Shane EvansHailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Dogs Die in Hot Cars delivered their quirky, Britpop to the Theater of the Living Arts on Fri, Apr 1. They currently have an album in the United States released on V2 Records entitled “Please Describe Yourself.” Vocalist/ guitarist Craig Macintosh and bassist Lee Worrall found time before their show to sit down and share their thoughts on their current tour, why they shouldn’t be compared to XTC and their thoughts of Y-100 flipping formats.
A lot of your songs like “Celebrity Sanctum” or “Paul Newman’s Eyes” are about American celebrities as opposed to British celebrities or Scottish celebrities. Was that conscience or just because?
CRAIG: “I think if Paul Newman happened to be Scottish, then it would still [be about] Paul Newman.”
LEE: “I mean Sean Connery’s eyes just doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
To me you are reminiscent of XTC.
CRAIG:”Don’t mention XTC.”
That’s my next question, are you tired of hearing that?
CRAIG: “XTC is a great band, but we’re not interested in following them or doing what they did…We want to do what excites us. And what turns us on is people. We’re into now; we’re into being contemporary as possible. We want to be fresh and we want to be exciting. And I know there are similarities. The first time I heard about XTC was when someone said ‘You sound really like Andy Partridge’ [lead singer of XTC] and I was like ‘oh, I’m going to get some of his stuff and find out.’ And I was like ‘f-k, I totally do sound like Andy Partridge.'”
I was reading that you listed your influences as Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Can you explain that, because you guys sound nothing like them to me.
CRAIG: “I don’t think the sound of music is defined by what you listen to. I don’t believe that. I think it’s about your character. It’s about the type of people you maybe like to hang out with. The kinds of places you like to visit. The things you like to do in your spare time. You know, the comedy programs you like. The comedy programs you don’t like. The things that f-k you off. I mean a lot of the way we sound was created as a reaction against the music that we were hearing day in and day out, on the radio and at friend’s houses…We wanted to make something vibrant and exciting. And also lyrically, something interesting. It’s not just about the music in a positive inspirational way, but also as the opposite of that as the things that grate up against you.”
A few weeks ago, the big alternative station in Philadelphia closed.
CRAIG: “Is this Y-100? We met with Jim McGuinn. [Former station manager of Y-100.] We were speaking to him today and he said they’re online now…I was reading in Rolling Stone and it was saying how the big radio stations are selling off to R&B and Hispanic stations, and because that’s where they’re making their money. So all these alternative stations are disappearing. But what’s happening is there’s this emergence of Internet stations. And I think it’s just a sign of the times just as much as any part of the music industry. It’s moving into that media. I find it quite exciting. It’s just a bit messy just now, starting out, but I think in time it will be for the best.”
Posted to the web by Shane Evans
