Theory Of A Deadman Kicks Off Tour In Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
It’s also the day before the one-year anniversary of the release of the rock band’s last album. “The Truth Is” was released July 12, 2011.
Friday afternoon, before the band was scheduled to play a one-off show at the El Paso (Texas) Downtown Street Festival, rhythm guitarist Dave Brenner took some time for a telephone interview to discuss the band, its music and the Warsaw concert.
Bands are notorious for being late, but Brenner was right on time at 2 p.m. He said being punctual was something he picked up from his old man.
“We’re known as the band that’s always on time,” Brenner said.
“The Truth Is,” Brenner said, has been a successful album to him. In today’s music business, it’s difficult to gauge success because of downloading and sharing. While their last album, “Scars & Souvenirs”, sold more than 1 million copies, Brenner said the band won’t measure their latest record against that.
“We still have those high goals for ourselves, but we feel we are successful if we can still tour and sell our shows out,” he said. “You can’t go by the number of records you have in households any more. I feel it’s more tangible.”
The music business definitely is in a transition period, he said, and no one knows how it will end.
Brenner has music on his mp3 player, but he also started buying vinyl records. Vinyl has made somewhat of a comeback in the music business, especially among music fans.
“I feel it’s something collectible, it’s a piece of art,” he said.
Brenner said the band has been waiting to kick off the summer tour. They had to play the El Paso date, then they had two weeks off, then kick the tour off in Warsaw.
“We’ve got really high expectations for this summer tour,” he said. “We’re excited about being out this year. I think it will be a good kick off in Warsaw.”
The tour is still in support of the last album, he said. The band looks at an album cycle as being about 1-1/2 years. However, during the July 11 concert, Brenner said they won’t just play songs from “The Truth Is.”
Next year, after the tour is over, he said they will probably start working on a new album.
“Our band doesn’t do a lot of writing on the road,” he said. “There’s so much work for the current record we’re touring on.”
When Theory of a Deadman begins writing for a new album, Brenner said they want to be in a fresh space. “If you are writing the same time you are touring, the new album starts sounding like the old one. Separation (between touring and writing) has worked for us.”
There is no formula for Deadman to put an album together, he said. Sometimes lead singer Tyler Connolly will come to the table, play a 3-1/2-minute song he has been working on, and that will be that. Other times, a song will just start by an idea a band member presents. Still other times, Brenner may come in to jam, find a riff and a song blooms from there.
“It’s just another way our records don’t sound alike,” he said. “There’s no formula. We’re open to anything. We used horns the last time and it worked. Writing is an experiment.”
Theory of a Deadman has been together since 2000. Brenner said it all happened pretty fast.
Brenner was in another band, but it broke up. He was looking for another band, and ending up jamming with Connolly’s band on a Wednesday. During the first two weeks together, they wrote a few songs, some of which ended up on the band’s first album.
Before Brenner joined the band, the members weren’t sure which direction to take the band. Pop or rock? After playing together awhile, they found their way to rock. Eventually, they got some label interest. Then some major label interest.
“We were kind of lucky,” Brenner said. “We got the pick of the litter. We chose Road Runner.”
Since releasing its first album in 2002, he said the band has been developing its live show. Connolly is really good with audience participation, Brenner said, while he never talks into the microphone with the audience.
“He really has fun,” Brenner said of Connolly. “People still want rock ’n’ roll to be fun. With the economy how it is, rock ’n’ roll is one thing people can still go and have a good time.”
He said they really haven’t planned the Warsaw show yet.[[In-content Ad]]After years of making music and touring, Brenner said the band was looking for a way to give back. They’re trying to launch a Habitat For Humanity fundraiser to coincide with the last single “Hurricane.” Brenner said the fundraiser will include fans buying wristbands in support of Habitat, and it’s suppose to all happen soon. Once enough money is raised, a house will be built.
“Keep an eye out for that,” Brenner advised. “We’ve had so much success, so it’s good for us to give back.”
For more information about Theory of a Deadman, visit the band’s website at www.theoryofadeadman.com, or its Facebook page.
For more information on the county fair show, or for tickets to the 8 p.m. Theory of a Deadman concert, visit www.kcfair.org
It’s also the day before the one-year anniversary of the release of the rock band’s last album. “The Truth Is” was released July 12, 2011.
Friday afternoon, before the band was scheduled to play a one-off show at the El Paso (Texas) Downtown Street Festival, rhythm guitarist Dave Brenner took some time for a telephone interview to discuss the band, its music and the Warsaw concert.
Bands are notorious for being late, but Brenner was right on time at 2 p.m. He said being punctual was something he picked up from his old man.
“We’re known as the band that’s always on time,” Brenner said.
“The Truth Is,” Brenner said, has been a successful album to him. In today’s music business, it’s difficult to gauge success because of downloading and sharing. While their last album, “Scars & Souvenirs”, sold more than 1 million copies, Brenner said the band won’t measure their latest record against that.
“We still have those high goals for ourselves, but we feel we are successful if we can still tour and sell our shows out,” he said. “You can’t go by the number of records you have in households any more. I feel it’s more tangible.”
The music business definitely is in a transition period, he said, and no one knows how it will end.
Brenner has music on his mp3 player, but he also started buying vinyl records. Vinyl has made somewhat of a comeback in the music business, especially among music fans.
“I feel it’s something collectible, it’s a piece of art,” he said.
Brenner said the band has been waiting to kick off the summer tour. They had to play the El Paso date, then they had two weeks off, then kick the tour off in Warsaw.
“We’ve got really high expectations for this summer tour,” he said. “We’re excited about being out this year. I think it will be a good kick off in Warsaw.”
The tour is still in support of the last album, he said. The band looks at an album cycle as being about 1-1/2 years. However, during the July 11 concert, Brenner said they won’t just play songs from “The Truth Is.”
Next year, after the tour is over, he said they will probably start working on a new album.
“Our band doesn’t do a lot of writing on the road,” he said. “There’s so much work for the current record we’re touring on.”
When Theory of a Deadman begins writing for a new album, Brenner said they want to be in a fresh space. “If you are writing the same time you are touring, the new album starts sounding like the old one. Separation (between touring and writing) has worked for us.”
There is no formula for Deadman to put an album together, he said. Sometimes lead singer Tyler Connolly will come to the table, play a 3-1/2-minute song he has been working on, and that will be that. Other times, a song will just start by an idea a band member presents. Still other times, Brenner may come in to jam, find a riff and a song blooms from there.
“It’s just another way our records don’t sound alike,” he said. “There’s no formula. We’re open to anything. We used horns the last time and it worked. Writing is an experiment.”
Theory of a Deadman has been together since 2000. Brenner said it all happened pretty fast.
Brenner was in another band, but it broke up. He was looking for another band, and ending up jamming with Connolly’s band on a Wednesday. During the first two weeks together, they wrote a few songs, some of which ended up on the band’s first album.
Before Brenner joined the band, the members weren’t sure which direction to take the band. Pop or rock? After playing together awhile, they found their way to rock. Eventually, they got some label interest. Then some major label interest.
“We were kind of lucky,” Brenner said. “We got the pick of the litter. We chose Road Runner.”
Since releasing its first album in 2002, he said the band has been developing its live show. Connolly is really good with audience participation, Brenner said, while he never talks into the microphone with the audience.
“He really has fun,” Brenner said of Connolly. “People still want rock ’n’ roll to be fun. With the economy how it is, rock ’n’ roll is one thing people can still go and have a good time.”
He said they really haven’t planned the Warsaw show yet.[[In-content Ad]]After years of making music and touring, Brenner said the band was looking for a way to give back. They’re trying to launch a Habitat For Humanity fundraiser to coincide with the last single “Hurricane.” Brenner said the fundraiser will include fans buying wristbands in support of Habitat, and it’s suppose to all happen soon. Once enough money is raised, a house will be built.
“Keep an eye out for that,” Brenner advised. “We’ve had so much success, so it’s good for us to give back.”
For more information about Theory of a Deadman, visit the band’s website at www.theoryofadeadman.com, or its Facebook page.
For more information on the county fair show, or for tickets to the 8 p.m. Theory of a Deadman concert, visit www.kcfair.org
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092