The Dead Raccoons
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The Dead Raccoons

Band Alternative Punk

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Talking Trash with The Dead Raccoons"

Article By Laura Peters
(Taken From The Second Part Of The Article)
Not everything has gone positively for the Dead Raccoons. Recently tragedy has struck the band when their mascot dog, T.C., passed away after living for 150 dog years. But the memory of their beloved mascot lives on at every show, where they bring T.C. along in a white igloo cooler. The dog, which once had an ardent love of music, is understood to make his presence known from beyond the grave, especially during the tribute song tearfully dedicated to him. The Murray comments that "not a day goes by that we do not think about him. He can not be replaced…unless somebody has a bulldog." And the rest of the group all agreed that the one thing that would bring them all together as a band would be a bulldog.
A live Dead Raccoons show is a unique and unforgettable experience. The band, especially The Murray feels that stage presence is the most important aspect that distinguishes a good band from the rest. Their shows thrive on crowd interaction; whether Farmer Dave is offering the audience packaged Fiddle Faddle and Gingersnaps from his garbage can and The Murray is giving sincere, manly hugs while singing emotional songs and crying through the lyrics of "I Don’t Smell Like S***, That’s Just The Medicine" or allowing everyone a peek into his romantic life with the new and improvised hit "When You're Down With Someone, You Need to Make Muffins," The Dead Raccoons always put on an impressive and entertaining show.
All joking aside, The Dead Raccoons are very serious about their music. They do not want to be labeled as a "shock" band; rather they want to establish themselves as real musicians who are outlandishly creative with their lyrics and interactions at shows, because "music should be fun."
It is nearly impossible to define or even begin to comprehend the complexity of what it means to be a Dead Raccoon, so the band urges everyone to visit their website at www.TheDeadRaccoons.net. Not only to learn more about the members and upcoming shows, but also because it would make them happy.
The evening spent with The Dead Raccoons was eventful; to say the least, it was a mixture of brutal honesty and theatrical performances put on by four very unique and brilliant musicians whom are on the brink of stardom.
- The Moraine Valley Glacier


"The Dead Raccoons: Music’s New Comedic Gem"

New bands are often guilty of taking themselves far too seriously. They have a knack for belting out lyrics that are depressing and insincere in the hopes that their drama will land them a record deal. The Dead Raccoons played a refreshing show last night that displayed a comedic approach to punk music.
Though the bar was almost empty, the Dead Raccoons were lively and energetic. The lead singer, Rob “The Murray” is a cross between Robert Smith and a stand-up comic. Not an easy combination, but he pulls it off flawlessly. The Murray describes their sound as “Dramatic, Raccoon, Punk, Rock” and he laughs at the parallel I draw between him and Smith. “I’ve never been told that,” he laughs after his show is over, “but I did listen to the Cure a lot in my childhood. I just want people to come see us, and laugh.”
The Dead Raccoons lyrics are hysterical parodies of what could really be unhappy subjects. The song “My Mother Doesn’t Love Me Anymore She Loves Steve” was only the beginning. He seemingly wrote it about the stepfather he hates, who captured his mom’s attention. The lyric, “He steals my socks and eats all my breakfast cereal,” caused the house to erupt. In early shows, poet Thax Douglass played the role of Steve and stood by the stage so The Murray could yell at him. Douglass also helped the band by booking them on a few local shows.
The Murray goes on the sing about a woman named Shirley who stands outside a White Castle, wears a floppy hat and smells like shit because of medicine she takes. The song is aptly named “I Don’t Smell like Shit, It’s Just the Medicine.” In the middle of the set the band gives away free food, Fiddle Faddle and Chicken in a Biscuits, and The Murray gives the relationship advice of, “If You Love Someone Make Muffins with Them.”
During the next song, “My Dog T.C. Died at 160, and Now I Carry Him in an Igloo Cooler So We Can Still Watch TV Together,” the audience pelted the stage with the Fiddle Faddle. It rained down on the singer who was in mock prayer to the cooler that suddenly flashed an eerie green light and opened as a stuffed dog bobbed up and down inside.
Their senses of humor are outstanding, and they play well. The experience of watching The Dead Raccoons was a welcome change. I highly recommend for anyone to go to the website www.thedeadraccoons.net, and read the mock biographies they stole from famous people like Sandy Duncan and Jean Claude Van Damm and listen to the Steve song. It’s just as good there, but is far funnier if you see it live.
- Erin M. Swiderski


Discography

E.P. (Emotional Problems 2002
Emotional Problems, The LP
My Mother Doesn't Love me anymore, She Loves Steve (Single)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

The Dead Raccoons are a 4-piece dramatic rock band out of Chicago that combine elements of theater with catchy and unique original musical selections. They have been well known to give out hugs, as well as elbow macaroni, and their specialty is interacting with the crowd. Their shows can change dramatically from night to night as they improvise a great deal of the material and they bring along unusual electronic props created by their guitarist Farmer Dave himself. They are also well known for having quite a bit of emotional problems. Their live shows are quickly being embraced by the underground community, and they are only going to get better. They have played shows around the Chicagoland area including The Beat Kitchen, the Fireside Bowl, and The Prodigal Son. Too many bands take themselves way too seriously, and when performing live don’t even move, or talk with the crowd at all. The purpose of putting on a show is to put on a show. So says The Dead Raccoons. They feel in their raccoon hearts that this is what they are meant to do. Believe.