Dead Boy Productions

 

02/21/07
Dead Boy
Photo by Linda Dawn Hammond/IndyFoto

Dead Boy Productions with Real Gone

 

So give me some history about the band?

Christian: Sarah, Michael and I met after answering an ad for some “singer” guy who wanted to put together a rockabilly band in Toronto. Kevin was supposed to show up, but bailed on the first meeting. We rehearsed a few times, decided Sarah and I could sing better, and asked the guy to leave. About 4 months later we reconnected with Kev, and that was that!

Sarah: Yup that’s how it went alright.

Where do you guys think you would if you didn't call Kevin 4 months later?  
Christian: In a word- screwed. Who knows who we would have ended up with. It's a good thing he got back to the second round of ads!  
Sarah: Yeah, I really love what Kevin brings to the songs...so much so that I sing along to his solos while I'm playing! Ha! 
  
How is the scene up there in Canada?

Christian: Very dedicated but small and spread out.

Kevin: Very proud.

Sarah: Rubbish…HA! OK, it’s not that bad…close though! Hehehe!  
  
Have you ever toured in the United States? Where would you like to play?

Christian: Not yet! I’d love to go, especially to New York, and the warmer Southern states during the long Canadian winter!

Kevin: I’ve seen shows at the Viper Room in LA and in Manhattan – there and in Austin would be the three cities I would like to play in US.

Michael: We would love to play in the States, we have had a few invites, but getting into the US to work (play music) is involved and sometimes expensive process. We are working toward put a tour together.

Sarah: I’d like to do the East Coast…Boston, etc.  
  
I was listening to your CD the other day and it leads me to ask, who writes the lyrics for the band and who writes the music? Or is it a big group effort?

Christian: It depends on the song; Sarah and I tend to write our own lyrics, though we’ll help each other out for any sticky bits. Michael has written a couple of the song lyrics, and we’re still waiting on Kev’s contribution! As for the music, it can be any of the four of us for a basic structure, and then we tend to hammer it out together!

Sarah: Christian and I each write the lyrics and the music to the songs we sing…Michael just wrote a new one for us both to sing though. It’s a boogie tune…sounds great!

Michael: Hey C! not to say Kev has not contributed, he puts all them notes and stuff together Its kind of like having musician in the band!! We all work together on the arrangements.

Christian: I meant his lyrical contribution! Kev laid out a song he’s working on with a cool story line for Sarah to sing- and I’ve been waiting for months for him to bring the damn thing in.

Kevin: My strength is writing the musical “parts”, coming up with catchy musical melodies and instrumental solos. I like to leave the song writing to songwriters – The other three are definitely stronger in that field.  

About writing and the music: who do you guys look to for influence when you write your music? Dare I be so bold to say Johnny and June?

Christian: I wish we were working at that level (laughs) ! Mostly we are influenced by each other, I think. I'm pretty happy if I can bring something to the table that the whole band likes.

Sarah: I guess subconsciously my stuff is influenced by my heroes, but I don't look to sound like anyone. I just write to get stuff off my chest. That's why I don't have any real nice love songs...I have trouble writing when I'm happy! Ha! 
  
Would you say that this band is different from other rockabilly bands? What makes you stand out from others?

Christian: Well- Sarah and I both do lead vocals, so that is a bit different. You’ll get both the male and female perspective from us.

Michael: we started this thing with the idea of being a “Rockabilly” band but pretty soon all our influences showed through. We were afraid we might end up being a too country or too punk rock, we try not do not get stuck in the Rockabilly dogma, we let the songs happen using Rockabilly mind set, using Rockabilly tools, We are not the only band doing it but we are a unique combination of each our personal styles influences and skills

Kevin: I have always been a fan of playing traditional music in an untraditional way – that’s what we do.

Sarah: Every song is unique…our songs tend to cover several variations on the traditional rockabilly style.   
  
Like I was saying earlier, I was listening to your CD...I think its great, but where can other people buy your CD?

Christian: For right now, they can buy it from us at shows or from our website

Michael: Hey you can download our single for your iPod at our MySpace site too!

I always see you guys post updates on your MySpace page, how has MySpace helped you with building a fan base?

Christian: MySpace and the Internet in general are extremely helpful for independent bands to get the word out- it’s a really cheap worldwide marketing tool.

Michael: For now MySpace is amazing we are making contacts from all over the world. I hope MySpace doesn’t crumble under the weight of its own popularity and the influx of commercial spaces

Sarah: It has been amazing. It is incredible to me that people from Europe have heard our music and are fans!

 
This is a general question that we ask a lot of people, but what are your views on illegal downloading (it’s nice to get responses from different bands)?

Christian: I prefer legal downloading of our stuff, but – anything to get people interested is OK by me!

Michael: Downloading is the marketing machine that rock radio used to be, did any kid want to pay to listen to the radio? There is a generation of music fans whom have rarely if ever bought a CD but I think there are lots of people who will buy songs if they can get good music at a fair price. Illegal downloading is easy to justify if music is perceived as over-priced mediocre product flogged by a big evil corporations, not music produced by artists.

Sarah: I know I shouldn’t say this…but I download from Limewire all the time! HA!

To those who have never heard of your band.... what do you want to say to them?

Christian: Get Real Gone- we wanna to entertain you!

Kevin: You haven’t experienced us until you’ve seen us live – we’d love to see you in the audience one day.

Sarah: Yeah, I think we sound much better live…maybe that’s cuz I’m usually drunk at the time! (Laughs)

Well....2007 is a new year, what’s in store for real gone?

Christian: Well more recording for one- I think we're gonna start working on some new demos in March. We have some new songs in the set that just need to be recorded.

Sarah: Yeah, now that we have that first session of recording pretty much paid off...let's rack up that bill again! (Giggles)

Christian: And the other big goal is to try to get some U.S. shows for the summer- hopefully that plays out... 
  
Any upcoming shows or anything else we should know about? Any last words?

Christian: Last words? Buy our CD I need money for smokes and beer!

Kevin: Thanks for letting us rant a bit! Nothing better than talking about our first love: music.