Dog Is Dead

October 2012

A SUMMER of major festival appearances behind them, a Radio 1 session just this week, a debut album about to launch... and yet Dog Is Dead haven’t quite got over failing to win the Rushcliffe School 2007 Battle of The Bands.

“We still haven’t let that go,” admits frontman Rob Milton.

“The band that won it were rubbish. I’d say that the judging was inadequate.

“It’s because we were from a rival school, I’m sure of it. Being from West Bridgford School was an obvious disadvantage.”

He adds: “We fell out with battles of the bands after that and decided that music wasn’t a competition.”

The 21-year-old singer, songwriter and bassist is, of course, joking because next week the band release their long-awaited debut album, All Our Favourite Stories, for Atlantic, the label they signed to last year.

Over the past 18 months they’ve been all over national radio, played all the major festivals, toured with Bombay Bicycle Club, appeared at Milan Fashion Week and more recently Vogue’s Fashion Night Out in London, and this week did a session for Huw Stephens on Radio 1. Dog Is Dead also played a show at London’s The Social to mark the fifth anniversary at the DJ’s club night there.

Says Rob: “That was really cool. It was a sweaty little gig, packed with people.”

The gig was part of a busy week of promoting the album which is released on Monday with a launch party at the Boat Club by Trent Bridge.

“We wanted to do something special in Nottingham,” says Rob.

“We were aware that we had done Rock City in December which was amazing but we didn’t want to do the same thing.

“And The Boat Club is just a few minutes from our houses...”

So that was the sole motivation?

“That’s it,” he laughs.

“We can all cycle there.”

He adds: “We used to play gigs there before we were in Dog Is Dead, from the age of 13 to 16. And we had the most amazing time. Teenagers used to come to our shows, probably because there wasn’t much else to do at the time.

“So we wanted to go back to that with the album release show with our mates and families there.”

Tickets sold out within minutes of going on sale.

“We’ll be playing the album in its entirety and in order, so it will be a bit of challenge because there are some songs we haven’t played live before.”

Unless there’s another pre-Christmas show announced at the last minute, it will be the only time Dog Is Dead will play Nottingham until next year. The UK tour starts in Manchester on October 23 and ends in London next month.

Rob, Lawrence ‘Trev’ Cole and Joss Van Wilder met at school and formed Dog Is Dead in their final year. Guitarist Paul Roberts knew Trev from youth theatre, while drummer Daniel Harvey joined just last year, replacing their original drummer who left to study drama at university.

The rest of them gave up on the idea of university soon after finishing their A-levels but not because of the band so much a realisation, Rob says, that “we’re not very clever”.

Although Rob is the main man, it’s Trev who is the most identifiable, hence the “Trev Stamp” T-shirt for sale on their website.

“I think he’s turning in to this huge role model for all ages,” laughs Rob, about the lanky sax player with the distinctive curly ginger mop.

They could all be role models: Dog Is Dead are five nice young men from south of the river.

“None of us is Waitrose or Marks and Spencer’s,” he protests.

“Actually we’re thinking of striking up a deal with Asda West Bridgford to see what we can get. It would probably be smarter than Smart Price.”

He adds: “I actually miss Asda when we go on tour. We’re very loyal to Asda.”

All Our Favourite Stories features the new single, Talk Through The Night, which has been playlisted at Radio 1, and Heal It, produced by Trevor Horn. After topping the chart in 1979 with The Buggles’ single Video Killed the Radio Star, Horn went on to become one of the most successful music producers of the 80s, working with Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Pet Shop Boys.

Says Rob: “He came to one of our shows and said: ‘I love your band, I really want to record you.’

“It’s a huge-sounding track. I don’t really let people mess with my songs normally but he got his mitts on it. I listened to what he had to say and he gave it a little tweak. It’s quite different from the rest of the album.”

The distinctive sleeve is his own design.

“I wanted to make something really striking but not too modern. We’re really into the album covers of Pink Floyd and bands like that so I took it to a graphic designer and told them what I wanted.

“I get really excited by CD booklets. From growing up I always liked the lyrics and the artwork.”

Getting to this stage has been five years of hard work.

“We played everywhere in Nottingham and we must have played a million shows in London over the past four years, in front of just ten people to start with.”

He adds: “You don’t sit and wait for it to happen, you just work really hard and do stuff for yourself, like we did with the first three singles.”

He adds: “It’s been a gradual build. This album is a big stepping stone for us but it is another stepping stone. Whether it goes ‘bang!’ straight off and gets to No. 1 or just floats about for a bit and people talk about it... it is another stepping stone towards us having a long career of making music.

“As long as we are progressing and people are enjoying what we do... that is ultimately the point.

“We’re really proud of it. And it’s been really cool seeing how we’ve all reacted to the album.

“We’ve known each other so long now. It sounds really cheesy but it’s like the album has refreshed our friendship.”

All Our Favourite Stories is out on Monday. There’s also a deluxe edition featuring six extra tracks. The Boat Club show on Monday is sold out but the band will be at Fopp in Queen Street on Sunday from 4pm for a short performance and signing session. For more about them go to www.dogisdead.co.uk.

2007: @Runners-up in the Rushcliffe School Battle of the Bands.

2008: @After playing The Bodega, DHP, owners of Rock City, the Rescue Rooms, Stealth and The Bodega, sign them to a management deal. That summer they play the Courtyard Stage at Splendour, while Ocean Colour Scene were on the main stage. The Post reported: “Teen band Dog Is Dead were a revelation, a choppy art-rock inspired four piece who pulled off some tricky harmonies.”

2009: @Appear on the Post’s online music showcase This Is Live performing Clockwork. Dot to Dot follows in May and then Splendour in June, headlined by Madness.

2010: @Self-release singles Glockenspiel Song and Young, pick up airplay on Radio 1, 6Music and XFM, and play Glastonbury.

2011: @River Jordan, the third single in the Your Childhood trilogy is released. More Radio 1 airplay, appeared on Channel 4 teen drama Skins, feature in the NME, sign to Atlantic Records. Major festival appearances at Latitude, Bestival and Leeds/Reading and a UK tour supporting Bombay Bicycle Club. Hands Down, their debut single for Atlantic, is released. Close the year with a main stage show at Rock City, the biggest by a Nottingham band in the venue’s 30-year history.

2012: @Singles Two Devils and the re-recorded Glockenspiel Song are released, more Radio 1 support with airplay, playlists and sessions. 25 festival appearances, a million YouTube hits. Fourth single Talk Through The Night is released. Debut album, All Our Favourite Stories launched with sell-out show at the Boat Club.

Dog Is Dead

June 2012

IT will be their first publicised show in the city since December’s headliner at Rock City but Dog Is Dead have played in the city since, supporting Dry The River at The Bodega in April.

“It was so random,” admits singer, bassist and songwriter Rob Milton.

“They said ‘our support’s dropped out, do you want to do it?’ This was only a couple of days before the gig and we thought ‘yeah, why not?’”

They played under a pseudonym, which contained two words, Zombie was one, the other can’t be printed in a family newspaper.

“Joss, our stupid keyboard player, came up with a stupid  name because he decided he wants to be a hardcore metal drummer,” says Rob.

“You can tell I wasn’t a fan of the name.”

Despite that the gig was satisfying.

“It was quite funny and they have a really different crowd to us in Nottingham so that worked out for us. We were playing to a different audience than we’re used to.”

The gig was a minor distraction from finishing their debut album for Atlantic Records.

“We’ve been back in Nottingham wrapping up our album, finishing the last few tracks. And making it sound like a real album.”

Recording has been going on for a few months at various UK studios but the band decided to finish it at Random Recording Studios near Lady Bay Retail Park.

“It’s where we did all of our first demos,” says Rob.

“We decided to do it back home where we’re most comfortable, doing it with people with we know really well.

“We’ve had so much experience in big studios with some really great producers and learnt so much so we can get on with finishing ourselves back in Nottingham.

“It’s a nice peaceful way to wrap up a crazy four years of songwriting.”

A few of the potential album tracks were recorded with David Kosten (Bat for Lashes and Everything Everything).

“He was great. Then we did a few back in Nottingham with Guy Elderfield. Then a couple of weeks ago we did one with Trevor Horn. After topping the chart in 1979 with The Buggles’ single Video Killed the Radio Star, Horn, a CBE, went on to become one of the most successful music producers of the ‘80s.

Says Rob: “His discography is incredible. He produced all the Frankie Goes To Hollywood records, Pet Shop Boys, Seal...

“He came to one of our shows and apparently he doesn’t stay to the end normally but he did and came up to us afterwards. He said: ‘I love your band, I really want to record you.’

“We said ‘We said we can’t afford you’ but he said not to worry, he’s do it on the cheap.”

Dog Is Dead recorded one track with him.

“It doesn’t sound like the Pet Shop Boys,” he laughs.

“It still sounds like us. It was a phenomenal experience and sounds amazing.”

But whether it will make the final album is still being decided.

“We’re being really brutal about what we want to keep and which tracks represent where we are today. Although it would be wrong to ignore what we have done in the past.”

Prior to signing with Atlantic, they self-released three EPs that included live favourites Glockenspiel Song, Young and River Jordan.

“We still love those early EPs so re-recording them was always an option.”

Why?

“Because we’re much better players now. We can record them in a much more raw state and they sound better than the originals.”

With Atlantic, the quintet have released two singles so far, Hands Down and Two Devils. A third is due out in July.

Those will almost certainly make the final album, which is pencilled for release in the autumn.

“It’s going to be a relief to package up what we’ve been doing for the past four years and get that album out. We feel like it’s a record in demand. It’s not too polished.

“I think the whole beauty of it is how raw it is. It’s kids who grew up together at school teaching each other instruments, learning how to record them and play live.”

So which tracks will be included?

“We’re right in the middle of the decision making process but it’s going to be a fair representation of us. I think people will be happy with it. Although it’s more about us being happy with it.”

Their appearance at Dot to Dot on Sunday will kick off Dog Is Dead’s festival season that includes The Hop Farm Festival, T In The Park, Truck Festival and Summer Sundae Weekender.

After that it’ll the new album and another UK tour to promote it.

Rob is encouraged by the steady progress of the band and also the growing profile of fellow Nottingham musicians such as Jake Bugg, Ronika, Sam Beeton and THePETEBOX.

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about Jake Bugg and what he’s been up to. I think it’s something that Nottingham can be proud of, producing four or five acts that are getting a really decent amount of attention nationally but who are all completely different.

“We don’t have some linear scene which could be quite boring. I think that’s really promising for Nottingham.”

He adds: “We’re certainly not the only artist that has a real chance of making a proper career of it.”

Dog Is Dead play Rock City’s main stage as part of the Dot To Dot festival on Sunday June 3 at 8.30pm. www.dottodotfestival.co.uk

Dog Is Dead

December 2011

IT has been quite a year for Nottingham music with major label deals, a Top 5 single, national radio airplay, major festival slots, support slots on big name UK tours, coverage in the national music press and even an appearance in a teen soap.

Leading the charge are Dog Is Dead, a five-piece from West Bridgford, who will round off their impressive year of success with a headline show on the main stage at Rock City this weekend.

The indie band have been steadily gaining momentum in 2011, beginning the year by signing to Atlantic Records.

Since then they’ve supported Bombay Bicycle Club on a UK tour, played major festivals such as Latitude, Bestival and Leeds and Reading, had airplay on and played sessions for Radio 1 and BBC 6Music, and appeared on the Channel 4 soap Skins.

We meet in the boardroom at DHP’s offices in Talbot Street. DHP is the company which owns and runs Rock City, the Rescue Rooms, Stealth and The Bodega, books bands for Splendour and promotes numerous UK tours. Three years ago they turned to music management and signed up Dog Is Dead.

At the time they’d been together just a year.

Rob Milton, Joss Van Wilder and Lawrence ‘Trev’ Cole had met at West Bridgford School.

“Me and Rob were in our first band when we were 13,” says Joss, their keyboard player.

“Then me and Trev were in probably the greatest band ever, doing Kings of Leon and White Stripes covers that were better than the originals.”

Trev, as he became known to save confusion with original drummer Lawrence Libor, nods in agreement.

Continues Joss: “We played a Tollerton event and had to stop half-way through because we were drowning out the steel band.”

“And when we came back on and played two songs, I realised by the end of the second song that I hadn’t plugged my bass in,” laughs Trev.

The band were called Oh Henry! - which is very West Bridgford.

“No,” insists Joss, “it’s taken from the Canadian chocolate bar.”

Eventually Trev, Joss and Rob started playing together and played an end of year show at school.

“But our first proper gig as Dog Is Dead was when our friend had a mini-festival in his back garden for his 16th<” says Joss.

“That was a great gig because it was packed out with all out friends. After that we experienced the real world of gigging playing to two people.”

By now Trev’s ability with a saxophone had meant Rob was now playing bass. Trev had learned the piano from the age of six but the sax became his primary instrument at the age of 10.

“When I realised that the piano and cornet weren’t very cool,” he says.

Adds Joss: “And when they realised I couldn’t play guitar they got Paul in.”

“I knew Trev from a play we did when we were both 15,” says Paul Roberts, who lives in Stapleford.

“He was with the Playhouse Youth Theatre and I was with the Arts Theatre.”

Paul appeared in ModCrop at the Theatre Royal when he was 16 but under his real name of Rob White. Like Trev he changed it for Dog Is Dead in order that there be only one Rob in the band.

They have been together properly as a band for four years. After finishing their A levels, they decided to take a year out to see how things developed.

Not that they were really giving up university places...

Joss admits: “We weren’t really concentrating. We were more intent on trying to become rock ‘n’ roll stars. So we didn’t really do very well.”

Adds Trev: “I definitely flunked my A Levels.”

Within the year they were playing Splendour and DHP came on board.

Eventually they’d all work at DHP venues.

“It was so we could get time off whenever we needed it,” says Joss.

“It made doing the band a lot easier.”

Naturally Dog Is Dead were given prime slots at Splendour, opening the main stage two years running. This year they were higher up the bill on the second stage.

They were all able to quit the day jobs once they signed to Atlantic in March.

Say Paul: “Before that we’d do the odd London show and support slots were at DHP venues. But since Atlantic, we’ve toured with Bombay Bicycle Club.

“We were playing 2000 to 3500 capacity venues on that tour,” says Rob, Dog Is Dead’s singer, bassist and chief songwriter, who rolls in late, complaining of a dodgy eye.

“That was my first real set of gigs,” says Daniel Harvey, who joined the line-up in August when their original drummer   quit to study drama at university.

At 19 he is the youngest (the rest are all 20) and the only outsider (he’s from Doncaster).

“It was through a mutual girlfriend I had with Paul,” he says of the connection.

“Not a shared girlfriend. Our girlfriends are friends so it happened that way. I’d just finished my first year at Leeds uni where I was doing maths. I left uni to do this.”

Quips Trev: “And moved to the university of rock n roll.”

“We thought we’d break him in nice and easy,” laughs Rob.

Says Daniel: “Actually my first proper gig was at Fashion Week in Milan.”

Milan?

“We played a set for Burberry,” says Trev, “and they said we could pick two items of clothing from their exclusive range. Together they were probably worth £500 or £1000 and we still felt underdressed. The place was just full of beautiful.”

Laughs Joss: “The girls could tell we didn’t belong there. I wear my shirt all the time but the trousers... I can’t get into the pockets.”

“You can always trust Joss,” sighs Rob. “No matter what he gets given he’s the first with a list of complaints.”

As if to prove a point he proceeds to moan about his bobbly designer jumper. We all agree it’s supposed to be that way.

Dog Is Dead don’t really fit in with fashion weeks or swanky private parties

“It was a laugh because it was so flashy,” says Trev, about a record label do in the summer.

Agrees Paul: “It was this big posh building with a swimming pool on the roof. It was free beer and free wine but we all wanted Jägerbombs and they were like a tenner each!”

They are more at home messing around amongst themselves, posing with imaginary washboards for publicity photos and TV interviews.

“It’s from the Fast Show with the bloke ‘Where’s me washboard?’,” says Trev, by way of explanation.

Following last month’s debut single for Atlantic, Hands Down, they’ve just put out a Christmas single as a free download, a cover of The Waitresses Christmas Wrapping.

On New Year’s Eve they play Club NME in London, then go back to recording their debut album with producer David Kosten (Everything Everything, Bat For Lashes)

In February Dog Is Dead will embark on a 24-date national UK tour but the immediate focus is on tomorrow’s gig at Rock City, their biggest hometown show and the biggest ever by a Nottingham band at the venue.

“Anyone who grows up in Nottingham and is in a band hopes to one day play the main stage at Rock City,” says Rob.

“It’s our biggest headline show here by a long way and there’s a lot more pressure on us to make it special. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Dog Is Dead play Rock City December 17 supported by Kagoule and Kappa Gamma. Doors 7pm. Tickets are £7.50, www.gigantic.com/nottinghampost

Dog Is Dead

October 2011

A NOTTINGHAM band could soon be snapping at the heels of music’s biggest stars in the UK charts.

Dog Is Dead today released their first single for Atlantic Records, one of the world’s biggest record labels.

The West Bridgford indie-pop quintet signed to the label, home to Plan B, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, earlier this year.

Hands Down was recorded at the famous RAK studios in London and today went on sale in shops across the UK and through all the key download sites.

But singer and songwriter Rob Milton is cautious about being over optimistic.

“We are confident we can get in the chart but we’re talking about the top 150, which would be ridiculous for a band at the stage we are at,” said the 20-year-old.

“We don’t want to push it too hard, we just want to see how people react to it.”

The band have already released three singles on their own Your Childhood record label. Glockenspiel Song, Young and River Jordan have been played on Radio 1, Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. They’ve also been featured in the NME, appeared at Glastonbury and even had a small role in the Channel 4 teen drama Skins.

“Even though we’ve been doing this for three years, getting signed to Atlantic felt like the start. And this single is really a first step. It’s not going to get to number one but we want to steadily build our fanbase.”

Rob met Joss Van Wilder (keyboards) and Lawrence ‘Trev’ Cole (bass/sax) at West Bridgford School. They formed Dog Is Dead with Paul Roberts (guitar) in 2008. Drummer Daniel Harvey joined this year.

“I wanted to make a song with a Motown feel that had a really positive message,” he says of Hands Down, which will be included on their first album for Atlantic, expected in the Spring.

“We’re still working on the songs for that,” said Rob.

“It’s a bit of a free-for-all at the moment which is quite exciting.”

They recently supported Bombay Bicycle Club on tour.

“That was probably the time of our lives,” he said.

“We were playing to two or three thousand people every night. The crowds reacted to us amazingly well.”

Dog Is Dead will play the main stage at Rock City in December, the biggest gig by a homegrown band in decades.

“It feels like it’s going to be a big show, not just for us but for Nottingham.”

Local music champions Nusic have been running a competition for an unsigned Nottingham band to open the gig.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for any musician serious about pursuing their musical dream,” said Nusic’s Mark Del, who will be choosing a shortlist tonight along with a panel of judges.

Added Rob: “We just want someone who is really entertaining. I wouldn’t necessarily want a Dog Is Dead tribute band.”

Dog Is Dead are leading the charge for the local music scene which has seen the likes of Jake Bugg, Ronika, Liam Bailey and Spotlight Kid gain national attention on the radio and in the press.

Dog Is Dead, who were signing limited edition seven inch vinyl copies of the single at Fopp yesterday, play Rock City on Saturday December 17.

Tickets are £7.50 from the venue, call 0845 413 4444 or go to www.alt-tickets.co.uk.

Hands Down is available at all record shops and to download through iTunes and other websites. The video for the single is available at dogisdead.co.uk.