I love it. Bowie’s greatest hits and Long Way Down and Low Life are great, in fact it’s all great!

Spotify link – https://open.spotify.com/artist/19Nn0WV1y3KwbRMKI3jemz?si=Lynf2YxNQXG3oJLipkc53Q

Instagram – @Dogsdontdeal
Facebook – @dogsdontdealofficial

 

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