Welcome to The Faux-leather Underground.
Whilst easily lumped in with that whole lo-fi thing that seems to have been pumped out of LA for the last few years, Dum Dum Girls are saved from being just another band to tell your hipster mates about by their incredible ability to pen a decent pop song.
A whirlwind of snarling post-punk basslines, choppy guitars and vocal melodies reminiscent of big-haired '60s girl’s groups, the band began as the one-woman garage rock project of a leather-clad Californian girl called Dee Dee, whose real name is Kristin Grundred, which, let’s face it, is hardly rock 'n' roll. Evolving into something of a shit-gaze super-group with ex Vivian Girl and Crystal Stilt Frankie Rose on drums, they sound like a meeting between Mika Miko and The Shangri-Las, and thankfully steer clear of that whole Bom-ba-Bom Bom drum beat that everyone seems to rip-off.
Having spent a couple of years releasing on tiny indies like Zoo Music, Hozac and the amazing Captured Tracks, Dum Dum Girls were snapped up by Sub Pop last summer, and are now on the verge of releasing their debut album ‘I Will Be’ on March 30th. Eschewing the whole “let’s record in a bin” aesthetic, it’s one of the warmest sounding things I’ve heard in years – hitting you like a ray of Californian sunshine to zap away your S.A.D. Check out the single ‘Jail La La’ if you don’t believe me.
All of our favourite bands seem to be from LA at the moment. What happened to the scene over there in recent times?
Dee Dee: Right time, right place I guess. Do popular sounds bounce back and forth from east to west coast USA?
Hmmm, possibly? On a separate but related note, it's like 200 degrees in LA, how do people hack wearing leather jackets?
Well, mine is fake, so I'm not sure if that's better or worse. I seek out shade. I hate sweat.
If, in theory, you had a choice between working with Joey Ramone or Phil Spector which one would it be?
I would work with Phil Spector but in 1979/1980, when he was working with Joey Ramone, and ask him to bring Joey into the mix. Dream!
I heard you worked with Richard Gottehrer (who co-wrote 'My Boyfriend's Back') on ‘I will Be’- what was that like? Did he bring some of that '60s dynamic to your record?
He is amazing – a pleasure and ease to work with. He sort of "gently finessed" the songs, not too far from their original format, but significantly improved. His touch really comes across on the vocals – definitely made them shine in a '60s manner.
Will this be your first time in London? What can we expect from a Dum Dum Girls show?
I've visited London before, but not with DDG. Very excited! We have added a new song and cover to the set we played on our last (and first) short east coast tour.
Were you as bummed out as us to find out Mika Miko split up?
It was sad, but I'm happy some of them have new stuff going on – Strange Boys and Dunes are great.
Dum Dum Girls are playing 1234 Shoreditch Festival and Cargo this month.
Their debut album 'I Will Be' and their single 'Jail La La' is out now.
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