Street Dogs Interview

Street Dogs

Interview with Mike McColgan and Johnny Rioux on Feb 11, 2008 by

By: Amy Meyer

Our own Amy Meyer got a chance to chat with some of the members of the Street Dogs on their tour with Tiger Army when they swung through Chicago. Check out what the guys had to say.

Since you're pretty stylistically different than the band you're currently touring with, Tiger Army, how would you say the fans react to your music?

Johnny Rioux: It's been good, what's happening is a lot of our fans have been showing up too. Our fans help newer fans, they're familiar with our show and the newer kids follow their lead. We put 150% into our shows and when new people hear us, the feedback is really good.

Mike McColgan: It's no different opening with anybody. People pay hard earned money and take time out of their life to come to the show and we don't take that for granted.

JR: It is exciting to play for new crowds.

How do you think growing up in Boston affected your music since there seems to be such an active music scene there?

JR: Geographically? Certainly we haven't got a lot of the Irish folk (opposed to some other Boston based bands). Our influences are more worldly; we grew up on the Clash and Stiff Little Fingers. We grew out and translated our influences topically and stylistically.

MM: We are a band that pride ourselves on being very open-minded. We have diverse interests and there are different bands that find a way into shaping our sound and we fuse life experiences into our music. There is no way to pigeonhole Boston punk rock into being limited to all things Boston.

Why did you decide to release the record as a 2-part with a DVD?

JR: We split the release where half were just the album and the other half were both. We really wanted to give our complied footage and wanted to be truthful in showing the writing and recording process. There is arguing, it's not all fun, rock and roll, and partying; we wanted to show a day in the life of the Street Dogs.

MM: We wanted to encompass shows, the creative process, and a Monday inside touring, the long hours, and explosive nature of a life performance. It is an unscripted look into what we do.

JR: As far as the fans, we never want to be rock and roll stars, we want to be the people's band. As five guys on stage, our experience is not fully encompassed up on stage. Mike Clash was accessible to fans, and those are the ethics we have before the show or in the crowd. We want to talk to fans and have actual discussions. We want to be accessible and we are grateful. Without the people we would have nothing and no records would be made. We stay grounded because being in a band isn't a right, it's a privilege.

What made you decide to leave your firefighting career and go back to music? (McColgan was the original singer for the Dropkick Murphys, served as a firefighter, and now fronts the Street Dogs)

MM: Johnny and I both missed the creative process of making music. We had a record release in Boston and naturally had a real interest in being in a band. We released another album, Back to the World, and went for it. Making music is what we always go back to, it's an amazing thing.

JR: There's a lot of things kids don't realize, being a musician means you're poor. There's no 401K, no retirement plan, but Mike's calling to be a singer is a big fucking deal, especially in Boston where people are in-demand to work.

MM: A lot of guys on the job (firefighters) didn't believe I was leaving the force to go back to music. I don't know how to explain it, but this is the right thing for me, and the stage confirms that it is a gift, it keeps us going on.

Are there any hard feelings between you and the Murphys?

MM: They came off a little apprehensive at first. We invited them to a show and it seemed to break the ice. Both groups have mutual respect for each other, but we're two different bands. They're fully Celtic punk; we have no bag pipes or mandolins. The bands are different and do get along. So there certainly isn't any hard feelings, there never has been.

JR: Although the press wanted to pin us against each other badly

MM: None of that stuff (in the press) ever existed; maybe someday the groups will even play together.