The Tower of Dudes
The Tower of Dudes | |
---|---|
Origin | Prague, Czech Republic |
Genres |
Cowpunk Gypsy punk |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels | Velvet Rut Records |
Members |
Johnny Feelings Tarah Masu Nick Jennings (aka Silver Bucket, Nick Nack) Urban Su Joel Fernandes Johnny Friendly DIRT MD Holy Fanda |
Past members |
Captain Tim Darlings Steve Cautious Bekr Ali (aka. Tony Park, Urine Spritzer) |
The Tower of Dudes is a cowpunk band. The band was formerly based in Prague, Czech Republic, and has since moved to Canada. It has members from Canada, he United States of America and England. Its musical style has been likened to folk rock and Gypsy punk.
History
The Tower of Dudes was formed in 2007 by a group of expatriates living in Prague, Czech Republic. Prague has a large community of English-speaking expatriates - estimated at 30,000 in 1993.[1] Like many of these expatriates, members of The Tower of Dudes cite various reasons for leaving their home country for the Czech Republic. In answer to an interview question from Spin TV, the English bass guiatr player Steve Cautious said, "It's a small pretty city [that is] much easier to get around in than London."[2] When asked the same question, Urine Spritzer sarcastically answered that he came for "the smiling faces". "[2]
The Tower of Dudes sounds has been described as "punky folk"[3] combining "punk, flamenco, folk roots, western twang, and other sounds generated by gypsies and rebels from across the globe"[4] and as punk-folk that "benefit[s from] the hard-core mandolin of Tony Parker and the pumping thrash of Tarah Masu’s accordion. Throw in some of Parker’s edgy banjo and Nick Jennings’ extended drum kit, and it’s hard keeping your feet still when the Dudes play."[5]
In their extensive touring in the Czech Republic and Germany, the band has shared a stage with notable bands such as Frog Eyes, Immaculate Machine, O'Death, Mammasweed, Plastic People of the Universe and The Sads.[5]
The Tower of Dudes have been based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada since the beginning of 2011. During the latter half of 2013, The Tower of Dudes worked on their third full-length album, entitled Make Your Own Culture. The album was released on March 1, 2014, and the band held a record-release party on March 14 in Victoria.[6]
Appearances
Music festivals
- Laly Fest, Czech Republic (September 29, 2007)
- ZELIFEST, Czech Republic (April 26, 2008)
- Habrovka, Czech Republic (June 6, 2008)
- Dance Valley, Netherlands (July 12, 2008)
- Hobo Fest, Czech Republic (May 9, 2009)
- Mighty Sounds, Czech Republic (July 18, 2009)
- Trutnov Music Festival, Czech Republic (August 22, 2009)
- Skautsk Open Air Festival, Czech Republic (May 29, 2010)
- Hobo Fest, Czech Republic (August 14, 2010)
- Trutnov Music Festival, Czech Republic (August 21, 2010)
- Nahorany Festival, Czech Republic (August 28, 2010)
- Rifflandia Festival, Victoria, BC, CAnada (September 22, 2011)"[7]
- FarmFest, Cowichan, BC (September 8, 2012)
- Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, Salmon Arm, BC (August 18, 2013)
- Quadrapalooza, Quadra Island, BC (August 31, 2013)
- Kispiox Music Festival, Kispiox, BC (July 26, 2014)
- Artswells, Wells, BC (August 1-3, 2014)
Radio
- KenFM LIVE, Germany (February 9, 2009)
Discography
Albums
- A Plan (2008)
- Earl (2010)
- Make Your Own Culture (2014)
EPs
- Reheat and Serve (2011)
- Split 45 with Black Valley Gospel (2013 - released by Velvet Rut Records)
Singles
- "Jr. High School Man" (July 2008)
- "Hibernation" (June 2010)
- "Make Your Own Culture" (June 2013)
- "We Never Learn Anything" (March 2014)
Music videos
- Jr. High School Man (March 2009)
- A Plan (July 2009)
- Hibernation (October 2010)
- We Never Learn Anything (September 2014)
Compilation appearances
- "Prague Independent Music collective Plan 1A" (2007)
- "The interNASHional KENspiracy: A tribute to the music of Ken Nash" (2009)
Film
- "Drink, Fuck, Drive Truck" and "A Clean-Living Life" will be in the movie Onward, Amazing People!.[8]
References
- ↑ "Y(oung) A(mericans in) P(rague)", The New York Times, 12 December 1993, 671.
- 1 2 "Ocean Versus Daughter and The Tower of Dudes on Spin Earth.TV" (Web). http://www.spinearth.tv. April 2009. Retrieved October 2008. Check date values in:
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(help) - ↑ "THE TOWER OF DUDES: THE TOWER OF DUDES" (Web). . October 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008. External link in
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(help) - ↑ "some-nice-music-for-your-murky-monday" (Web). . October 2008. Retrieved October 2008. Check date values in:
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(help) - 1 2 "Something more than Feelings" (Web). praguepost.com. August 10, 2000. Retrieved October 2008. Check date values in:
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(help); External link in|publisher=
(help) - ↑ http://towerofdudes.bandcamp.com/releases
- ↑ "Rifflandia off to rockin' start" (Web). . September 2011. Retrieved October 2012. Check date values in:
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(help) - ↑ "The Tower of Dudes and JumperCableFilms" (Web). jumpercablefilms.com. Retrieved October 28, 2010. External link in
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(help)
External links
- Spin Earth 2009 "'Ocean Vs Daughter and The Tower of Dudes Live' Youtube version "'SpinTV'
- The Prague Post 2008 "[www.praguepost.com/archivescontent/7099-something-more-than-feelings.html 'Something More Than Feelings'] "[www.praguepost.com/archives-search/ 'Archives']
- Accordion Noir on Co-Op Radio Vancouver, 102.7 FM 2010 "'Tower of Dudes and Darlins!'
- Music News Nashville 2010 "'The Tower of Dudes - Earl'
- The Prague Post 2009 "'Around Town: When Bad is Good'
- C.W. Music Blog 2010 "'The Tower of Dudes- ‘Earl’'
- Punktastic 2010 "[Earl']http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/3661 'Earl, The Tower of Dudes']
- Official Site of The Tower of Dudes
- The Prague Post 2008 "'Synergy of a different sort'
- Here Comes The Flood 2008 "'THE TOWER OF DUDES: THE TOWER OF DUDES'
- Quiet Color 2008 "'More Music...'
- Kata Rokkar 2008 "'SOME NICE MUSIC FOR YOUR MURKY MONDAY'
- Wizard Booking 2010 "
- Dovetail Records 2010 "
- provokator 2009 '
Album reviews
- "Exclaim! 2014
- Greyowl Point 2014
- Canuckistan Music 2014
- Halley Bondy, MTV, February 15, 2011
- Jessica, New Music Collaborative, March 19, 2011
- Janet Goodman, , Music News Nashville, July 4, 2010
- C.W. Ross, , The CD Reviewer. May 19, 2010
- Punktastic, April 24, 2010
- "'band of week tower of dudes', PopTarts Suck Toasted October 10, 2008
- "'Second Link Through Elbow'"
- "'Submission Time!'", The Opening Acts, April 22, 2009