Davenanananayroyd Interview

Davenanananayroyd Interview

We just spoke to Dave (he's the one waving to you in the red flannel. Say hi dave. Hiiiiiii) from Scottish sextet Dananananaykroyd via le telephone. We spoke about their debut album 'Hey Everyone', about coming to play Splendour and their adventures with the Loch Ness Monster. Dave was stoked to be coming to play in Australia, and said he and the gang definately want a walk-on-roll on Neighbours. Here's what went down:

Us: I hear you guys are coming to Australia!

Dave: Yeah we're sooo excited about it. It seems ridiculous that a band that started up in Scotland can end up going to the other side of the world. 

Us: And you've never been to Australia before?

Dave: None have us had been there before, not even for holidays or anything. As a band we've only gone around Europe and America . So it's well on the other side. 

Us: And you guys just played SXSW.

Dave: Yeah it was really exciting. It was amazing. I was expecting more of a tour and playing alot of gigs, but it just felt like a party, and sitting in the sun. We're so excited that we're going back again next year. 

Us: Yeah we saw your tour video on your blog, you guys seem to be on it quite a bit...

Dave: Yeah, I mean, being in a band is less glamorous than what people think. It's amazing and I wouldn't change it for the world but theres so much sitting about waiting for something to happen, like in between gigs and soundchecks. So we've got alot of time on our hands, so we make the most of it. 

Us: Yeah like having pillow fights and tackling each other..

Dave: Haha yeah we're up for it.

Us: So i just wanted to ask about your name. It's a play on words between Batman and Dan Aykroyd yeah?

Dave: Yeah it's just a bit of a silly joke. One night where we put the band together, we booked a gig and we needed a name, and we thought just thought that was a good idea. Then like 5 gigs down the line and we were like 'fuck we're actually stuck to it'. 

Us: What's the funniest way someone's ever pronounced it?

Dave: Oh we had one poster for a gig we were playing, and I don't know how they managed to get this wrong, but they wrote "Dan and An Asteroid" haha. But they hadn't even spelt asteroid correctly. 

Us: (LOL). That's hilarious. 

Dave: So yeah I think it's equally as much a blessing and a curse. It doesn't really tell you what type of band we are. One thing you can take from it is knowing that the band doesn't take ourselves too seriously. I mean, we're serious about the music, but I think it's important to have a sense of humour. 

Us: You guys are playing Reading and Leeds soon.

Dave: Yeah that's going to be one of the first big festival we've played. It's crazy. (then he spoke some quick words in his thick scottish accent that we couldn't understand)... it's a fun party kind of. 

Us: Yeah, listening to your record, I get the feel that you guys are going to be fun live.

Dave: There's alot more action and crowd participation than you might expect if you just hear the album. I feel like, we've recorded stuff before but it doesn't get close to what we're really like live as a band. This album got really close. You won't ever get the full picture unless you see it live. It helps that there's quite alot of us onstage, to get the crowd involved. I don't like the idea of a total rockstar up on stage making it all about them, everyone comes to gigs and festivals to have a good time. 

Us: What is the best gig you've ever played?

Dave: We played a lovely venue in Glasgow called Bar Lounge (?? it might have been the barrel lounge, again with the loss in translation..). I saw most of my favourite bands there growing up as a teenager in the 90s. We hadn't played Glasgow in ages and it was like a homecoming.

Us: And who were your musical influences growing up?

The only band that all members agreed on was Smashing Pumpkins. But for me growing up it was bands like Fugazi, Nirvana and The Clash, bands like that. 

Us: Listening to your record, it reminded me of bands like Test Icicles and Blood Brothers..

Dave: Oh we love Blood Brothers. We got to open for them in London, not that long before they broke up. It was ridiculous. We caught up with them after the show and they said they liked our band and it made us all very very happy. 

Us: Who are your favourite bands at the minute?

Dave: My favourite band of last year Los Campesinos, a great Welsh Band. There's a great band in Scotland Copy Haho, and we toured with a band called Dutch Uncles. 

Us: Has anyone in your band met the Loch Ness Monster?

Dave: Haha no not yet. We're playing a festival to there. I've never been to Loch Ness, but I hope I will do. 

Us: What are you expecting when you come to Australia, kangaroos and wombats?

Dave: Well my view of Australia is totally based upon a TV program Neighbours. If we got to go on there, it would be a dream come true. When you write this article I want you to be pushing for 'Dananananaykroyd on Neighbours'.

Us: You guys are getting heaps of media attention over here, like you're everywhere.

Dave: Its weird cause we're not that aware of what goes on. Like I have a cousin who lives in Australia who messaged me on Facebook yesterday saying he keeps hearing me on the radio, and it's like 'What? We're on radio in Australia?'. 

Us: Black Wax is the latest single. The video for it is very creative. 

Dave: Yeah everyone in the band likes dogs, so we had to have a dog in the video. 

Us: It's a scary dog.

Dave: Yeah in the video its quite scary and big but it was actually really lovely and friendly. 

Us: Thanks for your time Dave. It was good to talk to you. Is there anything else you wanted to say?

Dave: Ummm... I covered Neighbours and I think thats it. So maybe just pave the way for us and it'll all be good.