Check it out, folks! Cord's branching out with our first article direct from the UK, courtesy of our London chapter, Amy Hanson, who gives North America (and the world - this is online after all) an introduction to a London band. Everyone say hello to Amy!

Perhaps it's the English charm that would make one believe the only influences on the garage/punk band Dogs have been a steady and healthy diet of The Clash and Paul Weller. But, there's more to it than that… when I say 'healthy' I mean the ability to take essential tutoring and elements from great bands without blatantly ripping them off. Dogs look good, sound good and are great, which leaves no doubt that they're their own and that their music is not being done by will power alone, but that docile submission to the coming of musical cool… and did I mention they look good? Imagine what the Strokes would look like if they were British - more Clarks, less irony. Seeing them once at Camden Barfly was not enough and I decided to see them again at The Quad (LSE), and just in time, as the London based band were preparing to go south to Cornwall to record their debut album for five weeks at Sawmill Studios. So, via email, here we go with lead singer Johnny Cooke (second from the left in the photo up there).

(Cord Magazine's questions are in blue. Cooke's responses are in grey.)

Who does what?

Me, Johnny Cooke - I sing. Rikki Mehta - Lead Guitar. Luciano Vargas - Guitar and Vocals. Duncan Timms - Bass. And Rich Mitchell - Drums.

Where are you all from?

Well, London's been home to us for a long time, but Luc, Dunc and myself grew up in Cambridge, Rick's from Blackburn and Rich's from Bradford. We broke the North/South divide!

How/where did you all meet?

Me n' Dunc went to school together and we met Luc drinking Special Brew on the park while skiving off. Rick barged in when in London after advertising for a guitarist. We'd just put the ad up in Denmark Street and he calls an hour later saying he "just loves playing his fookin' guitar", perfect. At that point I was drumming and Luc was singing but it wasn't working so we shuffled it all about. Then we answered an ad by Rich stating that his only influence was 'Japanese brutalist noise', we took a risk that he was taking the piss and there you have it. Something like that anyway.

What were you doing before then?

Random dull jobs, in fact they continued until we signed. But all the while making some shape or form, scraping away, living for the weekends (as we all do).

How did your sound come about, and what were your influences?

Our sound is a clash of all we love to play via the equipment we could afford. Influences? Well, I can't speak for everyone, if I could it'd go on forever, but I have a bit of John Cooper Clarke, The Jam, The Clash, Stones, Pixies, Stiff Little Fingers, Sean Ryder, early U2 and Cure. All records initially pinched off my older brothers!

Everyone hates this question, but how would you describe your music?

You're right, I do. Er, how about music for the expelled?

When do you sign to your label (Island, yes?)?

16th of March this year. And yeh, to Island. Where Bob Marley lives.

Who are you working with in the studio?

John Cornfield, sat right next to me at the moment working his magic. Fuckin' great bloke and great producer.

Can you tell us any song titles detail, etc?

How about "End of an Era", it's gonna be sung up and down the land, "Wot a Wanker" gots the hook. It's basically a finger to all the dis-believers, not our deepest tune, but it will get you off your arse!

What about the name change?

Oh, this is driving me up the wall, after days of thought I come up with 'Dogs' again. It's a fuckin palava. Apparently, when we get big all the bands with 'dogs' in their name will try and bleed us dry, I don't know, it's Dogs, that's who we bloody are. We'll see, eh. Any suggestions?

Who are you currently listening to (musically of course)?

Ha, Ha. Well, we've got Combat Rock on the stereo at the moment…can't get enough of "Straight to Hell"… nothing current really (apart from ourselves).

Any Bands you'd recommend checking out?

Yeh. The New Rhodes are great, Special Needs have got something and Razorlight aren't half bad.

What's your soundtrack for a night out… and the morning after?

Fuck, there's too many. I'll do four on each.

"Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" - The Jam
"Ace Of Spades" - Motorhead
"Loose Fit" - Happy Mondays
"Alternative Ulster" - Stiff Little Fingers

"Straight To Hell" - The Clash
"Strange Boat" - The Water Boys
"Feelin' Bad Blues" - Ry Cooder
"English Rose" - The Jam

Any studio traumas yet?

Yeh, Rich sliced open his hand falling into the creek. I nearly broke my neck on the railway track… it's going well.

(Hmm, I said "in the studio", but alright… wonder if those were alcohol induced…)

Anything currently available by Dogs?

I don't think so, but you never know with all this Internet business. Officially there'll be a single out shortly. We're always available live though, eh.

And for my own personal interest, what is the title of that song that starts with the church bell riff? (Great song, can't get it out of my head).

That'd be "London Bridge", the only ray of light during my van driving days. Things look better from up there.

Awe… If you want to further check out Dogs their website is www.dogsmusic.com. Or like Johnny said, you can always catch them live, so why not make proper use of Terrorist Attack cheap induced airfares and head on over to The UK? Well, it's up to you…

Elsewhere

By Amy Hanson
Photos : courtesy of Dogs
Published : June 23, 2004.