INTERVIEW: Dustbowl Revival travel from old sounds to new vibes
Photo: The Dustbowl Revival have evolved their sound over their 11-year career. Photo courtesy of Talley Media / Provided by Signature Sounds with permission.
Still riding the folksy vibes from their 2017 self-titled album, The Dustbowl Revival, an eight-piece band out of Los Angeles, continue to amass a larger and larger audience base. More than a decade ago, they started out playing Americana tunes that harkened back to days of yore, but their new sound is a wondrous amalgamation of several genres, including soul, funk and folk.
The band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Zach Lupetin, will play Sunday, July 22 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Charlie Parr is also on the bill.
Last year’s album has many catchy tunes, starting with “Call My Name,” a countrified ditty with intoxicating horns, and “If You Could See Me Now,” a dizzying song with a big sound. Other highlights include “Busted,” a contemplative jazz song with powerful vocals from Liz Beebe, and “Leaving Time,” perhaps the grooviest tune on the entire album.
The band’s slightly new direction in recording can be attributed to both the their newfound musical desires and their work with producer Ted Hutt, of Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys and Old Crow Medicine Show fame. Now, 11 years after they first formed, the band are hitting the road, playing bigger venues and receiving more acclaim from critics and audiences like.
Lupetin, whose posting an ad on Craigslist led to the formation of The Dustbowl Revival, recently exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox in advance of their Bowery Ballroom show. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How is The Dustbowl Revival’s sound today different than the band’s early days?
When I put the group together, it was a collective of about 20 musicians from all around L.A. — it was more an acoustic orchestra of sorts revitalizing old gospel, stringband and swing numbers. As we became a full-time touring group around 2012, we started finding our own more folk-soul sound.
What can fans expect at your live show July 22 in New York City?
We love playing in New York — I have a lot of family nearby, and there’s an energy that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. We’ve been playing the tunes from our newest self-titled record but also exploring some really cool new songs and covers that we hope will be on the next one — it’s gonna be a big dance party.
What was the experience like working with producer Ted Hutt on last year’s album?
Ted really helped us focus on finding our own voice as collaborators — as an eight-piece band with brass and strings, it can be a challenge to all be heard. His work with Dropkick Murphys and Old Crow Medicine Show showed that rock ‘n’ roll spirit and energy we wanted to bring out of our roots music. Also his British accent is adorable.
Could you describe the writing process and development of the song “Busted”?
I always wanted to write a modern soul song for Liz — and I’d been listening to some of Amy Winehouse’s tunes at that time. I love the production of how they used the horns and rhythm section, so she sounded both timeless, vintage and new and dangerous. I had my heart broken a few years before, and so I tried to harness that anger but from the lady perspective.
What’s on the horizon for the band?
Summer is festival season, and we are headed back to Europe a bit in the fall. We are going to be collecting new songs for the upcoming album soon — can’t wait to get started.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Dustbowl Revival will play Sunday, July 22 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
