The Dear & Departed

I discovered who the Dear & Departed were the day I was told I would be interviewing them. Franticly looking for all the info I could find out about them on the internet, I Realized I hadn't even listened to their music! "great investigative skills, dumbass!" I told myself. So I headed over to their myspace to see what this band was all about.

First song on the list was Tonight's the Night. I was immediately drawn to it by the chants reminisent of a soccer match, which always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. As soon as the opening guitar riff and great anthem type chorus hit me from out my uber crappy and crackling Sony computer speakers I was hooked! This was the new band I had been searching for!

The Dear & Departed's sound reminds me of those old goth / new wave bands from the 80's. Sure, some will say their sound isn't anything new but seeing how I've been going to so many hardcore/screamo shows lately, it was definitly a breath of fresh air! Don't get me wrong, I love hardcore/screamo bands but The Dear & Departed have such a great sound and stage presence that you can't help but like them and sing along!

So as the story goes, shortly after their amazing set at The Grove in Anaheim, CA I nervously called their tour manager to set up the interview and 5 minutes later I was surrounded by some of the nicest guys I've meet in a long while. Even put my social anxiety at ease! Check out their CD "Something Quite Peculiar" in stores now!

Whats up guys? I just heard about The Dear & Departed about 6 hours ago. Can you tell me a little bit about the band.
Dan: Awesome! Well, we're 5 individuals with very different stories that came together in Orange County to create music about a year and half ago and we recorded a record a little less then a year ago and that record was released a few months ago and we've been touring ever since

I read you guys were on Warped Tour. How did that go for you guys?
Dan: It was good. It was pretty hard to adjust to you know... We come from places that aren't really that hot except Joel, but he's from Australia...

Joel: It was hot!

Dan: Definitely a lot of cool people on there. Its not really like a show, you know?

David: Its like a traveling circus. The animals are paying to see the humans.

Dan: Yeah, it's like a traveling sideshow!

So you guys are originally from the Austraila and England. Are the music scenes a little different between the 2 countries?
David: Uh, I think Australia's a bit behind musically.

Dan: Obviously America being the size it is, I think other countries in general tend to look for influence or whatever is happening here is apparently cool... you know what i mean? But I think every country that we're from is definitely responsible for some amazing bands. I remember growing up, we definitely we're aware of what was going on here more then anywhere else.

I heard you had Jade from AFI produce your record?
Dan: Chris Vrenna actually produced it and Jade kinda co-produced it. He just kinda sat in with us and gave us his opinion on what totally sucked and what didn't. But working with Chris was a dream. It's someone we totally admire and feel very privileged for working with and Jade same goes, you know?

Whats next for you guys?
Joel: More tours. Just trying to get busy for the rest of the year. We have some stuff already planned here. But trying to tour as much as we can.

------------------------------------------------

For more info, show updates and music
check out The Dear & Departed on Myspace.com
www.myspace.com/thedearanddeparted