Features

One of the better punkrock bands I came across last year was Dear Landlord. Half Rivethead, half Copyrights... they were rocking out severely on "Dream Homes". Check it out if you haven't done so already, it's out now on No Idea Records. To make things even sweeter, they're coming over to Europe in a little bit where they will play at the Groezrock festival among loads of other shows. Read on to see what drummer and songwriter Brad had to tell us

PRT: What is it exactly that you would like to tell your landlord?
Brad: More than anything, I would like to say that I am sorry. I know that it is a big hassle to take the pile of checks they get every month for doing nothing to the bank and it’s probably even more draining to figure out a way to spend that money on stupid bullshit when they already have so much more than they need. The point is, some of us understand and we feel your pain.

PRT: For the people out there who haven’t heard you guys yet… if Dear Landlord was the lovechild of two other bands, which acts would’ve had sex and which position were you conceived in? And don’t say The Copyrights and Rivethead!
Brad: Yikes, a sexy question! We don’t talk about that kind of stuff here in the Midwest but I guess I have to, right? Let’s call it a craigslist hookup between Pinhead Gunpowder, Screeching Weasel and Swingin’ Utters in a highway rest area bathroom. A series of unspeakable acts regretted by all parties involved takes place and we are the unwanted result.

PRT: Can you give me the history of the band written in one minute or less starting… now!
Brad: About one million years ago Rivethead went on tour with The Copyrights, it was awesome. Rivethead broke up. Zack and I moved from Minneapolis, MN to Carbondale, IL. I don’t know why we did that. We started Dear Landlord in the disgusting, flooded basement of the lost cross house. We played once or twice around town and recorded some songs that ended up on 2 different split 7”s. There were a few pretty long US tours that fucking ruled. Our van broke down a lot and we got drunk with our friends all over the country. I ended up back in Minneapolis. Zack went on tour with Off With Their Heads. We made a full-length on No Idea Records. We played some punk fests, went to the UK and Europe, Brett lost his shoes. It was really great! We recorded some new songs that no one has heard yet, they are dub step… and that was a few weeks ago.

PRT: You guys are in more than one band, you live in different places… how does that affect Dear Landlord?
Brad: It just means we don’t do the things most “local bands” would get to do which I see as both good and bad. We don’t play shows when we are not on tour and we don’t practice or write as a band really. At the same time, we don’t get sick of the band or each other and all that. When we can do shit, it rules and it’s a really good time.

PRT: Is it hard to choose which band a certain song you’ve written will go to? Or does that just come naturally?
Brad: No, it’s not hard. I think it helps that when we get together to write songs for this band there’s the intention that they are Dear Landlord songs so it’s never really an issue.

PRT: Your full-length debut “Dream Homes” came out a while ago. Are you happy with the overall response?
Brad: Yeah, for sure. I have been obsessed with punk records since my early teens and I’ve always wanted to be a part of making a record that I was happy with. It’s really cool to hear positive things about a record at a time when music seems so temporary.

PRT: How important is a dream home for you? Or is travelling most of the time more gratifying?
Brad: I wish I could afford a house or property but honestly, it’s not a priority for me. I care more about traveling and playing music than where I live when I am in Minneapolis. For me a “dream home” would be a building with a wood stove that the bank couldn’t take away.

PRT: What are your plans for 2011?
Brad: We are planning to go back to Europe in early April. After that we are doing some shows in the US and Canada. Hopefully we can make a new record in there somewhere also.

PRT: What were for you personally the best and worst moments of 2010?
Brad: Going through with the plan to dress up as juggalos at Gainesville Fest was easily the best moment but being dressed up as a juggalo at Gainesville Fest was the worst.

PRT: Your European tour will also bring you to the Groezrock festival in Belgium. Excited to play there or is that just another show for you guys?
Brad: Yes, we are incredibly excited about playing Groezrock! I think that fest is the exact opposite of “just another show” for us.

PRT: Any last words for our readers?
Brad: Keep on keeping on.