DOGS are a band you simply have to see. 

Taking less than two years to attract the interest of the major labels, the London-based five-piece are back on the road with new guitarist Kevin Iverson on board (who recently left local band Springtide Cavalry).

Still relative newcomers to Kent, the band are playing in our neck of the woods not once but twice this winter, having already played Margate’s Westcoast Bar and set to appear at Tunbridge Wells Forum on 30th January.

With new material, a new album on the way and gigs in the pipeline, The Gig Guide were eager to discover more so we stopped for a chat with frontman Johnny Cooke to find out what they have planned for 2010…

You must have been inundated with applicants to fill the post of new guitarist. What factors made you decide on Kevin Iverson?
      “Well Rikki said he thought he had it when he saw him tuning up at the audition, the way he hit the strings. For me it was the passion he played with, i saw it immediately, he’s burning in there. He’s also a lovely bloke and quite a funny f**ker too.”

Speaking of Kevin; you’ve got your first gig with the new line up soon, how is he fitting in?
      “Like mint sauce on lamb.”

It’s been over two years since the release of ‘Tall Stories From Under the Table’, when can we expect to see a follow up?
      “We dearly hope to have a new album out next year, a few corporate hurdles to jump first, but it will be a great record.”

Both “published & real stories” are said to be influential factors behind your last album, will these be a driving force behind a new album again?
      “There’s stories everywhere, we’re all in countless stories, little fables, tragedies, romances, smut. Life’s a story in all it’s time frames and from every perspective and structured tapestries of events are the way i prefer to write lyrics, rather than merely throwing paint at a canvas.”

Your song ‘Let it Lay’ featured Paul Weller, what was it like working with The Modfather himself?
      “Quite surreal to start with, then glorious watching him on the piano effortlessly jamming to our tune, then we got leathered down the pub.”

We’re looking forward to your gigs in Kent (Nov and Jan), have you ever played Kent before and are you excited?
      “I don’t know my county boundaries very well, we probably have played in Kent but couldn’t be sure. But i can tell you we are even more excited to be playing in Kent than we were to play Hampshire.”

Where’s been your favourite venue to play and where have you experienced the maddest fans?
      “The big festivals are a buzz and the Royal Albert Hall and Ally Pally were special in their way, but i think that The 100 Club on Oxford Street is our home from home. We’ve had three amazing gigs there. The fans are always mad though wherever we are, there is a great bunch that call themselves the Kent massive as it goes.”

Where did the name DOGS come from?
      “Simply a deep love of Dogs.”

What’s the strangest thing to ever happen at one of your gigs?
      “One springs to mind where a fan pinched my shoes while we were playing.”

Have you got any plans lined up for 2010?  Any tours on the cards?
      “We’ll be looking to record and release our third record and tour it as much as possible, we don’t want to rest, we’re itching to get out.”

You are due to record new material in the amazing Black Barn Studios, where some impressive names have appeared. Are you excited at this prospect?
      “Not really, Weller did us the favour of lending us his studio before and we we’re pretty excited then, now we feel more comfortable around those sort of surroundings, and we’ve got a job to do, we’re focused.”

What are your influences, both in life and in music?
      “Horrid question. Our influences are rooted and always growing with us. People with principles, passion and reason. Our relationships with others, lovers and mates. The Pixies for being enormous, anonymous, sublime, and skint.”

Did Kevin have to go through a band initiation before officially becoming a member?
      “No.”

You have been quoted as having “possibly the largest underground following in the UK”. That is quite a claim, how do you feel about that?
      “Very pleased with ourselves.”

The Gig Guide 6:
Favourite Bar Snack?
      “Scampi Fries.”

Myspace, Twitter, Facebook or MyTwitFace?
      “Twatbook.”

What’s the biggest animal you could take on in unarmed combat?
      “A Sheep.”

What would be your message to the world?
      “God is Dead, laters.”

Any Pet hates?
      “Bald parrots in small cages. their owners.”

Tea or Coffee?
      “Toffee.”

www.dogsmusic.com

Tags: Ally Pally, Black Barn Studios, Dogs, Forum (Tunbridge Wells), Johnny Cooke, Kevin Iverson, Let It Lay, Paul Weller, Royal Albert Hall, Springtide Cavalry, Tall Stories From Under The Table, The 100 Club, The Pixies, Westcoast Bar (Margate)

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