The Dalloways have proven that you don't have to be from the UK to produce a good melodic pop tune with lyrics that touch the soul.
With top British influences such as The Smiths and Prefab Sprout, The Dalloways have definitely managed to create a style that include both an atmospheric collage of musical elements and great songwriting.
I sat down with: Gerhard (lead vocals), Nico Rhodes (synthesizers), Matt Wall (bass), Aaron Wall (drums) and Ricky Gonzales (guitar) to discuss their new album, The Penalty Crusade and more in this exclusive S & S interview with, The Dalloways.
Raina: What influenced the songwriting on The Penalty Crusade?
Gerhard: Situations, other people and what they go through. Other times they're about fictional characters that I come up with, relationships and what not. Basically, my songs are influenced by fiction. Alot of fiction.
Raina: As a songwriter, who inspires you?
Gerhard: Oh gosh, that's a big question! The bands that I listened to in my formative years seemed to be all British for some reason. Some are pretty obscure now. But let's see...The Smiths is an obvious big one, Dream Academy...there are so many.
Raina: What is the best thing about performing with The Dalloways?
Matt: Well one of the best things is that I get to play music with good friends of mine and with my brother (Aaron) on drums. It's kinda cool when you get to play music with a member of your family. Mainly, I like coming up with the bass lines to what Gary writes--putting my stamp on it to complete the overall sound.
Raina: Being a bass player myself, I'm curious, who is your favorite bassist of all time?
Matt: Well, when I first started playing bass, that guy was probably Adam Clayton of U2. When I heard Actung Baby, that really inspired me to play the style that I play. Another bass player I admire is Robert Deleo from the Stone Temple Pilots. A really melodic bass player. Those are two guys from whom I've pulled ideas from and mixed them with my own. That mixture gives me my sound and I think I definitely have a style in which you will really hear on this (new) CD.
Raina: How would you describe The Penalty Crusade?
Aaron: Well, it's very introspective and melodic with alot of hidden musical elements. It's like a movie. You watch it the first time and figure out the plot but then you watch it again and you see things you didn't see the first time. With The Penalty Crusade, you'll listen to it on your headphones and everytime you hear it you'll notice something you didn't notice the first time.
Raina: What is it like being the main emcee/lead singer of 40 Watt Hype and the drummer for this group?
Aaron: With this group it's cool because this band allows me to be just "a dude in a band" , you know what I mean? Instead of having to talk to the crowd and figure out all the stuff. Anytime I show up to practice it's just, drums...play....later! (laughs) It's just really fun. The flipside is, musically you want to try and balance your life like you do in everything, you know? If you do only one thing for period of time, you kind of long for a contrast and that's what I get with this group.
Raina: Having previously been in funk bands (currently also with 40 Watt Hype) how has joining this band influenced your guitar playing?
Ricky: Alot of my influences are funk guitar players and some jazz stuff. George Benson is a big influence of mine. But most recently I've been listening to more newer rock bands. For instance, Radiohead and other rock guitarists as well. I can get that fix with this band as well as doing that "aggressive funk " with 40 Watt. I get to be more 'gentle' with this band (laughs).
Raina: Who influenced you to play synthesizers?
Nico: Actually, I had never played any instruments and I've only had one piano lesson in my whole life! It was Gerhard's (Nico's husband) suggestion that I join the band.
Gerhard: I can say a little something about this. When we put together the album we were looking for a different sound than what we used to have. We were really jangly, kind of like an R.E.M. feel. This new album is totally different. It's alot more lush and atmospheric and when we put it together in the studio, we were playing alot of keyboards toward the end of it just to fill it out--give it that big feel. We knew that live, we had to have a player. And how convenient, I had a person right here! (laughs) Luckily, she (Nico) just took to it like a natural!
Raina: What's currently in your CD player?
Ricky: I've just made this compilation actually with Beatles songs, a couple Steeley Dan songs, a B.J. Thomas cover of a Burt Bacharach song, a couple Interpol songs. So I listen to alot of music from Jazz to Tool. Alot of different stuff.
Raina: Wha'ts next for The Dalloways?
Gerhard: A big album! A big tour! Fame and Fortune! (band laughs)
Hopefully bigger shows! We have become a newly revised and musically stronger band through this past year. We used to be a four piece but now we're a five piece. Nico and Ricky have added a different feel to the band than we used to have.
Nico: Let me just say that if anyone hasn't seen us recently, you have to see us. It's not the same band at all.
Raina: Now on your website you've mentioned Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout as one of your influences. I love that group! Awesome writer. I'm surprised you mentioned them.
Gerhard: Ah man, Paddy is a HUGE influence! I never mentioned Paddy or Prefab Sprout because nobody seems to remember them but I'm so thankful that you did! I can't stop listening to them.
Matt: I've never heard of half the groups he says we're influenced by so......(group laughs)
Raina: Well thank you all for spending time with me, this is Diane Sawyer signing off (band laughs). No really, thanks alot guys !
***You can find out more about The Dalloways at: www.thedalloways.com Plus, don't miss The Dalloways at Club Fred performing live at their CD release party on Friday, December 17th!!***
