STREET DOGS article for ON TAP Magazine

STREET DOGS at SHAMROCK FEST 2008

Recently signed to a new label and putting the finishing touches on their fourth album, the Street Dogs had a chance to revisit the Shamrock Fest for a second appearance on March 15th. Former vocalist and founding member of Dropkick Murphys Mike McColgan and bassist Johnny Rioux had a chance to talk about the new home at Hellcat Records and the upcoming tour that will bring them back to the 9:30 Club at the end of April.

“Every time we’re in Washington DC, whether we’re playing this festival or we’re playing a smaller venue or whatever it’s just like people are real receptive,” McColgan said. “They have a good time and they go off, so we look forward to playing here as much as we can.

Rioux expressed how playing the 9:30 Club, arguably one of the most historic venues in the evolution of the American punk rock scene, was a childhood dream.

“When you’re a kid growing up in Boston, you think about places like the 9:30 Club,” Rioux said. “You think ‘can you imagine playing the same stage that so many acts have played.’”

The band signed to Hellcat in February, a subsidiary of Epitaph Records. McColgan stated it seemed like the most logical label for a band like the Street Dogs.

“When we made “Fading American Dream” they had expressed interest but we were still under contract to do a record with our old label,” McColgan said. “It’s a great place and they really let you have artistic control and do what you want. That’s big for a band like us because we couldn’t have a suit come in the studio and say ‘play it like this so it can get played on the radio.’ We gotta be able to do what we want to do.”

They expect to release their fourth album in July. It is their second outing with producer Ted Hutt, who worked with them on “Fading American Dream.”

“I feel like it’s gonna be mean,” McColgan said. “There’s a lot going on in there. We grew a little bit collectively, as a band musically, and stayed true to ourselves and what we do. It’s unmistakably us and I feel like you’re going to see eleven or twelve songs that are potent, impassioned, and powerful. It’s going to be a great record.”

The band has not settled on a title, but one of the new tracks has drawn inspiration.

“We have a track on the record called “A State of Grace.” The lyrics in the song express that we’re all searching for a state of grace. That resonates heavily with the group, and I think the songs collectively, so we’re leaning that direction.” Rioux said.

The Street Dogs will be performing at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday, April 30 at 7pm with Anti-Flag, The Briggs, and Fake Problems. Rioux encourages the DC scene to come out and bring down the house.

“We’re gonna continue to up the ante in DC.” Rioux said. “We’re gonna expect more crowd participation and more singing along. If you don’t find your CD before you come see the show at a record store, download that thing, steal the record, learn the songs, sing along, set off the pit, and have fun with us.”