Is Dan Sartain playing Rockabilly music?

Dan Sartain made an interview for the al.com blog.

Birmingham native Dan Sartain will celebrate the release of his new record, "Too Tough to Live," at BottleTree Cafe on Sunday, March 18. Habbibi and Teenage Bedroom will open the show. Doors are at 8, with bands beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door for $5. In one of the most thorough interviews I have ever done, I spoke to Dan about leaving the Reverend Horton Heat tour, his feelings about the "rockabilly" label, his love for Birmingham and vinyl.

[...] 

BE: You often get lumped into a "rockabilly" category, but some of the new tunes, especially "F*** Friday," have a real throw back, near Ramones feel. I know that's an unfair comparison, but how do you feel your sound is best defined? DS: No, it's not unfair to say Ramones at all. I wanted this record to be obvious that it's a tribute to the Ramones. I found a new appreciation for that band. People overthink it. A lot of bands are doing that kind of thing with that intensity and energy behind it. I mean, even the title, "Too Tough to Live," is a ripoff of the Ramones. The Ramones were like jingles - like commercial music that gets stucks in your head. And there are a lot of bands that write songs that do, but I don't remember the songs after. As for the "rockabilly" part? I always though it was weird to label the music as rockabilly. I can say that because I listen to it and I like it and my music is not that. My music is a lot of minor chords. Like, it's such a bad word, "rockabilly." It's almost as bad as saying "blues." When I think of blues, I think of middle-aged white men - people I encounter at guitar stores. When I go down the aisles looking for someone to talk about the blues, it's just going to be some nerdy white guy. I'm not taking away from where it originally started, at all, but that's where it's at. You just have some cheesy Kevin Eubanks [expletive] doing it now. And rockabilly is like that. I did the tour with Reverend Horton Heat this year and he's all of that, so I'm really talking a lot of [expletive]. And people will say, "What are you talking about? You have a haircut like those guys and you have a hollow body guitar like those guys." I try to be a little more introspective with my songwriting. 

[...]

Click HERE for the full interview.

We Have Signal presents: Dan Sartain

Here's an AWESOME Dan Sartain live/interview video posted by We Have Signal.

What they say about them:

We Have Signal is APT’s live episodic music program filmed exclusively at the BottleTree Café in Birmingham, AL. The series features new and innovative bands from around the state, the country and even the world.

What they say about this vid:

Two things I feel like I need to confess:

1. I met Dan a little over 10 years ago, and I've been a fan of him musically and personally ever since.

2. I don't know if Dan is even fully aware of this or not, but this show wouldn't really exist without him. In 2006 (or was it '07?), a few people from what would become the WHS crew shot a show of his at BottleTree for a DVD he was working on. After seeing the footage, I felt like we had a pretty good handle on this whole shooting live music thing and we really needed to get something like this on the air (a couple of us had already been working on another music project for a couple of years at that point). It only took a couple of years of actively trying to convince people that it would be a good idea, and here we are.

Anyway, for a bunch of reasons that are too boring to mention, we haven't been able to get Dan on the show until now, but we're really happy to finally have him. Enjoy!

And yes, we de enjoy such a vid!

We Have Signal: Dan Sartain from We Have Signal on Vimeo.

Dan Sartain interview on whiteswirl

The whiteswirl is a forum for Jack White related records & stuff collectors. They made this Dan Sartain interview:

WS: Could you please come to lynchburg, va and play athiest funeral at jerry falwell's church?

Dan Sartain: Sounds terrifying.

WS: What was your favorite show and why?

Dan Sartain: Glasgow, Scotland. It's just always good there. Small packed out shows and the crowd gets a little bigger every time. I always leave there feeling like an atomic superman.

WS: What would you be doing if you weren't playing music?

Dan Sartain: Working on cars. I am contemplating finding an automotive school to attend now. It's just as rewarding to me as art has ever been, which I'm conflicted about. I'm not the best at mechanics, which only makes me want to do it more. It's weird, music was my hobby, now it's my job. I'm not complaining, but I do look at it as a job now. Which leaves me with this car thing for a hobby. So...if I got good enough at fixing up cars and someone offered me a job, I'd probably take it. I'd probably make more rock and roll records that way too!

WS: If Neil Young were on a train with a cross-dresser, would that be the makings of a potentially great album or the greatest?....if he were to name it in honor of that bizarre trip, of course.

Dan Sartain: GREATEST

WS: How does it feel to know that my 11 year son (or frankly, an 11 year old in general) is a huge fan and has begun TRYING to collect a Dan Sartain vinyl library?

Dan Sartain: That's pretty great, but vinyl is for old people. You can just steal all my music on the Internet now anyway

WS: If you were a guitar, what guitar would you be?

Dan Sartain: Fender Mustang. And by that I mean I want Fender to give me a free guitar.

WS: What is the most important thing in life?

Dan Sartain: Two chicks at one time, man.

WS: What is worse to be: a dick, a pussy or an asshole?

Dan Sartain: Pussy.

WS: Did you feel the Third Man Records single helped your career - and what do you think of Jack White's "Blue Series" singles in general?

Dan Sartain: It helped. I got this interview out of it! Seriously though, new faces are showing up at my shows, which is undoubtedly good news for me. I just hope some of those faces will tell other faces to get in on it. Word of mouth is the best publicity still. I look forward to meeting all of you so I can shake your faces in person.

WS: Do you enjoy reading? If so, do you have a favourite book? What do you like about this book?

Dan Sartain: I read a great deal. The Psychic Soviet by Ian Svenonius is a great book. It cleared up a few questions I had about the last 150 years. I also want to read Stephen Hawking's a brief history of time. Although, I think I may be more interested in Stephen Hawking himself than his quantum theories. Apparently Stephen Hawking is quite the ladies man from what I understand. I'd rather read a book about that.

WS: What are you currently reading?

Dan Sartain: Fangoria.

WS: Also what's your favourite piece of art? What would you go out and buy to put up on your house walls ( if anything)? Or would you draw paint something yourself?

Dan Sartain: Good question. I just bought my first painting from an artist named Kelly Keith. Her work is fantastic. I'm getting her to do the art for my next record. I also love Rick Froberg's visuals. He's another friend I commission work from for album art. Look up both those people. You won't regret it. Neither of those people have done a piece of art that I did not like.
I do paint/draw myself, but I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. I did the art for Join Dan Sartain. It looked good but I haven't really tried visual arts since. I feel really ignorant and uncomfortable around some paintings. It's weird. I wish I had a greater understanding of the medium. I guess I'm the type that "doesn't know art but I know what I like". Non artist opinions are sometimes more valuable. Same with music. I often ask friends who don't play music for opinions about songs or recordings. Artist can tend to over think and forget that the listener is who the song is intended to be for.

WS: What do you think about the different releases of your single that TMR did? They released it 5 different times (Black, Tri-color, Glow in the dark, Bizarro, Texas Sized), did you see any money from those?

Dan Sartain: If people are still buying records, good. If they are buying my records, GREAT! I have so much money I can't even keep track of it all!

WS: What are your thoughts on collecting? I've heard that you're not someone who really collects vinyl.

Dan Sartain: I have tons of records. I just don't seek out records. If that makes sense. I just seek out the music no matter the format. Mp3, CD, LP,Cassette, 8 Track, I don't care. It all plays, and it's what is on the records that matters to me. However I do collect "stuff" so I understand the passion for the hobby. I just know if I opened that can of worms it would be a never ending quagmire on my space, time, wallet, and patients. I have enough never ending quagmires on my hands now! haha!

WS: What's your favorite record of all time?

Dan Sartain: Pretties for you by the Alice Cooper group.

WS: If you had any advice to someone trying to get their name out there what would it be?

Dan Sartain: Make something you as a listener would want to hear. Start with the songs. Haircuts and cloths only matter to people who don't really listen to music. The songs are even more important than the instrument(s) you play them on. If you play out and it's not all you expected don't let it frustrate you. Let it fuel you to try and do better. If you play music live, you must know that if you do it long enough, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. This is true for everyone. You break a string, miss a note, amp dies, assholes heckle you. Shit happens. Don't loose sleep over it. Music needs talented people. As a fan of music I hope that the best album of all time has not been made yet. I'm sure there are others that feel this way and want to hear new good music. What makes you think you aren't the one to make that happen?
The best advise that was given to me about playing music was this.....without the player an insturment is just an object. It won't play itself. You have to take it in your hands and command it. Don't let it play you. It would be nothing without you.

WS: If you could record a song with anyone who would it be and why?

Dan Sartain: So many to mention. There are artist I like, then there are artist who I think I could work with. For instance, I like Grace Jones (to an extent) but I'd have no idea how to record a song with her. I'd try, but I don't really think I could add anything. I also like Slayer and have no fucking idea what I'd do in the studio with them. However, inorder for it to be benifitial to anyone it would have to be something I feel I could actually add something to.
But to answer your question, I'd really like to record Chris Isaak. His first album was great, and he kept doing good singles after that. But his more recent albums have had electronic drums which don't work for his sound. His production is really sleek in a bad way now. I belive he can still write good, creepy, songs with tons of reverb and twang. If givin an oportunity, I think I could make a great record with him.

WS: I heard from a friend that you once hid under the sink in his hotel room to hide from who you thought were the police, what's the craziest thing you've ever done on tour?

Dan Sartain: True story. I once dumped my ex-wife's body down a well on tour.

WS: When you toured with the White Stripes did you hang out with them at all or did you pretty much hang out with your band and see Jack and Meg back stage? What was it like being on tour with them?

Dan Sartain: Tons of driving is the main thing I remember. I kept wanting to bum a cigarette off Meg. I had never been to Canada and I had no idea that the cigarettes cost so much and tasted so different. Meg had cartons of American Camels on tour but I never got up the nerve to ask for one. On that note, SMOKE CIGARETTES KIDS!

WS: What's with the tie-dyed shirts on the White Stripes tour?

Dan Sartain: HAHA! I made those from hair dye. They didn't last. When we got sweaty the black turned to a kind of shitty brown around the armpit region. We got some button up shirts after that. I really liked those shirts for about a week. Tie Dye has a bad rep but I still kinda like it.

Short Dan Sartain interview and UK dates announcement in DIY

To read the original article: DIY website.

Dan Sartain is to release an album of rarities, outtakes and demos next month.

'Legacy Of Hospitality' will feature recordings from 1999-2009, including the tapes which ultimately - thanks to the intervention of producer Liam Watson - became last year's 'Dan Sartain Lives'.

Dan explains. “I convinced the record label to let me try producing the follow up to ‘Join Dan Sartain’ (‘Dan Sartain Lives’ 2010) myself, and they went for it. I figured I’d been in enough studios and worked with enough people who knew what they were doing, that I would give it a shot. OLI fronted some money and I went to Nashville (used music paradise of the Southeast U.S.), bought a 2nd hand 8 track Tascam 388 Quarter Inch tape machine. I started doing some recordings at home and it sounded pretty darn good. We recorded about 9 songs, and then went to Shane Lowlers studio in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Old Capitol) to polish things up. I sent the stuff off to the Powers That Be and they said (to quote them loosely) “We like it but no one will be interested in this. Call Liam.” We called Liam (Watson) and the result of that was the “Dan Sartain Lives” album. I really love the album we did with Liam but still…I think there is a certain charm to the recordings we made. I’m glad both are getting to see the light of day.”

There will additionally be a DVD documentary, titled 'Dan Sartain Lives'.

The following tour dates are planned to coincide with the release.

APRIL
25 London Buffalo Bar
26 Bristol Thekla
27 Cork Crane Lane Theatre
30 Manchester Deaf Institute

MAY
1 Glasgow Captain's Rest
2 Newcastle Cluny
4 Leeds Brudenell Social Club

Dan Sartain interview for the fans by the fans partII

You can read the first part of this interview HERE.

Q: Favorite John Reis story?
Dan Sartain: There are many. Once I walked into a coffee shop in Holland with Swami, and he asked for the menu. The guy behind the counter says "Do you want to get hi or stoned?", to which John replied "Yes".

Q: Can Bruce Dickinson play with madness?
Dan Sartain: He can play with my dick. Dio was great but I ain't fond of his imitators.

Q: Can you do the Wu Tang dance?
Dan Sartain: Not without embarrassing myself and anyone else who saw me do it.

Q: How does it feel to be the bastard child of Prince and John Waters?
Dan Sartain: I feel like that teenage girl who lived with Paul Reiser and the guy with a beard.

Q: Let's say that you are kidnapped by terrorists and forced to contribute a track to a compilation of prince covers. what track do you play and why? (or, alternately, do you just let the terrorists kill you)?
Dan Sartain: My name is Prince. And then I'd inquire about the 72 virgins thing.

Q: Is that a Dead Milkmen reference in Cobras Pt 2?
Dan Sartain: Yes.

Q: I hear alot of "Primitive" by The Cramps in "Bohemian Grove", what other kinds of music inspires your writing?
Dan Sartain: Primitive was a song by a band called the groupies. I thought it was a Cramps song for quite sometime though. And I not only ripped off the song Primitive...I flat out stole whole verses from it. I'm not trying to hide that fact. I wanted to draw parallels between the Primitives in the song 'Primitive' and the "Elites" who attend Bohemian Grove (and more specifically the cremation of care ritual).

Q: Why keeping releasing 7”s singles on small labels when you’re signed on One Little Indian?
Dan Sartain: One Little Indian has their eyes set on bigger goals than selling a few hundred 7"s of mine. That is not to say that I value the 7" records I do for other labels any less. To say that I like to have many pots in the fire would be inaccurate. I like to have many pots in many fires.

Q: As a thank you for going triple platinum on Dan Sartain Lives, your label gift you the funds to make an album of whatever you want and will release it for you - any style or subject, sales aren't important; it'd be pure self-Sartain indulgence. I'm thinking along the lines of an entire album of Chris Isaak covers with Pelle from The Hives, delta blues versions of the music from Star Trek or a jazz reinterpretation of Alice Cooper's greatest hits. What would you release?
Dan Sartain: Pelle from the Hives wound up being my Chris Isaak friend on that tour. He dug that guys work too. But to answer your question, it is hard not to just jack-off and do whatever I want with said resources at my disposal. Hopefully my label has enough confidence in my ability to judge shit from shineola, that they won't have to tell me an idea is too much. But judging by the WHOPPING record sales 'Dan Sartain Lives' had, who would second guess me now?

Q: What are your memories of playing shows at the boiler room in birmingham alabama?
Dan Sartain: The Boiler room was great. It predated the more recent clubs in Birmingham. I miss that place and it seemed to get a much needed ball rolling in again. The effect that place had on the city is still felt today. However.....the place it's self was fucking moronic. It was poorly planned and in a building that was WAY too huge. You could pack 200 kids in there and the place would still be 75% empty. It also had all the atmosphere of a school gymnasium. But (again) it was great, I have nothing but fondness for that place. It was the best idea and the worst execution. But if it were not for that place at that time, Birmingham would have been a completely unlivable place.

Q: Did you really go to barber school?
Dan Sartain: YES I WENT TO BARBER COLLEGE!! However I did not graduate. I learned all the skills I wanted to learn and more. But I am terrible at book work. The reason I went to barber college in the first place was due to the fact I was lousy at school work. I figured it would be all about learning hands on. I understand having to learn some general written rules and things when dealing in chemicals and hair processing. However that was not at all what I wanted to learn. I learned how to do flat tops, strait shaves, tapered, and layered cuts. That is all I wanted to know and all I needed to know to get the kind of job in I desired at the time. In other words, I could not give a shit less about giving an old lady a perm. It was not a total waste, I did get to spend a lot of time working in a real barber shop. I got to hear a lot of second hand WWII stories from vets who are without a doubt not with us today. Regardless of political ties or affiliation, it was interesting to hear stories from men who had been there. I was quite young at the time (17-18) and I was less patient than I am now. Perhaps I'd do ok at the book work now. My wish now is to go to a trade school to learn to fix up my car. As it stands, I am nearly 30, single, no kids...that car is my pride and joy. I fall in love again every time I see that car and it would just break my heart if I allowed time to take it's toll on her. Working on that car and seeing the progress unfold is thrilling to me. Especially when I know that none of it would get done were I not the one doing it. To me it is a symbol of hard work and accomplishment. Watching that car turn back time at my hands is every bit as gratifying as art has ever been to me. Which is both terrifying and wonderful.

Dan Sartain interview for the fans by the fans partI

Here comes the first part of the interview.

Q: You are a big star trek fan, what is your favorite hair product?
Dan Sartain: This sounds like a two part question, so here we go. Firstly, I find that show to be entertaining. Lastly, Dark and Lovely.

Q: What's been your weirdest touring experience?
Dan Sartain: Girl + piss + empty milk jug + funnel + Moving vehicle + Baltimore= weirdest touring experience

Q: What's your favorite Rocket From The Crypt album ?
Dan Sartain: The state of art is on fire

Q: What was it like working with Jack White? Which version of Bohemian Grove do you prefer?
Dan Sartain: Another two parter. 1. In short, unique. 2. The version on Dan Sartain Lives.

Q: Which band that you've shared a bill with were the coolest? And the least cool?
Dan Sartain: Sometimes when I tour I know the bands we will be touring with before I go. Sometimes the other bands are total strangers and I meet them when the tour begins. I really like to tour with Kerry Davis and her act Two Tears. Beehive and the Barracudas were the funniest. Hot Snakes and Nightmarchers were like a big support system to tour with. The Beatsteaks guys were really nice and could not do enough to help. Surprisingly enough Mike Ness and Social Distortion were a great bunch of nice guys. I was a little intimidated by Mike Ness and his reputation as a tough guy. You never see a picture of him smiling. He's got the mean-mug thing down. Basically, Mike Ness looks like the kind of guy who would beat up a guy like me. But I found him and his whole crew to be kind, helpful, and supportive. Nice work if you can get it. Still...I'd not want to test him.

And least cool....I don't want to name any names but, Detroit Cobras.

Q: When you next come to the UK will you please play a gig my house ?
Dan Sartain: Whats in it for me? I am going to need home made tatoos in these negotiations before we talk further.

Q: Who wins in a fight between a shadow ninja night creeper and geordi laforge during that time he got infected with alien dna and was turning into this glowstick-veined lizard-man ?
Dan Sartain: Night Creeper came along in a really horrible neon time period for G.I.Joe. Fuck Nightcreeper! Those new G.I.Joe and Transformers movies kind of ruined those hobbies for me. They were already shitty hobbies to begin with, but after those movies came out it was just embarrassing. So embarrassing that it makes being a Trekkie look favorable.

Q: How did you like playing at the Milestone club in Charlotte, NC? I wasn't there but really wanted to be there to see you!
Dan Sartain: I think I kinda fell in love with that place. I met amazing visual artist there named Kelly Keith. I already have plans to go back next month (2/25/11). Will be at the Milestone again.

Q: What's your favourite car?

Dan Sartain: My Plymouth, silly :)

A Dan Sartain interview for the fans and by the fans!

Dan Sartain agreed to make a quite special interview. He will answer to YOUR questions.

The interviews in magazine never answer to your questions? There is something you always wanted to ask to Dan? This interview is for you!!

Starting today and for nine days, you will be able to submit the questions you wanna ask to Dan. You just have to leave the questions in the comment section (the comments won't appear). I'll send them to Dan and post the full interview on the blog.

Dan Sartain: live interview @ The Casbah, San Diego part3

Interview made by Ryan Bunker, Monti Smith and Tyler Dixon for indierockreviews.com.

Here what they say about it on their Vimeo Channel:

This is Part 3 of a live interview and concert with Dan Sartain that my friends Monti Smith, Tyler Dixon and I recorded for indierockreviews.com. In this part, Dan talks about why he's a binger, why the Ramones are safe and why his dad is awesome. Go out and buy his new record - Dan Sartain Lives (myspace.com/​dansartain).

Dan Sartain Lives - Part III from Ryan Bunker on Vimeo.

You can check also part1 and part2.

Dan Sartain: live interview @ The Casbah, San Diego part2

Interview made by Ryan Bunker, Monti Smith and Tyler Dixon for indierockreviews.com.

Here what they say about it on their Vimeo Channel:

This is Part 2 of a live interview and concert with Dan Sartain that my friends Monti Smith, Tyler Dixon and I recorded for indierockreviews.com. In this part, Dan talks about why his music has a spaghetti western feel to it, and why rock 'n' roll is not dead in the UK. And watch him play Flight of the Finch live. And go out and buy his new record - Dan Sartin Lives (myspace.com/​dansartain).

Dan Sartain Lives - Part 2 from Ryan Bunker on Vimeo.

Dan Sartain: live interview @ The Casbah, San Diego part1

Interview made by Ryan Bunker, Monti Smith and Tyler Dixon for indierockreviews.com.

Here what they say about it on their Vimeo Channel:

This is Part 1 of a live interview and concert with Dan Sartain that my friends Monti Smith, Tyler Dixon and I recorded for indierockreviews.com. Dan is one of those rare talents whose many sounds are rivaled only by his many facial expressions. In this part, Dan talks Mexico, zebra-painted donkeys and compromising his morals. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 where Dan talks about why his new record sounds British, why rock 'n' roll isn't dead and why the Ramones are still his favorite band. And go out and buy his new record - Dan Sartin Lives (myspace.com/​dansartain).

Dan Sartain Lives - Part 1 from Ryan Bunker on Vimeo.

Interview in theredalert.com

Interview led by Interview by Adam McKibbin.

Your new record is a great guitar record. How did you learn to play?
My father. There was always a guitar around, and he taught me chords. I had to learn some technique on my own. Technique isn’t really teachable; it’s like telling someone how to taste something.

Who would make your Guitarist Hall of Fame, then?
Glen Buxton. I’m really stuck on him lately; he was the guitarist for Alice Cooper. Him and Billy Zoom. Chuck Berry was another guy that I felt like I could imitate. Intimidate. [Laughs] Nah, I don’t feel like I could intimidate Chuck Berry in the slightest. Johnny Ramone, too, but I can’t do it as good as him.

Check the whole interview HERE.

Interview in tracksandfields.com

T&F: Growing up, what was the first music you remember hearing?

DS: It must have been in the womb. I can’t remember a time when I hadn’t heard music. The first time I saw a person play music was my father. I remember it terrified me for some reason.

T&F: Do you think the depth of music history in Alabama (Nat King Cole, Tammy Wynette, Dinah Washington – to name but a few…) helped you to have the confidence to develop as an artist?

DS: To be honest, no. I like and respect those acts but it was more so local guys who played small all-ages punk venues that made me feel I could do it too. Nat King Cole went through more trails and tribulations than any punk-rocker ever though.

T&F: Where did you get your first big break as a performer?

DS: Fuck man….I’m still waiting for a break as a performer! Seriously though….Swami records were the first guys to help me out or give me a shot.

...

T&F: What else can we expect from you in 2010/2011?

DS: Another album, a DVD and another album after that! Oh yeah a bunch of touring too. You never know how long people will be interested in what you do so I don’t really know to be honest.

...

Check their website for the complete interview.

Interview in bwcitypaper

Very interresting interview led by J.R. Taylor for www.bwcitypaper.com:

"At the Swami label," he explains, "they were prepared to sell X amount of records and get bands into cult status and turn people on to new music. I never wanted more than that, and so everything else was gravy. The thing is that this new record is the most cohesive one I've ever made, and I'd like it to be more successful. I'm thinking it's my best record, and maybe I've done about as much as I can on the bar circuit. I tell you this, though: you sell a lot more merchandise at the bar shows. You do a show opening for the White Stripes or The Hives, and you're lucky to make 20 bucks at the tables."

[...]

"A lot of my songs are about struggling against the mass mind," he says. "That's because so many people think I'm crazy when I'm talking to them, so maybe I don't need to be talking about what a song like 'Bohemian Grove' is about, because I might start sounding like I'm insane. But you can type in 'Bohemian Grove' on the internet and see it has nothing to do with me. It's about a place where rich people get together and burn an effigy and have this ritual called the Cremation of Care. I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I think there's something weird going on there. I don't know why these rich and powerful people have to go naked and act like primitives living before the age of civilization. They're supposed to have the most money, but do you need a lot of money to go act like a f***ing primate and run around in the woods? It's silly. It's like in the U.K. when rich people go fox hunting on a full stomach. There are poor people who can use that meat. F*** those rich guys having a Boys' Club meeting. I know about being poor, and I have poor friends who can't pay their bills, and they might go crazy for a while, but not in a controlled environment. If those guys are so rich, why don't they just go to Bonnaroo and have fun? You can do drugs there."

For the whole interview, click here.

Dan Sartain Video Interview part II: Live

Dan Sartain Video Interview part I: Background

Dan Sartain talking about Records

This is a video interview made by a German magazine where Dan is talking about his favourite records/songs and more. Enjoy!

Interview & Live Video @ the End of the Road festival 2009

Here a video interview by Rockfeedback with some live snippets recorded at the End of the Road festival 2009 in Dorset.

2007 interview by pennyblackmusic

About the interview:

Sartain has been sporadically touring ‘Join’, playing the UK and Europe at the beginning of the year. He was back at his home in Birmingham, Alabama when Pennyblackmusic spoke to him.

A little glimpse:

PB : You recorded some of the new songs in London’s Toerag Studios> How did that come about?

DS : Well, some people at the record label were all stoked about it and telling me there’s this guy and we were going to ask him to work with you, and he’s done this, he’s done this, is this ok? And I was like yeah, whatever, you know, cynical about it, White Stripes, whatever - I don’t dislike the White Stripes but I’m not a huge personal fan of them, or Holly Golightly for that matter, Billy Childish, all of the stuff that he’s (Liam Watson, Toerag‘s owner) done, I haven’t really sat there and rocked out to it. But when I met the guy and checked out his studio, and talked to him and went through all his stuff, it was just me and him and we talked about these records, and it’s like, alright, well if you know exactly what I’m talking about when I talk about a certain part on a Gene Vincent record, you’re probably pretty good to work with. It’s kind of hard working with him too, because we’d just end up nerding out and talking about records, but that’s really the only hard part about it.

PB : Do you consider yourself a music nerd?

DS : I’m more of a comic book nerd, myself, but there’s record nerds who definitely wouldn’t consider me a record nerd. I can’t stand it. You’re out on tour all the time, and if you’re touring with a bunch of musicians if you have some free time you inevitably end up in a record store. I fucking hate that. I hate shopping for records. I can’t just go to a record store and look around until I find something. I have something in particular in mind, and if they don’t have it I leave. I’m pretty particular about what I like though. I don’t like very much music. I’m definitely a critic of music, but I don’t think I’m a music nerd. I can nerd out with other guys but as far as my collection goes - serious collectors will buy three copies of a record, one to trade, one to listen to and one to keep sealed. I’m definitely not one of those guys. I’m much more like that about my comic books.

The whole interview is just here.

A Dan Sartain St Valentine's Special Interview by Mike Diver

Mike Diver did this interview for drownedinsound.com.

2007 interview by Keri Kennedy for Rockfeedback.com

Interview made in London by Keri Kennedy during the 2007 European Tour.

As I exit the 100 Club, Dan looks completely at home on stage, nerves gone (or well hidden). It's hard not to feel sorry for the guy who's missing his wife and lacking sleep, but there's something that you can't quite put your finger on with Dan that reassures me there's some fire in him yet.

Keri Kennedy

For the whole interview click here.