& The River Band |
--by Rick Flynn |
|
RICK: We're here backstage with DUSTY RHODES & THE RIVER BAND that did one tremendous job warming up our sold out show tonight with FLOGGING MOLLY. Why don't you introduce yourself to everyone here and for those that could not get a ticket to this sold out event...we have 1700 people and it's standing room only here at The Madison Theater. Why don't you say hello and introduce yourself. DUSTY: Hello! I'm Dusty Rhodes. I play Accordion and keyboards in the group and it was great playing here. RICK: Is that an Accordion or is that a Concertina? I just thought I'd ask because we went through this before with one of our Zydeco acts (Interview with ROBIN LACY & DEZYDECO on 2/1/08). DUSTY: Well, as far as I know, it's an Accordion. A Concertina is like, the smaller one, and they go in and out. RICK: Correct. And yours does what? DUSTY: It's just a continuous, same note, as long as air is passing through it. RICK: So you have ''Piano Style'' keys? DUSTY: Yes, I do have ''Piano Style'' keys, but they are buttons only. RICK: Well, I'm not going to get into it too deeply but, if anybody wants to research it, go to our ''Dezydeco'' interview and we get into that pretty heavy. So, tell me about your band. I understand you're from Anaheim, California? DUSTY: Born and raised...live and die! RICK: Live and die on The West Coast? California does know how to party? DUSTY: Yes. Definitely! RICK: First of all, what do you think about The Madison Theater? DUSTY: It is the most beautiful theater I've ever been to. The backstage looks like...it has a kitchen... I was almost going to do the dishes! Yeah, I said to myself: ''Oh, I better do these dishes!'' RICK: Tell me, how long has the band been together? DUSTY: Four years--five years technically. RICK: Can you relate to me exactly how the group did get started? DUSTY: Well, we got started back in '02 as a three piece. It was just acoustic guitar, accordion only, and acoustic bass. RICK: Where were you playing at that time? DUSTY: Oh, any old poop hole anywhere--anywhere we would show up. We'd go to school and we just played outside because it was easy. We'd just pick up our stuff and go. We did a tour like that too. We did one tour where we actually flew. It's weird how that works. The first tour you actually fly and the rest you tour in the smallest, crappiest van you can find! RICK: That is the direct opposite of what I've heard in my career. DUSTY: (laughing) Yeah, we only went to one place. RICK: So you began as a three piece. How did the other members get added later? DUSTY: Well, I love YES. RICK: Rick Wakeman & Company? DUSTIN: Really, I just love Rick Wakeman, and we just needed...and everyone else was like: ''OK, let's go. Let's do this.'' So we added a bunch of people and it just kept getting bigger, bigger, and there were like six and we said: ''OK, we're stopping at six.'' We were going to add another but six of us already had the Astro Van and, it's like, ''You ain't gonna fit!'' pretty much. |
|
RICK: Did you find it hard to make the transition between those little places you were playing and big venues like this one? DUSTY: No. It was a complete opposite. It was the greatest. You get a ''backstage'' and you get to hang out. There's a thing called a ''runner'' that does stuff for you. ''What, are you kidding me?'' And, there's two sound guys. And you're there, and it's like, there are speakers that go TOWARD you! RICK: What about our sound system. It's fabulous, isn't it? DUSTY: Oh yeah! It's a wonderful sound system. But, when we first started (in our career) I went: ''Monitor...There's speakers that point at you? Uhhh...OK !!!'' RICK: We have a separate individual that runs those monitors. That's your two sound man theory--one that runs the house mix that the audience hears and the second that runs the monitor mix that the artists hear. DUSTY: And that just blew me away! |
| The Madison's audio technician, DON LESTER, operating the professional monitor mixing console during the sold out FLOGGING MOLLY concert on February 14, 2008. This console, which is referred to in this exclusive interview with DUSTY RHODES (real name: Dustin Apodaca) of DUSTY RHODES & THE RIVER BAND is how artists appearing at The Madison Theater actually get to hear themselves--while a second audio technician handles the main audio console which produces the mix the audience hears. |
|
RICK: Now, out of Anaheim, California, here you are tonight in Greater Cincinnati. How did you wind up with FLOGGING MOLLY? DUSTY: Well, we're on the same record label and we pretty much have the exact same instrumentation and they're doing us a wonderful thing by inviting us and we're so happy to do it. It's quite magical, actually so...we're on the same label and it's like: ''You guys are good, we love your record'', and we're like: ''Awesome!'' We saw them back in '01 and I was like ''Whoa...Oh yeah!'' and now... RICK: Here you are! DUSTY: Yeah, definitely--definitely awesome! RICK: Do you have a new album out? DUSTY: Yes. Our new album. ''First You Live'' is in stores now, on Side One Dummy Records, and you can pick it up at most VIRGIN, and some TARGET's, and most BEST BUY's. RICK: Very good: Do you find a lot of people in the audience are listing to your sound, and the general style of, would you call it ''Celtic Music?'' DUSTY: Well, not necessarily our music is Celtic. Our music is progressive folk rock. Now, that's weird and it's just weird music. RICK: You have to develop a taste for it--kind of like beer? DUSTY: Yeah, kind of. When PRINCE first started people would look at him and think: ''What the heck is going on?'' and then ''That was a good show!'' And, we can do the same. RICK: I've met PRINCE and worked with him twice. He was always very nice to me, both in the work environments as well as in the parties and receptions we attended after work was over. In fact, I just recently ran into MORRIS DAY & THE TIME. DUSTY: Oh yes! RICK: I was just out in Las Vegas with MORRIS DAY & THE TIME, and four other groups and am most familiar with what you are talking about because PRINCE, behind the persona, is actually a nice guy--or at least he was to me. He's a wee bit shy. Have you met him? DUSTY: No, I've never met him. |
|
RICK: Do you find that a lot of the audience that listens to you is, shall we say, ''Pretend Irish''? DUSTY: Definitely not our crowd. I would not say anyone in our crowd is ''Pretend Irish'' here. RICK: Well, they'll show up wearing the green and the Irish attire but they're only Irish for the night. DUSTY: No. Definitely not for our band and our music. RICK: Well tell me about your crowd. What is your typical audience? This was the first time I actually had the chance to hear you and you guys did a very good job. Everybody loved you. DUSTY: Oh, thank-you very much for the kind words but our crowd, usually...oh, I don't know...just a bunch of freaks! (laughing) RICK: Would you call it strictly a Rock & Roll crowd? DUSTY: Yes. It's just like any Rock crowd in California--but it's usually weirdoes. RICK: It's crazier out there than here, in The Midwest, where you are now? DUSTY: The Midwest is...well, anybody who is there is usually...sometimes there's some crazies out there. |
|
|
RICK: Where is the worst place you have played? DUSTY: Hummm, the worst place? I'd say the worst place we played is Alb'uerque. RICK: Alb'uerque, New Mexico? DUSTY: Oh yeah. It's scary. RICK: Tell me about that. DUSTY: When you play there...it's like...say tonight. These kids for the FLOGGING MOLLY show are die hard FLOGGING MOLLY fans. They're here for FLOGGING MOLLY, obviously, but they are polite and very respectful fans. In Alb'uerque, if you don't play with your heart and soul you'll get the boot right away. In Alb'uerque, when you play to Native Americans, you've GOT to play with your heart and soul or you're dead! RICK: Oh no, is that how it works out there? DUSTY: You get threatened. Literally, your life is threatened. They will kill you. RICK: Well, tell me about The Madison Theater crowd tonight. What do you think they thought of you? DUSTY: I thought it went really good. It definitely went great. We rocked a million faces! RICK: Would you like to come back here and play? DUSTY: I would love to come back here and play. It was an honor to be here and it is a really nice venue. RICK: In the future, what direction do you see the group going? DUSTY: We really have no boundaries. RICK: Wherever the wind blows? DUSTY: Yeah. We'll do whatever. RICK: How long has the new album been out? DUSTY: The new record has been out since October 2. RICK: Well, it was absolutely a pleasure to have all you guys, and girl, here to play at The Madison tonight. You did a tremendous job. Did you feel the energy on the stage with the crowd here, at The Madison tonight? DUSTY: Oh, definitely! These people want to just have a good time and I will gladly give them everything I have. RICK: And play with your heart and soul? DUSTY: Yes! If it is not worth doing, then don't do it. RICK: Very good. Thank-you for the kind words you said about our theater. DUSTY: And thank-you for the kind words you said about our band. RICK: Now, I trust that when this interview is published, you will be right there, at our site, reading it? DUSTY: Of course! RICK: Where can people go on The World Wide Web to find you? DUSTY: They can either go to the Side One Dummy web site, or they can go to our MySpace page. RICK: And the address to that page is? DUSTY: SideOneDummy.com/DustyRhodes. or MySpace.com/DustyRhodes. And remember that's spelled ''R-H-O-D-E-S. RICK: Thank-you for coming to The Madison Theater tonight and we'll see you on the next time in--hopefully with FLOGGING MOLLY. DUSTY: Hell yeah--or, we'll be headlining! |
The unauthorized reproduction or publishing of any of the exclusive text appearing in this article is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of The Madison Theater Fansite and Rick Flynn Productions. Unauthorized use of any of the exclusive photos is prohibited without prior written approval. All published material herein contained may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed |