Fathers Day has been shaking up the local scene with their unique brand of punk for, well, a whole decade now. Yes, folks, ten years of the irreverent dad rock we’ve come to know and love.
The cast of characters that currently comprise the Fathers Day lineup include Tony Skyes (a.k.a. Olympic Sports Dad) on drums, Ronald Hayweather (Step Dad) on bass, Frank Brando (Golf Dad) on guitar and Douglas Patton (Business Dad) providing the vocals. There have been several changes to the lineup over the years, all of whom adopted a “dad” moniker for the band. Many of the changing crew appear on the cover of the“…It’s Called A Separation”: 10 Years of Fathers Day. Over the years, Fathers Day has worked with Tristan Jemsek (Drunk Dad), Emily Spetrino (Classy Dad), Diana Welsch (PTSD Dad), Dave Driscoll (Single Dad), Toby Fatzinger (Little League Coach Dad), Jason Kron (Conspiracy Theory Dad), and Ben Nandin (Step-Dad), amongst others. Ray Reeves even signed on for a short while, but he didn’t have a paternal alter-ego because, and I quote, “because he is Ray Reeves and he is an amazing drummer and played drums for Bob Seger (we figured that’s dad enough)”. Only Andrew Jemsek (Golf Dad) and Ryan Avery (Business Dad) have held to the lineup since the inception of Fathers Day. Avery, the man with the moniker of Douglas Patton, is a born performer. As Patton, he appears determined to deliver a memorable show every time he gets on stage and this has proven to be the most impressive facet to this longstanding local act. Any band can keep up a long-running joke concept, but Patton really sells it to us by completely disregarding who he is outside of Fathers Day when performing with Fathers Day. Total immersion. To mark ten years of Fathers Day, the band took an unconventional approach (no surprise) to the tribute compilation marking this momentous occasion. “…It’s Called A Separation”: 10 Years of Fathers Day features a host of bands covering Fathers Day songs. Well, actually, they all cover one Fathers Day song, fan favorite “Did I Use the Word Divorce?” This is a very difficult album to write about. Writing forces judgement calls and I really don’t know if I like Andy Warpigs’ cover of “Did I Use the Word Divorce?” more than Soft Shoulders’ version. Stylistically, the album proves so eclectic it’s sometimes difficult to remember that you’re really hearing the same song 16 times. Even the tracks vary in length which wouldn’t surprise me too much except for how disparate those numbers are. From 420’s 31-second version to Soft Shoulder’s which clocks in at just over 5 minutes long. Everyone has their own approach to “Did I Use the Word Divorce?” Django Ramone puts a lounge spin on the number while Serene Dominic takes some artistic liberties, both lyrically and musically. Many of the bands I recognize from the local scene, but a few new names were introduced to me by “…It’s Called A Separation”: 10 Years of Fathers Day. Okay, the Treasure Mammal track might really be my favorite. It is the first moment in perhaps the span of Fathers Day that the band breaks character on an album for the inclusion of a short monologue from the real life father of Ryan Avery (a.k.a. Douglas Patton) discussing some of the larger implications behind the project. The misogyny and aggression, the bad dads. The track was in fact recorded by Abe of Treasure Mammal who works with Avery’s father. In truth, the original will always be my favorite. You can hear the Fathers Day version of “Did I Use the Word Divorce” here, but you really want to want to check out “…It’s Called A Separation”: 10 Years of Fathers Day. Listen/purchase here. Do it or your grounded. One of the more odder tribute albums Related Records has undertaken is set for release on Saturday, October 11 (Yes, in the digital world, you don't have to wait until Tuesday for record store employees to unpack and stock the product). Ryan Avery's dysfunctional family band Father's Day has been around for 10 years and to celebrate they've contacted scores of bands like Treasure Mammal, Former Friends of Young Americans, Ray Reeves, the Phoenix Sons and Shovel to cover one Father's Day song. The caveat is that it is all the same song. More like a mantra really, it's a 55-second ditty that goes "Did I use the word divorce? It's called a separation." The compilation or at least the Facebook event, is entitled "It's Called a Separation: Father's Day 10 Year Tribute Compilation." Not since the "Best of Louie Louie" compilation where everyone from the Kingsmen to the Sandpipers to the Rice University Marching Owl Band turned their attention to that three-chord wonderment has one song been twisted and tugged into so many directions. I will disclose to you now, gentle readers, that I have taken a crack at this song myself and should this compilation ever sell in the millions, I will most assuredly go to jail. If that alone isn't incentive enough to check out this collection when she comes, let's go to the video tape. Here's a great live version of the song performed at Trunk Space in 2008. I love everything about this clip. The way Ryan has kids in the audience pretend he's their dad, the guy with the fake cottony white beard, the two girls trying to slow dance to this rant in a mosh pit and the way Father's Day do the song, step out onto Grand as if it were their backstage and come back to do an even more ferocious version of, you guessed it... I just finished making this poster. Now it’s official. Now people know. Now… I gotta finish making these records….
Here is the event page By Serene Dominic Although it reached this milestone with the minimal of fanfare, Ryan Avery's label of local eccentrics and their music, Related Records, has reached the one year mark and to commemorate it, Related Records is offering to sell its entire year's physical output of CDs and cassettes (15 in all and an $81 value) for only $50. Included in this cornucopia of cool are the likes of Drunk and Horny, Treasure Mammal, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Father's Day, Sweat Lodge, Dinosaur Love, Mary Ocher and three other selections. In the interest of full disclosure, there are two Serene Dominic cassettes included in this package. Two titles which I've been informed, much to my chagrin, are the worst selling items in the entire Related Records catalog. This confirms Related Records' selling point that I am truly "Phoenix Arizona's most under-appreciated artist EVER!" Related Records are only making ten of these bundles available and if they sell all out, it will be ten more copies than either of these cassette titles will sell likely sell in the near future. Also included in "The 1st Year Bundle" is a live, direct-to-micro-cassette recording of the Aquabats (yes those Aquabats) playing an acoustic campfire set for their fans at a Cadet Beach Party in 2002 (Ryan Avery was Cadet #3489). Not sure what the legality is behind issuing such a cassette when Saturday morning TV stars are involved. But for an envelope-pushing label like Related that includes used copies of "Vicki Carr's Greatest Hits" and Aaron Carter's "Oh Aaron" on its product page, it goes without saying it's better to be funny than predictable. "The night commenced with the first band: Drunk and Horny. Consisting of Andrew Jemsek on acoustic guitar and back-up vocals and Ryan Avery on bullhorn-amplified lead vocals, this band kept the crowd laughing throughout the entire set. Not only were we all laughing at them (which is clearly what they were aiming for), we were laughing at ourselves as they laughed at us. The songs have giggle-worthy titles to start with; “Fart Relief”, “Poopin’ Safari”, “Cocaine”, and even a cover called “So Sick of Feminists” by Charles Bronson. Each song bared uplifting tones and tempos. Drunk and Horny ended their set by leaving the venue singing, taking a lap around the block, and coming back singing the same song." - Meghan Herring (Yabyum) read the full article here
New FREE digital compilation “Live Through THIS!: A 20 Year Anniversary Tribute To Hole’s Best Album” Featuring Red Pony Clock, Treasure Mammal, Cum Stain, toyboat toyboat toyboat, Andy Warpigs, Fancy Pants and MORE! Here is a compilation I put out yesterday, I am really proud of it, everyone did such a good job with their songs (even the ones that were half ass-ed came out great!) and I did a cover of my favorite whole song that is featured at the end.
But I am most proud of the artwork that my wife Sara did. Check out her etsy store and buy something from her. She should have 8x8 prints of this album artwork for sale soon. Here are the posters for this years Real Coachella and Real Coachella after party.
This year is going to be the weirdest, realist and most memorable Coachella of all time. MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE |
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