They've been called a "folkier Last Train Home," a "rootsier Barenaked Ladies," and one fellow who smelled kinda funny even went so far as to say "their songs sound like stuff from the Grateful Dead's American Beauty."
But if you ask a member of the Dog Waggers -- well, at least the one who smells kinda funny -- he'll tell you that musical comparisons like that are flattering, but don't really describe their style. So they've coined a term that they think does: Virginia Gruenegrass music.
What's that, you ask? Well, it's a little bit Old Dominion living and Northern Virginia gridlock rockin' ... a little bit Lone Star State longin' and dance hall vampin' ... and a little bit down home anywhere, banjo/mandolin front porch pickin'.
All those styles -- and a few more -- can be heard on the Dog Waggers' debut CD, "Chasin' Tales," which was released in early August 2005 and celebrated with a rollicking release party before a packed-house Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA.
"Chasin' Tales" features 13 original tunes co-written by Dog Wagger founders, Dave Bloom and Geoff Pemble. Hunter Jones, the band's keyboard/banjo/harmonica maven penned one song, "Guess it's True," which closes the CD. "Chasin' Tales" was produced and mixed by Geoff Pemble in his home studio. Other band members include: Rick Thiele, on bass; Kurt Sayce, on percussion; and Peder Maarbjerg, on mandolin.
The Dog Waggers were formed in the spring of 2004 after Dave asked Geoff to help him record a few songs he'd written and wanted to enter in songwriting competitions. With a few of their demos in hand (Bloom is still waiting to make the cut in one of those contests, by the way), they asked Jones, Thiele and Sayce, with whom they play in a band at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Vienna, VA, to sign on for this more secular singing and playing venture. Maarbjerg, who played with Pemble in a once-popular, but long-defunct local cover band called The Frivolous Suits and is not a spiritual Revelator, completed the line-up.
For more information about the band, visit their website at: thedogwaggers.com And talk to us at: info@thedogwaggers.com
Dog Wagger RAQs (if ya have to ask, that's 'rarely asked questions ... ')
1 Where'dya come up with that cool name?
Like most bands, the Dog Waggers went round and round on what to call themselves. Considered, but quickly rejected, names included The Spindletops, The Barrelheads, The Handle Vandals, and Vegetarians by Day. Then, one day we hit on the thought that a band name with some kind of Bobby DeNiro, Willie Nelson, Ann Heche, Woody Harrelson connection would be just fine. Wag the Dog soon enough spun into The Dog Waggers.
2. What are ya'll's musical credentials?
Oh, tough crowd ... well, let's see. Rick, Geoff and Hunter can all read music real well and they know a lot about harmony, syncopation and time signatures. Kurt has a better sense of rhythm than Ringo Starr and dresses better than Pete Best. Peder is the finest string man this side of Lloyd Dobbler. Dave is certainly not a poet, (but sadly, doesn't know it) and prefers to work in 3/4 -- but has no clue what that really means. But seriously, during their lifetimes, the Dog Waggers, collectively, have played in 23 separate bands -- at least two specializing in Bavarian polka; performed before 23,023 sober listeners, including one president of a local Kiwanis club and the freshman cheerleading squad from Wake Forest University; and written 2 or 3 concept albums' worth of songs that are simply gathering dust in the wind and not yet -- and likely never will -- bring in any mailbox money.
3. Have the dog waggers ever opened for anyone good?
Amazingly enough, we have: Eliza Gilkyson, Caroline Herring, and Adam Carroll. Oh, and we were scheduled to co-bill with Terri Hendrix and Lloyd (Don't Call me Dobbler) Maines, but after Terri discovered that fact, she abruptly cancelled her entire East Coast tour.
4. Wow, is that really true?
Well, most of what we say about ourselves is legit and the other stuff is at least based in some form of fact. The point is this - we have a good time and like to sing and play fun and interesting songs. And a few of us don't take ourselves too seriously. But why don't ya buy our CD, and judge for yourself. Start Chasin' Tales!! In every sense of the phrase ...
Read more...