The Moondoggies Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 15th 2010 4:39PM by Sean Woosley
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In 2009, Rolling Stone heralded the Moondoggies as its "favorite new band from Seattle" and called their debut album, 'Don't Be a Stranger' (Hardly Art), "awesome, full of fuzzy guitars, rad choruses and stacked harmonies." The young Everett, Wash. quartet delivers timeless, gritty, soulful rock and roll with sweet three-part harmonies and soaring Rhodes piano. Their welcome revision of early '70s country rock has earned them comparisons to the Byrds, the Band, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Grateful Dead. Spinner spoke with guitarist/singer Kevin Murphy before the band's SXSW show.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Rock music.

How did your band form?

High school and mutual friends.

What are your musical influences?

Anything that hits me right.

What were some of your favorite records growing up? When did you first start writing songs?

I got a guitar when I was 10 and then I taught myself. I learned Beatles stuff from the library. I got into the Stooges and I played in a band that was a lot like that. 'Meet the Beatles' was probably the first big record; 'Nevermind,' the Nirvana album; the Band; Neil Young.

You made a departure to Alaska for awhile. Did that change your approach to songwriting?

Yeah. I needed a change of scenery. I was in a punk band. I was trying to figure out how to write songs a little bit. Alaska kind of changed our focus a lot. I didn't have a lot of other things to do. I made this little recording space up in the attic and tried to write a couple songs a day.

How did you come up with your band name?

I had a vision of dog aliens.

What's your biggest vice?

Interrupting someone.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Shot of B-12.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Laura Dern

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I don't feel guilty for any of it.

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

Well there are a bunch of good ones, but, I like the story where some meth heads wanted our drummer to come back with them for an orgy somewhere in the hills of Ashland, Oregon.

What are your plans for the next record?

We're releasing it in September. We're just kind of putting our finishing touches on it.

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