Decent Criminal have just released “Bloom”. A stunning record full of 90’s alternative, garage rock, surf punk and power-pop on Dodgeball Records. We really liked their new record and thought it’d be pretty cool to find out a bit more about them. Huge thanks to Brian for taking time out to chat with us…
Hey chaps, first up can you please introduce the band and what’s your role?
Hello, my name is Brian. I play guitar, and do a little singing in Decent Criminal from California.
Let’s talk about your new record, “Bloom”, can you tell us a little about it please?
Sure. We started production just about a year ago. We recorded with Davey Warsop in some lovely studio spaces down here in Southern California. He’s a fine young Englishman, and is a very efficient, almost surgical engineer. He got a little too busy with some other projects, so we had Scott Goodrich mix the record for us. He produced a record called “Peach” by Culture Abuse that we loved. We were really excited when he agreed to help us finish the album. The album took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. We’re really happy with the end result.
Is there a central theme running through it at all?
We tend to write songs about our personal experiences, and recently we’ve all been dealing with major changes in our lives. Although this is not a concept album, there are some common themes of leaving your home, processing loss, starting from scratch, taking risks, and and trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
Musically you seem to blend a 90’s alternative feel into things, how would you describe your sound?
Yes, I think we do consciously draw from 90s alternative music. It was the music that inspired us to play instruments when we were kids, and it seems like there is definitely a place for that sound in today’s musical landscape.
Which artists have been an inspiration on the band and your sound?
There are so many contemporary bands playing around with this alternative revival sound, and we’d be lying if we didn’t mention bands like Wavves and Together Pangea as influences. We were listening to a lot of that stuff when this lineup got together. I love heavier music, but the bands that got me the most excited about playing music when I was younger were Green Day and Nirvana. It’s really fun to pay homage to that sound, and see how it’s received by an audience.
You’ve hooked up with Dodgeball Records for the release of Bloom, how did this union come about?
Right, Dodgeball is a brand new label, and we’re really excited to release this album as one of the first bands on their roster. We met Mike when we were on tour this summer. We recorded a session for his Live From The Rock Room web series. We really hit it off, and we mentioned that we were shopping our new album around. I don’t even know if Dodgeball Records was a fully formed idea at that point, but a few weeks later, Mike called and told us he was starting a new label with his friend Chris. They asked to hear the record, and liked it enough to make all of this happen!
Was it vitally important for you that the album has a vinyl release?
Absolutely. We put our last album out on vinyl, and it’s hard to turn back once you’ve pressed a record. They sound better, and they sell way better than anything else. The satisfaction of holding your own music in vinyl format is unparalleled.
Are any of the band big vinyl collectors at all?
Yes, we all have some prized possessions tucked away in our collections.
Where are the best places online for people to check the band out and also to pick the new record up?
Facebook and Instagram are the best places to hear from us directly. I think the new album will be available on Spotify and iTunes soon. You can buy the record in hard copy through dodgeballrecords.com
How did the band first get together and what was the idea behind forming?
Wow, it’s a long story, and if I mention anyone by name, someone else is liable to feel left out. Long story short, our drummer Hunter started Decent Criminal when he was a kid. Until I joined the band in 2014, he was the singer and guitar player. He switched to drums after the original drummer left the band and we essentially started a brand new band. We started playing brand new songs, and completely changed the sound of the band. So far, this unit has released a split 7″ with Screaming Mimis, a self titled LP, and now “Bloom”.
You hail from California, how is the scene out there currently?
California is really big! The Bay Area has a really vibrant scene. We formed in a town up there called Santa Rosa, which has a great scene. It’s also really close to bigger cities like San Francisco and Oakland and there’s always something going on. Most of us moved to Southern California, so we’re doing our best to infiltrate Los Angeles. Everyone down here is really nice and supportive of each other and we’ve been playing some really fun shows.
And which other artists would you recommend people check out?
Tony Molina, Mike Krol, Vacation, A Giant Dog, and Culture Abuse.
Do you feel there is still the need for major labels in the music industry these days?
It’s hard to say. Vinyl records are selling really well, but they’re selling to a really specific audience. Although lots of great musicians are finding major success on independent labels, I think there is still a place (economic incentive) for major labels to stay in business. We all thought technology was going to kill the record industry, but it really just changed how we consume it. I hate to say “normal people”, but you know what I mean, people who don’t really like music that much, don’t have to buy albums anymore. If they like a song on the radio, they can download it from iTunes. The record industry adapted, and they’re still making money off radio singles. People will always listen to the radio, learn what’s cool, and pay for it.
How do you handle the whole online music and illegal downloading issue? Does it affect you much as a band?
Well, we started this interview by talking about growing up in the 90s. We were the generation that stopped buying music. These days, most bands stream their music for free. We want to give everyone the opportunity to hear our music. We understand that buying a record is like buying a piece of art to hang on the wall. You’re paying for a lot more than just the songs, but with that being said, the songs should really sell the album.
What have you got in the pipeline? Any tours or overseas shows lined up?
We are playing a big festival called Fest! in Florida at the end of the month. We have a short US west coast run in December, and hopefully we’ll be out to The UK next year.
If you could play a show with any one other band, who would it be and why?
As far as attainable, short term goals go, we are really into a band from Texas called A Giant Dog. We’d love to play with them. Like us, their music showcases vocal harmonies, and they are a super wild and fun sonic ball of energy. They’re all great players, and their lyrical content is superb.
What has been the real highlight of the band so far?
Getting signed to Dodgeball has been really exciting for us. We put a lot of hard work into making this record, and having someone tell us they believe in it and believe in us is an amazing feeling. We’re excited to see what happens after the release.
And what’s the hardest thing for you about being a musician?
Being away from home is stressful on relationships and finances. Pursuing music often feels like you’re putting the rest of your life on hold.
Have you got any advice you’d like to offer up to people in bands out there?
Write songs all the time, play music with your buddies, and make sure you’re having fun.
Huge thanks for chatting with us, much appreciated. Best of luck with “Bloom” and let’s hope you make it to our UK shores soon. Before we let you go though, can you please just let us know what the greatest movie of all time is and why?
My favorite movie is Edward Scissorhands. The soundtrack is amazing, and the visuals are stunning. I think Edward is a relatable character for a lot of young musicians and weirdos.
www.facebook.com/DecentCriminal08
www.facebook.com/DodgeballRecords
Huge thanks to Brian and also Mike @ Earshot Media.
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