Dillinger Four

As I get older and keep going to see shows, I can’t help but notice that there are not too many punk rock acts out there that I have yet to see. However there are a few and one of those bands are the elusive Dillinger Four from Minnesota. Many years can pass between albums and they rarely ever tour. So as you could tell I was very excited to sit down with the guys for an interview before their second show on tour opening for NOFX. Thanks to Melanie Kaye from Fat Wreck Chords Canada for setting it up.

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Lanny: So let’s start out by introducing yourselves, and telling us what you do in Dillinger Four.

Erik: My name is Erik, and I play guitars and sing.

Lane: My name is Lane, and I play drums.

Billy: My name is Billy and I play guitar. Paddy our bass player is in the bathroom taking a crap.

Lanny: Well thanks for that information. Well how did the first show of the tour go for you guys last night?

Erik: I think it went pretty well. We didn’t train wreck or anything. We set the bar really low as a band. We made it through all the songs that we started, we played all the songs on our set list, no one got hurt, and we are still a band today.

Lanny: Reminds me of some D4 lyrics to Define Learning Disorder. “Aim so low, that you can’t hit your mark”.

Erik: Ha-ha. You know your stuff.

Lane: I will give the performance about a 75% and that’s high.

Erik: I am not sure I would even agree with that high.

Lanny: Is playing large venues like this (The Kool Haus) common for you guys, or is this relatively new?

Erik: No it’s not common. It’s not a new thing I mean we have done it. We have been a band for fifteen years so we have been in the situation where we have played to big audiences at festivals. This is a first for as many shows as we are about to do, playing large venues opening for NOFX. It’s not really in our comfort zone all that much. It’s not a goal of ours to play large venues. I think we all prefer a smaller crowded venue.

Lanny: I have to admit that I felt that last night watching you guys that this show would be better suited for a more intimate venue like Sneaky Dee’s tonight.

Erik: Yes like I said it’s just more in our comfort zone.

Lanny: So what’s it like touring with your boss? Do you feel like you always have to look busy?

Erik: Why don’t you ask Billy? I’m his boss at the bar I own (The Triple Rock Social Club).

Billy: Ya it’s nothing new for me.

Erik: Part of the reason why his (Fat Mike) label is so great and why the bands tend to stay on it is because he wants your band to do well, and it’s not because he wants to do well financially. I mean Mike does fine. He is not really concerned, well I don’t want to say he’s not concerned but whether one of his smaller bands like us sells an extra two thousand copies doesn’t really change his day to day life at all. He sincerely wants you to do well because he takes personal stock into who he signs.

Lanny: It sounds like he just genuinely wants his bands to do well.

Erik: That’s how I feel. Definitely.

Billy: He is a very generous guy.

Lanny: Ya I can tell by the way your dressing room is stocked with booze. Patron Tequila! Sparing no expense. So what would be the best night to check out the Triple Rock Social Club if one has never been?

Erik: A night that Billy’s working.

Billy: It really just depends what you are in the mood for. I mean what kind of experience you looking for. Are you looking to just sit at the comfortable bar, or do you want to see a fun show. There are just so many enjoyable things about the place that it really is whatever you make it.
Lane: My favorite night at The Triple Rock was when Paddy passed out (while we were playing) and Erik announced there would be one-dollar Budweiser’s for the rest of the night.

Erik: It was for crowd control purposes.

Lane: I don’t think you would get away with that at this venue.

Lanny: Now I need to touch on the huge drama involving blacklists, people getting fired, and mocking cartoons all due to the leak of your October 14 release C I V I L W A R. I have read about 10 different blogs with people bickering with each other about who is wrong. I would love to hear your take on the whole fiasco maybe clear the air?

Erik: People got fired?

Lanny: Yes the alleged leaker was fired from his publication.

Erik: Oh ya just the one writer. Well generally speaking it is a way bigger deal to everyone else than it has been to us.

Lanny: That is kind of what I thought because I didn’t see anything from your camp mentioned about the incident, which is why I wanted to ask.

Erik: It would have been nice if it would have been leaked a little closer to the release date, but what are you going to do?

Lane: You know the cool thing about it is people who have been downloading it have been sending us big envelopes of cash, so it’s all good.

Billy: I think any real Dillinger Four fan is going to buy the copy anyway to have the artwork and the liner notes. And just to touch on ‘Nothing Nice To Say”. We have known Mitch for a long time because he used to live in Minneapolis, and this isn’t the first time he has poked a stick our way or whatever. I don’t think he was trying to be malicious to us. We are just fine with it.

Erik: I know one of the engineers got into it with him (Mitch Clem) through their blogs or whatever, but that is between our sound engineer and a comic book writer. It has nothing to do with us.

Lanny: I noticed you were selling copies of C I V I L W A R last night, a week before its release.

Erik: Yes, we decided to leak it ourselves. We are excited to have it, so we can refresh ourselves with the songs before we play them.

Lanny: I see what’s going on here it’s an inside job. So are you satisfied with the final product C I V I L W A R?

Erik: Yes I am really happy with it. I wish there was a better picture of me in the artwork, but other than that I am happy.

Lane: I liked Paddy’s picture because he looks like a bear with human teeth. I think when you do a record there will always be something you are not satisfied with because of time restrictions and so forth.

Lanny: Which song off the new album holds the most personal meaning to you?

Erik: A song titled “The Classical Arrangement”, and it’s one of two that I really like. When I wrote it I was kind of joking about it being a power ballad. It’s sort of a weird song. I kind of wrote it about my lack of religious views, I guess. And I also like the last song “Clown Cars on Cinderblocks” which is a bit of a downer. It’s about my father in law getting sick last year, and passing away. So it’s just about all the things we went through relating to that experience.

Lanny: And how about you Lane?

Lane: Let me think. I am going to have to say the same as Erik but for different reasons because I invented the monkey climbing the ladder beat. So you know it’s a very personal song to me because I have to move both arms up and down like this (does a motion that does look like a monkey climbing a ladder).

Billy: As a drummer he’s just not used to that.

Lanny: In the six years since we last heard from you there have been epic changes in the music industry. Everything from format to styles, plummeting CD sales, to how bands are promoted. Now that you have written, recorded, had a record leaked, and now toured a bit tell me what is by far the worst change in your experiences?

Paddy: Aids!

Erik: The worst change to me is the internet because every idiot who wants pop off about whatever they want to pop off about now has a vehicle to do it worldwide, instantaneously. It drives me crazy to see some of these message boards lit up with people’s comments that have no idea what they are talking about, and then spreading complete bullshit and misinformation. I know there are a lot of upsides to the Internet as well, but the spreading of bullshit has to stop.

Lanny: Yes it’s brutal because no one has to stand behind his or her words any more.

Erik: Exactly.

Lanny: This question is for you Paddy. I was shopping online for some T Shirts and I came across this trendy urban clothing site that was selling a T Shirt that has a picture of you on it. It sells for $36.50 US. Are you making any money off this? (I printed off a picture to show him)

Paddy: To this day I have made $200. I am a model dude. Actually the guy who took the picture (Dan Monick) was my neighbor in Minneapolis. He got in touch with me, and said that a company was interested in printing that photo on their T-shirts. I think the company is called Blood is the New Black and they sell the fucking things for $50 at Urban Outfitters.

Lanny: Well I just had to ask because it seemed so random.

Paddy: Well I think everyone saw it coming because I am so fucking gorgeous.

Lanny: Everyone does know because last night you ripped your shirt off and showed us your sexiness.

Paddy: Normally I don’t like to do that because it over stimulates the crowd. Once they see my bear chest people just can’t control themselves and they lose their minds.

Billy: I think people would get more excited if you actually ripped your shirt off like Hulk Hogan styles. “Are you rrrready now brother”.

Lanny: How does everyone in the band being involved with outside professional careers, help or hinder how you guys approach the way you run the band?

Erik: Well more than anything, I guess it gets in the way of our band. I guess we just have to work around it. Since we never tried and have never been able to do the band as a full time thing, I guess it would be more of a negative than anything else.

Lanny: Because you guys aren’t a heavy touring band at what point when you hit the road do you get that feeling that this is why we keep D4 alive?

Erik: We haven’t felt it yet. Ha-ha and so far day two is not the day.

Lane: I know there are nights when we truly and legitimately enjoy the time that we are playing and I think that’s why we do it. But what’s not a lot of fun is driving and waiting around for that one hour which we get to play. It’s not always fun being away from your normal life.

Erik: I mean I had a lot of fun today. I went golfing and I am starting to get a feel for it now. We seriously haven’t even driven yet. Just Paddy and our roadie drove up here and the rest of us flew in to Toronto.

Lane: Wait a second, that is what I have loved about this tour so far.

Lanny: I guess its nothing three nights in Montréal can’t cure.

Erik: Exactly!

Lanny: In liner notes to your album This Shit is Genius lies a quote “Saying that someone doesn’t have a right to complain if they don’t vote is like punishing the hungry persons disappointed at being offered either the piss soup or the shit cake.” Do you feel the same way right now a month away from one of the most historical elections in your country’s history?

Erik: I do feel the same way. The song refers to a time in my life when I was in college and it was directed towards that Rock The Vote campaign shit. People were just trying to shove ideas down my throat, or yelling at you for not sharing the same opinion as them. But since that quote was written a long time ago my views have kind of changed. I mean I am going to vote for one of two people, and that doesn’t necessarily mean I had a huge choice in my government. It just means I had a choice between Coke and Pepsi and today I like Coke better. I still would never get in someone’s face and tell him or her they need to vote or not vote.

Lane: If you have a large part of the electorate not turning out to vote, that somehow means something. Obviously it’s an important part of the democratic process but it only really means so much.

Lanny: What is the first thing that has to change if Obama gets elected?

Erik: I would have to say end the war. Come on we are spending billions of dollars on this fight, and now the markets of other countries are also crashing. I mean to me that is a no brainer. For that and a million other reasons.

Lane: I agree with Erik, but I also think healthcare is really important. I have a friend who has had to declare bankruptcy two or three times due to medical expenses, and being over whelmed by medical bills. He is basically uninsurable. So I hired him, so he could get benefits, but ironically he is paying into the insurance and for the next six to nine months they refuse to cover him, so I think you get the idea of how fucked up things are. So obviously we need some healthcare reform. I think it’s sad we are one of the most prosperous countries on the planet, and so many people have the mentality that I’ve got mine and you should get yours.

Lanny: You should send your friend up to Canada. We will take care of him.

Lane: I benefited from Canadian health care the last time I was here.

Lanny: What happened?

Lane: While playing the drums I drove an inch and a half long splinter into my thumb. If it had been any longer it would have exited my thumb on the other end. My band mates couldn’t get it out so I had to go to the hospital. I used this Canadian guy’s health card and covered my face a lot, and cried uncontrollably whenever the nurse at the window would ask me a personal question. My friends could look at the card and answer any of the questions as I cried out loud.

Lanny: Wow blood for rock.

Lane: Actually I am a giant pussy and I wasn’t pretending to cry uncontrollably that was just my cover.

Lanny: Is it true that Darkest Hour slayed the bands drink for free policy at the Triple Rock Social Club? What chaos spawned the shut down?

Erik: I don’t think it was Darkest Hour. No I don’t think so.

Lanny: I was watching Darkest Hour’s Party Scars and Prison Bars documentary and their drummer was claiming responsibility for stopping the bands drink for free policy.

Erik: Really? Well that’s cool if they said that.

Lane: What was this free for all policy?

Erik: We just used have an unlimited tab for bands playing The Triple Rock. But it got way too messy.

Lane: I would have thought you ended that policy just for when we play at The Triple Rock.

Erik: Yes no shit.

Lanny: Well because you guys are about to play here is the last question. Geographically speaking Canada is basically Minnesota’s Cowboy hat. I feel like we are pretty much brothers yet we know very little about the state that boasts 10,000 lakes. I was wondering if you would like to participate in a Let’s get to know Minnesota trivia quiz I put together?

Erik: These two (Lane and Billy) are native Minnesotaian’s so you can ask them.

Lane: I am just glad you are giving us this quiz and not quizzing us about Canada.

Lanny: How many football fields can fit in the Mall of America?

Erik: I am going to say 300.

Lane: I am going to guess higher and say 700.

Billy: I will be that guy on the Price is Right and go with one.

Lanny: Price is Right rules win again Billy! The answer is 78. I also would have accepted 9.5 million square feet.

Billy: Yaaaaaaa

Lanny: Why did Jesse the Body Ventura not seek a second term as Governor?

Lane: Well I think what he claimed was that he didn’t like how the media was treating him and his family.

Lanny: Interesting.

Lane: Well what was the answer?

Lanny: I don’t know, that question was for me. I wanted to know. Next question, does Minneapolis has more golfers per capita than any other city America?

Erik: True.

Lanny: That is correct.

Erik: I was playing golf today. In Toronto, which I was also told, has a high per capita of golfers.

Lane: Ironically he lives in St. Paul.

Lanny: Well that is ironic because my next question is about St. Paul. Can you give me the original name of the settlement you now know as St. Paul?

Lane: I know this it’s Pig’s Eye.

Lanny: Correct. Named Pig’s Eye’s Landing after French Canadian Whisky trader Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant who lead squatters to the settlement. Sounds punk doesn’t it?

Lane: I was going to say all that but you totally cut me off.

Lanny: Sorry man it’s a great story and it gets me all excited when I talk about it. It won’t happen again. Next question. Of the 10,000 lakes that Minnesota boasts how many has Paddy been naked in?

Erik: Oh he doesn’t generally go into natural waters. He will go tube’n in a river but that’s about it man.

Lanny: Ok another true or false question. Minnesota has one recreational boat for every six people?

Lane: I would say that’s true.

Billy: I would believe that as well.

Lanny: That is true.

Lane: I own a boat. So in this room that’s one person for every for people.

Lanny: Who is Jacques Lemaire?

Lane: He is a hockey coach for the Minnesota Wild?

Lanny: Right once again. And finally which famous Cincinnati Red recorded the first official hit in the Metro Dome?

Erik: Uh uh I don’t know.

Lane: Pete Rose.

Lanny: You got it again.

Billy: Nice Lane’er!

Lane: I don’t even like baseball.

Erik: He has actually answered most of these questions.

Lanny: He knows his Minnesota.

Erik: So is that it?

Lanny: I guess it is. Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my questions. Good luck with the shows tonight.

Erik: Thanks for talking to us.