Fat Wreck Chords

Chicken - Vocals & Bass
Nathan - Guitar & Vocals
Ian - Drums

Do you remember punk rock? No, we’re not talking about the watered-down, homogenized version that dominates corporate-run radio stations and glossy magazines, we’re talking about music that challenges the conventions of what the medium can achieve as an honest form of artistic expression. For the past six years, San Francisco’s Dead To Me have carried on the same tradition as bands like the Clash and the Pogues as they’ve crafted a unique brand of dub-inflected punk rock that’s unlike anything else currently happening in the music world. “We never thought about getting signed or going on tour, we just like wanted to hang out and play music for a few hours after work,” explains bassist/vocalist Chicken who formed Dead To Me with Jack and Brandon of the then-recently defunct street punk act One Man Army in 2003. “I feel lucky for every second I’ve experienced in this band.”

However after releasing their full-length debut Cuban Ballerina in 2006, it was clear that Dead To Me-—who are currently comprised of Chicken, Ian (drums) and Nathan (guitar)—couldn’t be confined to being a mere recreational project and since then the band have traveled to exotic locales like Europe and Japan with labelmates like NOFX and Swingin’ Utters in order to bring their distinctive brand of punk rock to the masses. Dead To Me gained even more notoriety with the release of last year’s EP Little Brother, but nothing could prepare fans for the sonic progression the band would achieve with their second full-length African Elephants. “I am personally proud of the new record,” explains Ian. “The three of us pushed each other a lot with ideas and actual playing,” he continues. “DTM is honest,” he adds when asked about the band’s mission statement. “I think people like that and that’s why they connect to us.”

If nothing else African Elephants is an album full of firsts—maybe most notably the first album without the band’s original guitarist Jack. “Jack was married and had a little baby boy and we all sort of realized he wasn’t going to be around much,” Ian explains. However instead of calling it quits because of this setback, the band continued to write as a trio and eventually came up with the songs that would make up African Elephants. “I think a lot of doors opened for is in that time without Jack,” Ian adds, displaying the band’s signature dose of positivity. “We are always going to miss him and his influence, but I think were all open for change. Personally I like when a band’s records mark different phases of their life. Jack’ will be back, though, I don’t doubt that. Maybe we will even get baby Jack in a few records!”

The result is an album that is undeniably Dead To Me but also marks a new chapter for the band that sees them stretching out and reinventing their sound without abandoning the roots of what’s gotten them to this point. Correspondingly, tuneful tracks like “Modern Muse” and “3 Chord Strut” show how inventive the trio can be with relatively stripped-down arrangements, while tracks like reggae-inflected “A Day Without War” would make Joe Strummer proud. “It was really cool to have Nathan step and write some songs because I’ve always liked punk bands whose records each sound a little different,” Chicken responds when asked about the sonic diversity of African Elephants, adding that he takes influence from everyone from NOFX to NWA. “I have no interest in making the same record more than once, so that’s why this album is different from the past releases.”

However as satisfying of a listen as African Elephants may be, Dead To Me are first and foremost a live act—and you really need to experience them in their element in order to totally appreciate the brilliance of the band. “Dead To Me have a lot of touring coming up and I can’t wait because I do not like monotony,” Nathan says.” “I feel it’s safe for me to speak for the other dudes when I say none of us feel as good when we are home as we do when we are on the road,” he continues. “If you got a show and you want us to play, we want to be there.” The band currently have plans for a full U.S. Tour this fall followed by a European Tour with Strike Anywhere where they will undoubtedly be performing plenty of songs from African Elephants. “I can’t wait to go to work tomorrow,” Nathan adds when discussing the band’s upcoming tour itinerary.

While many of today’s so-called punk acts aspire to be celebrities and tastemakers, Dead To Me are content with the simple pleasures of making great music with friends, living on the road and sharing their love with people all over the world. In other words, they’ve already made it—and everything that happens from here on out is just a bonus. “It depends on what your definition of success is,” Nathan responds when asked about his goals for the band. “Music is a full-time gig,” he summarizes. “If you are obsessed like we are there is no vacation from the mind… and music is always on my mind.”