Arizona Daily Wildcat Online
sections
Front Page
News
Opinions
Sports
Go Wild
Live Culture
Police Beat
Datebook
Comics
Crossword
Special Sections
Photo Spreads
Classifieds
The Wildcat
Letter to the Editor
Wildcat Staff
Search
Archives
Job Openings
Advertising Info
Student Media
Arizona Student Media Info
UATV -
Student TV
 
KAMP -
Student Radio
The Desert Yearbook
Daily Wildcat Staff Alumni

The Dimes prove they're no cheap talent


Photo
Photo courtesy of The Dimes
The Dimes aren't a dime a dozen, and they are playing today on the UA Mall at noon. The best part is that you don't have to shell out any change to see them.
By Andi Berlin
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Print this

There comes a time in every little band's life when they finally get a chance to throw their touring diapers away and trade them in for a pair of regular underwear: the production studio.

The Portland, Ore., quartet, The Dimes, was wearing diapers for quite a while, but decided full-on underwear just wasn't the right thing for them. That's why they decided to go for something more along the lines of pull-ups instead. (I'm a big band now!)

The Dimes have been labeled as one of the hardest working bands in indie rock namely because of their intensive touring schedule. Only three weeks after finishing their album, the band pushed themselves to play 90 shows in the period of about a year.

Because The Dimes hold themselves to a very high standard on the road, they wanted that work ethic to come out on their latest album, Atlanta. So, during the recording process, they tried something a little different.

Instead of layering each instrument on top of each other separately (like most bands do in the studio nowadays) The Dimes recorded most of their album live. They played the songs together in the studio, then went back and added production touches at the end.

"We went into it as a band that presented a vibe live," said vocalist Johnny Clay. "We're really into the atmosphere of the show."

The result was a more cohesive and emotionally raw sound that captured the live energy of their stage show. Instead of an album full of production work, Atlanta. is a passionate portrait of the entire band.

So if the results are so spectacular, why doesn't every band try recording live? "A lot of people just get intimidated by the studio setting," Clay said. "The scary part about that is, you all have to nail it."

But The Dimes have had a lot of practice in that area. In addition to extensive amounts of time perfecting their stage show, they have also grown up listening to the sounds that they want to build upon.

Also a huge fan of bands like The Beatles, Coldplay and Death Cab for Cutie, Clay models many of the principles of his music after U2.

"You go back and look at some of those songs, and it's like man, they did so much with so little. There's not an orchestra behind them or whatever, but the song is so full."

Although groups that utilize more production work such as Radiohead and the Postal Service catch Clay's eye, he prefers as of now to develop the band's sound in a more traditional way. This can include bringing in a cellist or two from time to time (or just on the new record) to add a little classical glitz.

The band's cellist may be absent from their performance today at noon on the UA mall, but their sound will probably be just as crisp as the record, even if they are playing in front of a tough passing crowd.

"You know going into those gigs. And the cool thing is, isn't that sort of the ultimate challenge of the musician? It's like, OK, I've got 15 seconds to grab your attention and make you want to know more about me, so I better do it right now," Clay said.

The Dimes will be performing on the UA Mall today at noon, and at the Red Room at the Grill at 9 p.m. No cover.



Write a Letter to the Editor
articles
Taking you back
divider
Tucson and campus calendar
divider
Scatter shot
divider
'Just Like Heaven' more like hell
divider
Commentary: Doctors to Spears: Contraceptive jelly not meant to be used on toast
divider
The Fiery Furnaces heat up Solar Culture
divider
'Moliére Than Thou' reaches college level
divider
Author Hornby combines suicide with slapstick
divider
Erin McKeown a one-woman show
divider
You always remember your first time
divider
'Office' alumni bring the funny with 'Extras'
divider
The Dimes prove they're no cheap talent
divider
Meatyard exhibition: Sounds like a porno ... but it's not
divider
Big AZ Music Festival highlights local scene
divider
Sweaty assclowns distract from Oasis
divider
Restaurant and Bar Guide
Housing Guide
Search for:
advanced search Archives

NEWS | SPORTS | OPINIONS | GO WILD
CLASSIFIEDS | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US | SEARCH



Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2005 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media