The beauty of being
in a rock n roll band these days is that there are so many influences to draw
from. A band now can take a little from
this jar, a little from that one and create something extraordinary. That’s exactly what L.A.’s Dr. Boogie have
done. They take the charisma from bands
like the Rolling Stones and T-Rex, the groove of Mott the Hoople, and the
Faces, and the energy late 70’s punk like The Damned and The Boys. This band has come up with an electrifying
new spin on dirty glam, blues kissed rock n roll. Not only can these guys play, but Dr. Boogie
are the type of people that when they walk into a room, you know they’re the
band. I don’t think there’s a finer
dressed musical group this side of the mighty Mississippi. Dr. Boogie are the
type of band that keeps rock n roll alive.
It may not be in the mainstream much anymore, but was it ever really
meant to be? This type of music thrives
better in dimly lit clubs as opposed to sports arenas anyway.
Interview by J Castro
Let’s start by telling us who is in Dr. Boogie
and what does everyone do in the band:
JEFF: Chris P. -
Vocals/Guitar, Dustin James - Lead Guitar, Jeff Turpin - Bass, Luis Herrera -
Drums
How did you all meet and decide to play music
together?
JEFF: I met Dustin
back when we were both in High School. We were both into the same type of
shit so we hit it off immediately. We started playing music together
shortly thereafter and have been playing side by side in bands ever
since. We both met Luis while playing in one of our first bands.
Our bands used to play together and then after ours disbanded we started a new
group and asked Luis to come in on drums. When we met Chris we were all
looking for each other without knowing it. Our minds were exactly in tune
with one another and that is how Dr. Boogie began. From the first time we
sat down and ran through some material we knew right away that this was
something special.
How would you describe the kind of music you
play to your grandparents?
JEFF: That much
needed kick in the teeth that this generation has needed for years.
What band or musician first inspired you to
want to learn how to play a musical instrument?
JEFF: The Germs
What would you say is your favorite part about
making music: writing it, recording, performing, or something else?
JEFF: That's a tough
one because they all come along with their own rewards. I think without
it all we would feel like there was something missing. To only to do one
thing without the others would eventually run its course.
Speaking of recording, you guys have your
debut LP out soon on
Deadbeat Records. Can you tell me a bit
about it?
JEFF: The album is
out now and we couldn't be happier with it. We worked with a longtime
friend and very talented engineer Gabe Lowry on the record over at Fox Force
Five Recorders in Los Angeles, CA. Without Gabe and that specific studio
I don't think we would have been able to capture the sound that we were looking
for on this record. Everyone played a pivotal role in creating and
recording this album.
 |
| Gotta Get Back To New York City LP released on Dead Beat Records |
You guys just got back from a West Coast
Tour. Can you tell me how you feel it went and share your favorite moment
of the tour with us?
JEFF: The tour went
great. We were able to play with a lot of great bands and make a lot of
new friends and fans. The best moment had to be the show that we did with
Dick Dale at The Ritz in San Jose. Being able to share the stage with a
guy like that and play in front of a sold out show at a venue of that size was
definitely a great way to end the tour.
Dr. Boogie is currently based in Los Angeles,
CA. What is the local music “scene”
like now over there? Do you ever feel competition between bands
with so much going on?
JEFF: The music
scene is very scattered with so many people out here trying to do their
thing. It has gotten a lot better over the last few years with more and
more rock 'n roll bands surfacing but the clubs out here don't seem to have as
much to offer as they may in other places across the country.
I was reading an interview with a former
drummer for The Cramps and he was saying how guarded Lux and Ivy were with
their image, to the point where they were imprisoned by it. How
important do you think having a certain appearance or presence is to a
rock n roll band? Do you feel more bands these days should pay more
attention to that sort of thing?
JEFF: Obviously image
and aesthetic have pretty much gone hand in hand in rock 'n roll since day one
and it actually is rather important to pay attention to. You got to have
it all. Not just the look, not just the music, not just the
attitude. It’s a combination of it all.
Do you feel kids now days miss out on anything
growing up with electronic music and listening to digital albums?
JEFF: Yea, soul
What is the best piece of advice you’ve read
or have been told that you still live by to this day?
JEFF: If you want it
done right, do it yourself.
Where can people go to hear and buy your
music?
JEFF: Our music is
available on vinyl and CD on dead-beat-records as well as digitally on iTunes,
Amazon, CD Baby, etc. We also have a 7 inch available on whitezoorecords.com (Italy)
What’s ahead in 2016 for Dr. Boogie?
JEFF: We are heading
out for a US/Canada tour in April/May. And then we'll be at the Fuck You
We Rule OK festival in Tulsa, OK in July. Also, going to try to get back
into the studio to knock out some more tracks that we have been working on
since the release of our debut record Gotta
Get Back To New York City.
Follow Dr. Boogie on social media:
instragram.com/drboogiemusic
@drboogiemusic
twitter.com/drboogiemusic
@drboogiemusic
Be sure to catch them on their upcoming Spring Tour!
