| The Dudes became one of Calgary’s most beloved bands on the strength of live shows fuelled as much by laughter and stunts as by the music itself. As time went on, however, the songs revealed themselves as genuine heartbreakers, just as the multiple talents of lead vocalist and songwriter Dan Vacon, guitarist Bob Quashnick, drummer Scott Ross, and bassist Pat Downing (recently replaced by John Hopkins of the Fake Cops) grew by leaps and bounds.
Flash-forward to 2006 and The Dudes – now strikingly tight showmen with a full arsenal of future-classic rock songs up their sleeves – have set their eyes on moving beyond the local stage. Their latest album, the sharp-witted Brain Heart Guitar, produced by Russ Broom (best known for his work with Jann Arden), transforms The Dudes from local class clowns into a rock band capable of taking on the world at large.
Here, in their own words, is the story of The Dudes.
A SHORT TIMELINE HISTORY OF THE DUDES, BY CO-FOUNDER BOB QUASHNICK
· 1992-93: Dan Vacon and Bob Quashnick meet and spend their weekends playing songs for girls around fire at Beaver Dam Flats. Play at school talent show.
· 1996: The music collective at Victoria Park house meshes members of various bands to form The Dudes.
· 1997: Dan gets haircut.
· 1999: Play Slurpee Cup after-party with new approach and organization.
· 2000: Release This Guy’s The Limit locally, win band wars, play a show at 9:30 p.m. to an empty room in some sketchy makeshift New Music West venue.
· 2003: Record Bee Puncher EP.
·2004: Record album for (Vancouver label) Boompa. Never release it.
· 2005: Play in Toronto, inspire some Calgary promoters to start a label, make new plan.
· 2006: Finish Brain Heart Guitar.
WORKING WITH PRODUCER RUSSELL BROOM
Bob: Russ said a big challenge for this project was that he had to serve three masters. The label funding it, the band playing it and the commercial public we hope will be buying it. I think he did a great job.
Scott: He has so much first-hand knowledge of the music business, recording, and on top of that he has a great ear for songwriting. He’s really worked hard to be the full package, and it shows. It really made me question my sincerity towards my dream and what I needed to do to become a better musician and raise my expectations of my playing. Russ basically gave us paddles in extremely deep waters.
Dan: Working with a producer was strange for me. I can be a bit of a creative Nazi. We fought about arrangements and tones a bit, but we always ended up with something we both were happy with.
Bob: It was kind of awkward because none of us knew what a producer did. It seemed like one of those bullshit terms like "mastering" (although we eventually learned the value of that, too). Russ wasn't used to having to justify his contribution. He would come to practices, forbid us from any smoking inspiration and make us really work on songs. He was exactly what we needed. I felt like I had to fight for my guitar lines – he helped me really make them count.
Dan: (During the recording of This Guy’s The Limit) I was making my own codeine back then and smoking a lot of pot. We played BHG mostly straight. I did the vocals in Russ's basement and played with his little girl Stella between takes. His wife Barb would make snacks.
THE NEW LOAD MUSIC LABEL AND RE-RECORDING OLD TUNES FOR BRAIN HEART GUITAR
Dan: Load saw us play Toronto and convinced us to re-record BHG on their dime. They're good guys, passionate and experienced. It's a two-man show like My Two Dads.
Scott: The re-do of old songs was for one reason only. We’ve never had any chance to get our music delivered outside of Calgary, unless you were at one of our out-of-town shows. We thought we should put together an album for the rest of the world that could be as solid and strong as possible from beginning to end.
Dan: I feel kind of bad for the people waiting for new tunes. I'm worried people will think my mind’s dried up.
Scott: We have a good team behind us who support us to no end. It’s still hard though because you have ideas of what you want to see and they have ideas of what they want to see and in a business relationship sometimes communications get lost and things get frustrating. It always seems to work out though, and that’s just the nature of things no matter what your job is.
THE DUDES’ FORMER LIFE AS A "JOKE BAND," TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY AND THE INFAMOUS DUDE BOMB
Dan: We couldn’t play well enough to really blow anyone away with our music, so we tried to be entertaining in other ways. Pat and I wrote songs we thought were funny because life was hilarious. There was a Dude Bomb (large foam headgear in the shape of a bombshell that would be worn during their performances). Later I got depressed, but now I think depression is funny and living is great. I still think our songs are pretty funny but also sort of great.
Bob: We're still a joke band, in that our songs lean to the humorous side of relationships. We don't want to cross the line into "zany," but we recognize courting rituals and relationship-living situations can be both ridiculous and extremely serious at the same time.
Scott: We just want our jokes to be taken seriously now.
Jon: Their fans were taking the band more seriously than they were. As for the Bomb, it's better to burn out than to fade away.
Bob: The Dude Bomb will return when he is needed.
CALGARY’S CHANGING MUSIC SCENE AND THOUGHTS ON LEAVING TOWN
Dan: I think becoming a successful musician is nearly impossible. I love being friends with people who put themselves completely into something that most likely will break their heart. I can walk down the street and catch a look from, say, Andrew Wedderburn (of Hot Little Rocket) on a patio. "Hey Andrew," I'll say, "You still a nobody?" He nods that it’s still so. "And you?" he'll ask me, "Still an insignificant artist?" We both know it’s true.
Scott Ross: The scene here is wonderful. Everyone supports one another. I couldn't imagine calling anywhere else home. There is talk of us going to Toronto and out East to live for a few months to play shows five nights a week to promote the new album, but when that’s over I'll be right back home here in Calgary.
THE GROUP’S HOPES FOR BRAIN HEART GUITAR
Bob: We want to make girls dance and keep them dancing. We want to make music our full-time job. We want first-time listeners to choose Brain Heart Guitar as the soundtrack for the best of times. We want people to put on our album and instantly be brought back to fond memories of road-trips and dance parties.
Dan: I want people to have a celebration. I want them to find something that makes them feel like they're part of something bigger. I hope it rings true. I want them to say, "That music makes me want to dance," and, "Damn Marsha, I think this song is about me," or, "Whoa golly, innit that just what life is like?" |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.