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Hit Parader/Shooting stars - Dirty Americans
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Sometimes it seems as if everything old is new again in the world of rock. Whether its the Darkneww...Sometimes it seems as if everything old is new again in the world of rock. Whether its the Darkneww taping into AC/DC meets Queen musical pipeline, Jet channeling the Beatles and Stones, or Silvertide trying to act like the legitimate offspring of Aerosmith, it certainly appears as if the halcyon days of the rock empire are serving to inspire a new generation of guitar toting bands. Of course there are many who will argue that classic rock sounds and styles have never gone out of style, that rugged riffs, painfully screamed vocals and songs about gettin paid and gettin laid are as vital today as they were in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. The Detroit based Dirty Americans will certainly second that notion.
The fact that vocalist Myron, guitarist Jeff Piper, bassist Pete Bever, and drummer Jermiah Pilbeam seem totally immersed in the straight forward sounds, no nonsense attitudes and pseudo hippie philosophies that so characterized hard rock during its formative years. But dont think for a second that songs featured on the new disc Strange Generation are some sort of pure retro musical trip. Sure these guys tip their hat a time or two to influences ranging from MC5 and Grand Funk Railroad to Blue Oyster Cult. But they do it all with their feet firmly planted in the 21st Century musical ideals.
"If people look at this as just a band playing 70's music, they're missing the point" Piper said. "We're a band that plays great rock n roll music, pure and simple. If it sounds a little like things that were played back then, it's a natural progression. We're not paying homage to a particular time in rock history, we're paying homage to rock itself."
When you consider how long its taken the Dirty Americans to release Strange Generation, you might get the impression that they actually started out in the 70's. Indeed this disc was first conceived and recorded back in 2003...yet its seeing the light of day in North American in 2005. What took so long? Why did it take an indie State side label to realize the commercial potential housed within this bands sonic six string driven attack? For their part, the members of the Dirty Americans seemed rather non pulsed by it all. They've been keeping busy, and now that their disc is finally out on american shores, they aim to capitalize on any opportunity it brings forth.
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dirtys new ep
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http://www.detroitrockreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=321&Itemid=36
Dr2 View "...http://www.detroitrockreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=321&Itemid=36
Dr2 View "Dirty Americans EP 2008" by The Dirty Americans
User Rating: - 4.5/5
Best
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
CD TITLE: Dirty Americans EP 2008
ARTIST: Dirty Americans
RELEASE DATE: 09/13/2008
BAND MEMBERS: Myron – Vocals
Freedom – Guitars
Pete - Bass
Jeremiah – Drums
TRACK LISTINGS: 1) Snake In The Grass
2) Forgive & Forget
3) How I Roll
4) Detroit Son Of A Bitch
5) Too Much, Too Fast
RECORDED AT: 747 Studios
Memphis, TN
Dr2 VIEW:
“I want to be in a dirty American band”, these words were spoken and a legend began! Myron, Freedom, Pete, and Jeremiah (as legend goes, the originator of the previous quote) have played to crowds from 50 to 50,000, (see for yourself here) but regardless the size of the venue they bring a huge show and a whole bus load of whoop-ass, balls-to-the-wall, explosive, in-your-face, rock & roll. After touring campuses, clubs, and stadiums around the country and around the world, the guys are releasing their second EP in as many years and DA fans everywhere will not be disappointed! Personally, we at DR2 are constantly amazed at the consistent quality of the Dirty Americans’ product. This 5 song assault is classic Dirty Americans musical mayhem. In typical DA fashion they lead off with their best, “Snake In The Grass”. This song is the standard bearer for this EP, featuring a heavy beat, incredible licks, and an attitude-drenched vocal that has you singing along by the second verse. The second track is the change-of-pace “Forgive & Forget”, a mellow, “I’m sorry, I screwed up”, relationship-gone-bad song that still manages to rock. The third track is the party anthem “How I Roll”, that has all the making of a breakout hit for the DA’s. Next, the local favorite, “Detroit Son Of A Bitch” that absolutely brings the house down every time they play it live and has the hook and ferocity to break away from regional popularity to national appeal the way “Detroit Rock City” did for KISS. Closing the EP is the surprisingly insightful, sensitive and melodic “Too Much, Too Fast”. And then, entirely too quickly, it is over. The Dirty Americans have done what they always do. They leave you wanting more. At this point in a review it is customary to compare a band’s style or sound to a well-known artist or group, but that is really hard with the Dirty Americans as their sound is so unique, so wholly their own, that any comparison is inadequate. But, if I had to, I would say it is the talent, emotion and raw energy of another Michigan product, Kid Rock, in a straight ahead, rock-and-roll package. Myron and the guys can be very proud of this EP and the music they so willingly give away to their audience. The Dirty Americans are the real deal, they do what very few can, in that they are able to capture, and package all the energy, excitement, and power of their live show, in the studio. If you take this as part 2 of a full disc that began with their last EP, you have a blow-out, blow-up, collection of Detroit style rock & roll that begs the question, “why haven’t these guys been signed to a major record deal?” Hopefully, all that will be changing soon! If you want to get your own copy of the disc and see for yourself the party that is a Dirty Americans show, head out to the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac Saturday, Sept 13th, where their CD Release Party will be going down wsg The Muggs, The Vamps and promises to be an incredible show. It is All Ages and doors open at 8:00 so get your tix quix. Check out the Dirty Americans today by finding them in the Dr2 Links or head on over to the Dr2 MySpace page & find them in our “Top Friends”. Remember to Support Local Music Before It’s Gone! Detroit Rock Review- The Only Place For Local Music, News, & Reviews. Keep Rockin’
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strange generation review
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http://www.musicomh.com/albums/dirty-americans.htm
Dirty Americans - Strange Generation (Roadrunn...http://www.musicomh.com/albums/dirty-americans.htm
Dirty Americans - Strange Generation (Roadrunner)
UK release date: 15 March 2004
track listing
1. No Rest
2. Car Crash
3. Strange Generation
4. Burn You Down
5. Time In Space
6. Give It Up
7. Dead Man
8. Control
9. Deep End
10. Way To Go
11. Light-Headed
12. Chico
13. We Were Young
[an error occurred while processing this directive] Having recruited a new tub-thumper, three former members of metallers The Workhorse Movement have burst out of Detroit with all guns blazing, having crafted 13 catchy tunes that ooze psychedelic '70s groove.
Although the intro to opener No Rest sounds distinctly like a Datsuns / Jet hybrid, for the rest of their baker's dozen, these Dirty Americans sound unbelievably different to the plethora of retro-revival bands currently tussling for exposure in the NME.
Sure, there are influences a-plenty ranging from some very Dave Wyndorf-y vocals to straight up Led Zeppelin riffs on some of the grooves, but just when you think you've got them pinned they flip you something unexpected. Whilst not they have not redefined rock or pushed the barrier of creative genius, they have written some ruddy good songs.
There are pumping drum tracks, and riffs that would eat Busted for breakfast, but the real question is are the unwashed yanks anything to shout about, or have they merely found an way to rip-off their favourite bands and get paid in the process?
Well on their behalf, I shall scream, yell, and generally make a fuss in an agitated fashion; for the Dirty Americans are a breath of fresh air to a rock scene that struggles with a severe identity crisis, not to mention the absurd lack of control. In a genre which allows more than five people to take the poodle-permed disaster that is Nickleback seriously, whilst letting The Strokes release the same song again and again and again, the arrival of a credible, straight up truly classic rock band is so much more than refreshing - it's like a newborn's first gasping breath after release from gestation.
The stoner influences ring out on most tracks, with the brilliant Time In Space forcing me to check if Monster Magnet's Mr Wyndorf himself was guesting on vocals and Way to Go owing its existence to modern era Queens Of The Stone Age. Meanwhile, Burn You Down simply has to be a Fu Manchu B-side, with The Doors making a cameo appearance for the chorus. Harking back to a more classic era, title track and lead single Strange Generation is The Who for the 21st Century, and Deep End the obvious ballad follow-up.
Over all this is the perfect album to remind you that winter's over, summer's comin', and that ultimately life ain't all bad, which is nice to hear from musicians who've toured with Slipknot amongst others.
So, if you're one of the many London Underground commuters who need a smile on those wet April mornings, (and you ain't gonna get it listening to Travis!), you could do a lot worse than the feel good grooves of Dirty Americans; in fact, I defy you to find a better aural "pick-me-up" this side of 1969.
- Tom Day
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DIRTY AM ROCK DOWNLOAD
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http://2004.downloadfestival.co.uk/dlf_live/artist/artistinfo.asp?tid=0&id=70
DIRTY A... http://2004.downloadfestival.co.uk/dlf_live/artist/artistinfo.asp?tid=0&id=70
DIRTY AMERICANS AT DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL (uk)
BIOGRAPHY
When a band hails from the outskirts of Detroit city you can bet your ass that band has rock’n’roll pumping through every ounce of its being. Dirty Americans isn’t just a name, it describes the music…dirty American rock. There’s a vintage quality to the sound of this band, and formed from the ashes of Rap-Metallers The Workhorse Movement they already know the smell of critical acclaim in the UK and across the world.
Band members:
Myron – vocals
Jeff Piper (AKA Freedom) – Guitars and Vocals
Pete Bever – Bass and vocals
Jeremiah Pillbeam – drums and percussion
Interesting Facts:
Freedom studied Jazz Theory at college…Nice! Myron studied Chemistry. Jeremiah joined the band after answering an internet advertisement for a new drummer. The band recently played a very rare acoustic set in a London pub for a handful of journalists and a group of lucky locals.
Myron Talks to The Dog:
DD: Hi guys, whereabouts are you now?
Myron: Me and Jeff are just sitting in the sunshine, having a beer and listening to Thin Lizzy.
DD: Sweet - I saw Brian Robertson [Thin Lizzy Guitarist] doing Boys Are Back in Town with Ash a month or so ago!
Myron: Funnily enough our Producer was trying to get us to come into the studio and cover something by Thin Lizzy just the other day.
DD: Okay - well we'll come onto cover tracks later. First proper question though is about the band's name - I understand it comes from your wanting to create a 'dirty american' sound...what for you is the music that sums up Dirty America?
Myron: Well dirty American rock is things like MC5, The Stooges, ACDC, Guns n Roses, the Allman Brothers (http://www.allmanbrothers.com/). It's that raw guitar tone in no particular style - just the stuff we grew up with I guess. The MC5 are the main ones though - being from Detroit they were the ones who were in our face the most.
DD: When the Dirty Americans was announced there was talk of covers from the MC5 and T-rex appearing on your records - what happened to those?
Myron: They were just songs that we did live - we'd throw maybe one cover into each set. We did Call Me Animal by MC5, and in fact Jeff and I were just talking about possible songs to record, and we though 'f*ck - let's do that one because we did it so well!' - at least we did it cool, we'll leave it to someone else to say if we did it well...And it was Slider that we we did by T-Rex. Basically in the early days we only had about eight original songs, so when we went out to play gigs we had to throw in a cover.
DD: Do any of those songs still appear live?
Myron: No - two or three months is enough for them to run their course, and then we move onto another one. Right now it's Ohio by Crosby, Stills and Nash...that's pretty cool, we did that in Japan last week. Sometimes we just f*ck around with things, and in Japan they wanted another encore and we were out of songs, so we said 'all we got is this one,' and we did Heartbreaker and got to the end and just kept going...
DD: Cool - so how was the reaction over in Japan?
Myron: It was awesome. We were being given all the scare tactics with people saying not to be too dissapointed when the crowd don't get to into it and the applause only lasts for about a second at the end of each song - but it wasn't like that at all...it was just like playing to our crowds here who know every single thing we're doing. It was wicked - really cool. I don't know where they were getting their information about us from but it was raw - those Japanese crowds are really sweet.
DD: The MC5 are playing in the UK in a few months time - have you ever seen them play live yourself?
Myron: No - I've seen Wayne Kramer though, he still plays around Detroit every once in a while, just jamming with different people. I last saw him about four or five years ago - he was never billed as the MC5 though...but it was cool enough just seeing Wayne Kramer play. I think that we might be playing with them on one of the European festival bills though, which will be really special for us.
DD: What was it about them that made them so special?
Myron: Well there wasn't any gimmick to them. They looked cool as hell - and back when Detroit was all about the theatrics of Alice Cooper they were just about rocking. It gives you faith in just playing the music without having to dress up in costumes and do all this crazy shit. I mean, all credit to those guys like The Darkness and Slipknot, but that's just not my thing you know?
DD: I understand that Freedom studied Jazz at college - How would you say that this influences your music as a band?
Myron: Maybe not on the band, but certainly it gave him more knowledge of where he can go on the guitar. He doesn't play any jazz on the records as such, but it sure helped him to understand how he can mix certain sounds together and make them sound right. I mean knowledge is power right? And he obtained more knowledge than most guitar players I've ever met, and it shows - he's definitely one of the coolest guitarists I've ever seen.
DD: So we're not going to be hearing any late night jazz sessions from you at Download?
Myron: No - well we'll get to hear it, but it's not for you guys. It's for back in the hotel room with a bottle of wine busted open when we're kicking back and relaxing.
DD: Seems a lot of you rock guys who're playing Download like to listen to easy stuff on the sly?
Myron: Well the last thing I want to be doing after playing a festival is come back and listen to more Metallica. You need to chill a little, so it's more likely to be Santana, Sade or Bob Marley. I like to spend a lot of my life sitting on the beach, listening to something mellow, smoking something cool and drinking a beer.
DD: Sound like a terrible life you have to lead! Going back a few years now, can you tell me about how the workhorse Movement ended and Dirty Americans began?
Myron: There must have been at leat a dozen reasons. The chemistry in the band was getting wierd, and the finances were awful and the label in the US had just seemed to have dropped interest in us. It just didn't seem like it was happening, and that was the big reason why Joe and Cornbread left. It had just seemed to have reached the end. So we just sat around for about a month, and then Jeff called and said that he and Pete had been talking about writing a few tunes and asked whether I wanted to get in on it. So we kinda talked a little bit and then said f*ck it - and we found a drummer and started jamming a little and realised that we didn't need to bring Workhorse back to life. And it wouldn't have been right to do that anyway without Cornbread - he was such a big character in the band. So we really just jammed for the fun of it, but then we recorded a few demos and sent them over to Roadrunner and they really liked what they heard, so it got serious all of a sudden out of something that had started off just fun.
DD: How do you view all of that history? Is it something that you try to build on, or would you rather that that book was firmly closed so that you can write a whole new one with Dirty Americans?
Myron: Well obviously it's something that we're extremely proud of, but that door is closed. We didn't fee that we had to play any of the old songs...this was just four new guys getting together - but obviously it gave us a huge fan bade, in the UK especially. The only problem we had was a worry that we might dissapoint the old fans and that we could alienate a lot of people who were out friends. We don't have the two singers now, and the vocal style is a little different. The guitar sound has stayed pretty constant though, and overall the response has been really cool! There's a lot of love there...people are just really going for it!
DD: Are you attracting many of the old fans, or is it a new crowd who are coming to see and hear you now?
Myron: It's been great. I've been getting a lot of e-mails recently from people saying things like 'you guys were really great - we saw you at Manchester' - or something like that - 'and I really dig your new album and can't wait to see you play live again.' And that's cool you know - it's more than we could've asked for.
DD: You did a London pub gig a little while ago...do you regularly try and get back to the scene by playing these sorts of shows, or was it very much a one-off?
Myron: Well that one was really to do with the label in the UK - they're really good friends of ours, we struck it off so well - they said they wanted to hear the tunes, so we said, f*ck it, we'll just plug in an acoustic and play them if you want. We do that to warm up and to rehearse anyway once in a while because it allows us to concentrate on the singing a little bit more. We have maybe a bonfire at my house and bit of a party and just play for our friends you know. So it's not something we're not used to , but it's not a major thing - maybe something we'll do every couple of months - something like that. But our heat's definitely playing plugged in...we're always saying how we can't wait to play songs live and full blown!
DD: A lot of fans like those shows though don't they - they let them feel a lot closer to you?
Myron: Yeah - I remember with that gig that I'd just got to the venue and went to get a beer and a guy came up to me with a Workhorse Movement CD and asked me to sign it, and I was just like, 'wow - how'd you even find us!' It's not like it was advertised anywhere, and he just said how he'd seen it on the internet somewhere and made the long drive to get along - there's just no secrets any more - the days of rock and roll debauchery have gone - everyone reads about everything now, there's no place to hide!
DD: Is there one gig you've played that really sticks in your mind as a stand-out memory, and if so, why?
Myron: You know what, it was Tokyo last week! We were so far from home, but the album's been doing really well, so we go the full treatment, with drivers to take us around everywhere and security escorts in and out of places and even fans waiting outside the hotel - akthough how they found it I don't know! It was a lttle bit of the rock and roll fantasy kind of stuff...and the show itself went amazingly - put together that's been the one so far! But we'll try to replace it some time in the next week or two!! But we're back over there for the Summer Sonic Festival with the Beastie Boys and The Darkness...and Avril Levigne!
DD: Does playing at Donington mean anything special to you? It's the home to some great rock traditions!
Myron: Well yeah - of course - it's such a legendary name! How f*kin' cool! It's one of those legendary place names that I grew up hearing about, like 'Live at Leeds' - and for a US band a lot of that sounds really unobtainable...just because it's so far away and so far out of your reach. The logistics of getting a band over there are just immense. But just being back in the UK after three and half years and the last Workhorse Movement Tour is something we've been thinking about for a while. It's been too long to wait.
DD: So you'll put on a good show at Donington then?
Myron: We'll sure hurt ourselves trying!
DD: How do American bands view being successful in the UK? Is it just an added bonus, or something to be really proud of?
Myron: I guess that varies from band to band. I think it was unexpected for us to have so much success with the Workhorse Movement, because really your main focus is always your home. But when you've been touring around the US for a long time then moving to the UK is like a free trip - a paid vacation...I'd call it a monstrous bonus actually! I don't know if otherwise I'd have ever had the chance to come to the UK. And then to play concerts with such huge and awesome crowds! But then I guess just being in a rock band's a bonus in itself - you get a paycheck for just partying! F*ckin' A!
DD: Is there any particular band on the Download line-up - besides yourselves and maybe beside the obvious ones, who you would really recommend that people go and see?
Myron: The Bride's of Destruction - that's the one for me man! I wnat to see those guys. I've never met Nikki Six, and I definitely want to drink a beer with that guy! And their music rocks - those guys are killing it over here in the US! We just missed them in Detroit the night we flew back from Japan, we just couldn't gett ourselves together enough to get down there. So that the one we're going to be chaecking out and I'd recommend - they're pretty much as bad as it gets! We might try to catch them in London too - we're playing a gig there on the same night as them, but they're not on until Midnight or something...I really want to see them and meet Nikki.
DD: We'll see if we can set you up to interview him at Download so I can get some rest for tem minutes!
Myron: That'd be cool! Awesome!
DD: You mentioned hanging out on beaches a lot, but generally when the band isn't doing band things then what do you guys do with your time?
Myron: Well I don't know if you'd call it a hobby, but we've all been building houses recently! That's been pretty much a learning process. We just kind of took it upon ourselves to figure out how to do it. We took the money we had and tried to get a lot more out of it - and that's cool. In fact we've just now moved all of our gear into Jeff's new place, and it's pretty sweet. He's built a house that's out of this world.
DD: Did he design it himself then?
Myron: Yeah - I think mainly he did. It looks like a castle or something and it's got ten foot ceilings down in the basement and it's out in the woods. Pet's just got his place together out in the country too, and I built mine on this huge river way up north in Michigan. We all found our quiet spots you know. We started doing that just after coming off tour - after the chaos of being on the road then living in the middle of Detroit wasn't conducive to getting our heads together again, so we had to go relax someplace else.
DD: The more I talk to you, the more I envy your lifestyle!
Myron: There's enough heartache to even it out - so don't worry!
DD: One last one quickly - from your website 'dirty talk' section it looks like you take the time to stay quite close to your fans...how important do you see that as being, and how crucial is the web to you as a means of promoting your music?
Myron: It's cool - it makes it a little more personal. When I was growing up if I wanted to join the Def Leppard fan club or something llike that then all I got was a pin or something like that and a flyer...you couldn't actually have a conversation, and I like the reactions I get now when someone e-mail the band and your e-mail them back, and they're like 'holy christ!' - they can't believe we've actually answered. And what's best is that you sometimes end up meeting these people in somewhere like Denver Colarado or somewhere, and it's really sweet!
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WHAT HAPPENED TO HARD ROCK?
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What happened to hard rock? Where did it go? We'll tell yaou! The mainstream made it soft. So if yo...What happened to hard rock? Where did it go? We'll tell yaou! The mainstream made it soft. So if you're looking for some screaming solos, ripped Motorhead shirts, and a badass frontman, check out independant Michigan hard rockers, Dirty Americans. These guys have rocked faces all over the world with little to no help at all. Slam your head against those beautiful speakers and absorb the rock n roll.
