Thy Dirty Deuce - If music helps me... it usually ends up helping someone else.
Vizions of Rock: Who plays what instruments in your band?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Rob Atwood: vocals, guitar. Jamey Clark: vocals, drums. Gregory Roteik: vocals, bass. David Passow: vocals, harmonica. Matt Ostlund: saxophones.
Vizions of Rock: How did the band come together and how long have you been together?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Jamey Clark, the drummer, basically is Thy Dirty Deuce. It started with just Rob and Jamey. Jamey sought out Rob, found him and formed the band. The rest of us followed. The current lineup has been together at least four years…. whereas Rob and Jamey over ten years.
Vizions of Rock: What do you consider is your sound?
BRUISED - NEW CD COVER
THY DIRTY DEUCE: I like to tell people we are country and rap kind of a sound. We call it ‘crap’ (laughs). Just kidding. I tell people we are a soulful, bluesy rock kind of sound. A cross between ZZ Top and Clutch, but with baritone sax and the mouth harp AND original rock and roll.
VIZIONS OF ROCK: Where did the name “Thy Dirty Deuce” come from?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Well, there’s multiple answers for that… The band started with just Jamey and Rob… thus the deuce. ANOTHER ANSWER that comes to mind right now is it’s another way of saying holy shit! (laughs) Another - it came from our love for “B” movies & Manhattan in the 70’s.
Vizions of Rock: What is the creative process like when writing your songs?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: It’s a natural process. I think all the years of jamming in bars at open jams helped us just improvise on the spot and kind of feed off each other, or a lot of the time when Jamey and Rob jam; things come together pretty organically. It’s always different… usually tripping over a melody… liking it… putting words to said melody that are satisfying to my inside and letting everyone do their thing to it.
Vizions of Rock: Can you explain what “The original mathematicians of rock and roll” mean?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: That is a way for us to engage the crowd...it’s a schtick...can I get a Amen!!!
Vizions of Rock: Do have any advice for up-and-coming musicians who want to follow in your footstep, aside from “Stay in school” and “Don’t quit your day job”?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Practice makes perfect. Play with as many people as you can and it’s a group effort. Music is a tool to communicate and share your soul with others, it is also a ticket around the world. Do not stop playing when all your friends quit... you will be amazed how good you are. Also ask yourself why you want to do it or what you’re in it for. Write what you know … what YOU experience... if it’s not therapy for you… it won’t be for anyone else… and buy stocks!
Vizions of Rock: Is there a tag line that describes THY DIRTY DEUCE?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Dirty, truthful, greasy Rock and Roll!
Vizions of Rock: How has “Blues” as an artform changed over the days of say Robert Johnson?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: A COUPLE ANSWERS FOR THAT - I guess I would refer you to the definition of unauthentic: Not made or done in a way that reflects tradition or faithfully resembles an original. ANOTHER ANSWER - Other than being electrified, not much. It has always been music from the soul.
Vizions of Rock: As a follow up - How has the music industry changed over the last 30 years and what would you change about it?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: The Internet has changed the music industry in both positive and negative ways. It’s been easier to discover new bands and easier to seek specific genres online. Also, I’ve been learning that people don’t own CD players anymore. People would rather have vinyl or digital format, it seems.
The sound of music has changed over the years, thus the change in the sound of music is really a reflection of our cultural evolution. Music has become more synth and drum triggers and more synthetic. Mostly bubble-gum lame music. I guess I would love to see more indigenous instruments.
Vizions of Rock: Who are your influences?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Classic funk 45 records of old 50’s,60’s,70’s. Grover Washington Jr. saxophone tone and playing is my favorite so I try to go for that kind of sound. We listen to every genre of music and it all has a influence on our playing. There are aspects of (the band) Boston that I love and aspects of Slipknot that I love too. MANY INFLUENCES.
Vizions of Rock: Is there a message that you are trying to communicate with your original music?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: We want people to recognize the full worth of our original music. Just tales of humanity... if it helps me... it usually ends up helping someone else.
Vizions of Rock: What is on the horizon for the future?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Playing of bunch of shows next summer… and recording a new Thy Dirty Deuce album! To meet as many new people around the world and share our music with them AND contacting other life forms thru music and being invited to jam in another universe.
Vizions of Rock: How can we find you music?
THY DIRTY DEUCE: Come to a Dirty Deuce show and talk to Melissa, our Merch Girl. We have a website www.thydirtydeuce.com and a YouTube channel.
