INTERVIEW: Dustbowl Revival revive their live touring
Photo: Dustbowl Revival will play City Winery in New York City. Photo courtesy of Bob Turton / Provided by Michael J Media with permission.
Much like other bands, Dustbowl Revival had to curb their touring during the heart of the pandemic, leaving them separate from their fans and yearning to get back out there. Now they are once again touring, and they have a scheduled stop Friday, Nov. 12 at the City Winery in New York City. Support comes courtesy of Smooth Hound Smith.
Dustbowl Revival are purveyors of American roots music, and over the years as they continued to record and play live gigs their reputation and dominance began to spread from their hometown of Los Angeles to the rest of the United States and even around the world. Before March 2020, they were known for their energetic live performances, especially at big festivals, and they were also able to successfully capture that energy on a variety of recordings, including Is It You, Is It Me, which was released early in 2020. The band’s latest single is called “The Exception,” featuring the Secret Sisters, and there’s a good chance the tune will be included in their upcoming set at the City Winery.
At their heart, Dustbowl Revival is an ensemble outfit, featuring an impressive brass section and equally impressive strings section. The idea for this roots project is because of Zach Lupetin, who started the band after moving from Chicago to Southern California. He originally wanted to be a screenwriter, but the music bug bit — hard.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Lupetin about the band, how they are faring during the pandemic and what the future might hold. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How difficult has the pandemic been for the band?
Zach from Dustbowl Revival here. We’ve been luckier than most, but it hasn’t been easy. We launched our new record ls It You, Is It Me right as the winter in 2020 started getting dicey — we actually played the last legal live show in Brooklyn March 12 as the whole world shut down. Three in the band got COVID, but we started throwing our own Sway-At-Home fests and had over 30 different artists play with us online.
For someone who is new to the band’s music, how would you describe the sound of the band?
A fun mashup of folk and funk music with horn section and killer harmonies.
Why do you think so many modern music lovers have turned back to the sounds and grooves of the past for inspiration and enjoyment?
For us, soul and funk music from the 1960s-70s are a big inspiration as well as groups like Fleetwood Mac that have multiple lead singers.
How would you describe the Dustbowl Revival live experience?
It’s a musical journey — the big brassy tunes get people dancing, and we try and break it down and do folk songs acoustically in the audience. It should feel like you took a trip into another sonic dimension!
Financially, is it difficult to keep such a large band together and successful?
Sure is, but the big dynamic sound is worth it. When you’re at a packed festival and the horns are going full force — there’s nothing better. Airfare and hotels every night on tour are tough.
What’s 2022 looking like for the band?
Everything is evolving month to month these days. We’ve had so many things canceled even in 2021 that we hope we can play fests and concerts in Europe and Canada as originally planned. New singles we recorded should come out in the spring!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Dustbowl Revival will play the City Winery in New York City Friday, Nov. 12. Click here for more information and tickets. Click here for more information on Dustbowl Revival.
