Since the New Year began, I have been eagerly anticipating my next band to interview.  The first band I interviewed in 2010 was Raw Dawg, a six-piece band that has been playing together since 2006.  Raw Dawg is composed of Dave French (Lead Guitar and Vocals), Chase Rannigan (Rhythm Guitar and Vocals), Richard Jones (Keyboards), Will Faulconer (Percussion and Vocals), Mike Doyle (Drums), and James Fretwell (Bass).  There was also a guest appearance made by co-owner of the venue, Fardowners, who played the mandolin.  Fardowners, a restaurant in Crozet,  provides a cool, laid back atmosphere where our evening begins...  I have been there many times and it is simply just a great venue to hang out with your friends, listen to great local music, and where you can have any night, you want to have!  It can be enjoying the Tachos, a local food favorite..., with friends, having a couple of beers on the weekend, or rocking to the beats of the local talent in the Crozet and Charlottesville area.  Pick your poison, and be sure to check out Fardowners.  The owners are inviting and so are the people who work there, such as the bartenders Scotty and Andy! 

When conducting my research prior to their gig, it surprised me that Raw Dawg had played alongside The Radiators, The Bridge, and traveled to Floydfest 8: Revival, and Camp Barefoot 3!  These bands are familiar, and it is not surprising Raw Dawg would be of the same caliber.  I did not have specific expectations prior to their show; however, after the show, the photographer for Magazine33, Michael Ponzini, nailed what my expectations were.  He said, "I didn't expect these guys to be as polished for being a younger band."   I felt the same way and they far exceeded my expectations of the night.  After offering a melting pot full of unique sounds, groovy textures, and varied styles of music, Raw Dawg captivated the audience that night and gave us all an awesome, full-bodied, experience.  They offered a variety of different sounds and exuded many influences, from Blues, Rock, Funk, and Reggae.  Raw Dawg brought an intensity that not only provided a heavier Rock and Roll edge, but also a heightened sense of energy and enthusiasm.  Everyone was dancing and rocking the house; no one was sitting down that evening.  It was truly a record night, one for the books...

Listening to their CD a week before their gig at Fardowners, I thought their songs were very different from each other, but shared a common link.  That common link was this:  each song possessed a string of riff changes, style, and sound variations that led to multiple strands of musical highways.  However, they would always permeate back into a common rhythmic sequence of melody, much like a chorus, tying the song together and giving it have a natural flow.  In essence, despite the differences in sound and structure, the songs would always possess consistencies.  They were not merely jamming; their songs had purpose.  To be able to do this well requires a significant amount of time and practice.  They were obviously very comfortable playing with one another and that consequently provided a good foundation for them to play confidently together. 

While listening to Dave French's vocals, he brought something out in me that gave me goose bumps.  French's delivery had this soulful, sexy, gritty, effect when he uttered his lyrics.  When I was listening to him sing, for instance, I knew it was coming from his heart.  It was indeed inspirational to witness!  His guitar chops, along with Chase Rannigan's, were also something inspirational to watch.  Each electric guitars fueled the other, adding comprehensive guitar sounds.  When Chase and Dave were singing together, Chase provided an interesting Jerry Garcia influence, while Dave would compliment Chase with a gritty, blues influence.  Rannigan possesses a focus that radiated through his voice when he was performing that struck me as soulfully deep.  Both he and French captured me and left me mesmerized with their vocal capabilities and their skills upon the guitar that resonated through me entirely. 

Will Faulconer and Mark Cosgrove also graced us with beautiful vocals that night.  Both sets were smooth and easy to understand.  Their voices also complimented the instruments they were playing.  Will, who played the congas and bongos, had an easy, groovy, demeanor that seemed perfect for both his vocals and his instrument.  When he was performing, it was interesting to see how his method for beating the congas complimented his voice, so well.  His hands gently and assertively beat out an array of sounds that took me to an exotic place, such as Cuba or Brazil.  I agreed with Will when he said, "To me it seems that there is something carnal about the congas..."  His congas added an intense spice to the other instruments within the music, especially the drums and bass enhancing the beat further. 

In trying to think of the hook within a song, it is especially hard for me to state if there was merely one in Raw Dawg.  Every member was the hook...  For instance, the mandolin and harmonica have always provided such a beautiful voice and ambiance to any song.  Every time I hear it, along with the harmonica, something inside of me melts away.  That religious, arguably a feminine sound added; yet, another flavor that enriched the soulful, bluegrass elements of Raw Dawg.  When Dave started to play his harmonica, it was as if I was in heaven.  Two of my favorite instruments, back to back!  It blew me away!  Richard Jones upon on the keyboards also added a harmonizing, religious quality to the band's eclectic sound base.  His finger placement was pointed, his sound delicious, and his timing impeccable.  I also liked his demeanor, especially when I saw that he played with his is shoes off!  He, along with everyone else in the band had his own personality.  This added flair to their instrumentation, producing a unique, individualistic sound they can call their own and gave everyone a surge of energy.

When I start listening to a song, the beat is usually the first element I notice.  My ears seek out both the drums and the bass and how they compliment one another.  As Mike Doyle and James Fretwell played together, Doyle said it best when he described the drums as "the constant variable...," within a song.  The beat is indeed the underlying factor within a song.  It is the backbone.  Raw Dawg brought out every beat the body would love.  However, I have a similar opinion about the bass in many ways, as well.  The bass is also a constant factor within the sound structure, and a mighty force to be reckoned with.  I noticed how Fretwell's finger placement, just like Jones, were both precise and swift and how they would make a chord or note changes that would added sparks to the general beat of the song and spice it up!  I simply adore the bass and drums; it digs deep down into the soul, pounding and beating like a heartbeat.  All of the instruments complimented each other, thus providing an eclectic sound that made everyone feel the music in their feet and start dancing without reservation.     

My final thoughts are that you need to witness Raw Dawg for yourself.  I found new elements of skill that drew me in, making me realize why I fall in love with music.  The chance to witness musicians such as Raw Dawg sparked my attention immensely.  The instrumentals are top notch, and I enjoyed their raw energy.  Each band member brought their own uniqueness, and I only hope I have given credence to their limitless talent.  I appreciate their openness during the interview, and hope you find their interview as interesting as it was for me to conduct it.  Be sure to check out their CD Raw Dawg and their webpage at http://www.myspace.com/rawdogmusic.  Be sure to check out the Magazine33 Events page, C-ville Weekly, The Hook, Fardowners, and other local venues in the area to see the where they play, their show listings, and interesting biographical information about the band members.  Here is the interview I conducted that dives into their experiences as musicians.  Enjoy!

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33:  How did Raw Dawg start?

Mike: The band started with me and Dave teaching James how to play bass cuz we needed a bass player.  About a year later, we met up with chase at my house at Yule Farm just off Garth road, and started playing mutual favorites song wise, and then we started writing our own music.  Soon after that dickey joined with his piano skills and we started playing gigs at Uncle Charlie's Smokehouse in Crozet.  Throughout those years we would come home from school and sit in occasionally.  Once he graduated and moved back, he was in like flynt and the six-piece was born. 

 

33:  How would you describe your sound as a band and what does your music represent?

Mike: I would describe our music as dirty southern rock with heavy blues and funk influences.  Although it's hard to try and label something, especially when you create it without a set idea in mind.  For me, I want each song to sound different musically and lyrically but at the same time have the same vibe and feel.  Cuz there is nothing more boring to me than a band whose songs all sound the same. 

 

33:  What have you learned as a musician playing in Charlottesville?

Will: I have learned that this town has a wonderful community of quality musicians who all care about the scene and are passionate about their trade.  The story I told you on Friday about the '3^rd Annual Funky Christmas Getdown' put on by Tucker Rogers and the Charlottesville Music Showcase at Rapture on December 18 was a fine representation of this belief.  I never thought a night of completely 100% improvised music with local musicians who have never played with one another and most who had never met, would sound that good.  It was a magical night with some very inspired playing that said a lot about the talent in this town.

 

33:  Can you tell me why your band works well together?  Ex:  Personalities, attitudes, uniqueness in sound variations, skill level...

Chase:  I think that the combination of similar yet different tastes in music helps us keep our material fresh. In addition to that, our similar lifestyles, likes, and dislikes help us as well. The fact that we have been friends for about ten years doesn't hurt either.

 

33:  How did you know you wanted to become a musician?

Will:  I knew I wanted to be a musician when I had just started high school.  I began playing the drums and guitar and played in every open mic night that the school I went to would put on monthly.  I went through several musical genre phases throughout high school, but when I was exposed to jam music, that's when I had an awakening, so to speak.  Music has always moved me, but I really fell in love when I began playing it.

 

33:  What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a musician?

Chase:  Advantages are that you give joy to others by expressing yourself in your purest form. Disadvantages are that I find myself second-guessing myself on performances, and that is something that you have to get over as a performer. The difficulty of having to deal with watching other performers that you personally think are less deserving of their success is also hard.

 

33:  What instrument do you play, what exact model, and why?

Dave:  Fender Strat Old Mexican; I love it.  I know every nick, burn, and stain.

 

33:  What are some musical influences that come through your music?

James: I like to keep things simple and let the others guys shine.  I feel like a consistent bass line or groove can do much more for a song than trying to do too much.  It gives others more freedom.

 

33:  How hard is it for a musician to be original and not sound like anyone else while still taking other musical elements into account and applying those your music?

Dave:  It's impossible to sound completely different from any style; that would be like inventing a word or a new chord.  What makes music original is you and you that comes out in it. 

 

33:  What distinguishes this band from other bands in Charlottesville and/or What do you bring to the table that is unique from other bands?

Richard:  Dave French shredding guitar behind his back and plucking strings with his tongue. 

 

33:  What are your goals for this band, whether it is short term or long term?

Richard:  Sounding better each and every day.  As long as we never stop improving, there's really no limit to what we could accomplish. 

 

33:  What would you say to someone who was thinking about becoming a musician?

James:  There's no reason not to.

 

33:  What does music mean to you?

Mark:  To me, it's speaking to other people.  It's a whole other language.  I've walked on stage with people I do not know at all and picked up the mandolin and then all the sudden that's the language that your speaking.  It's a language all in itself.  It's the best language out there.  Music means so much to so many people.  It can take you places, it can be there when your really bummed out or when your really happy.  Music is simply there for you. 

 

 

 

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Comments(1):

1. Love Raw Dawg

   Hats off to Magazine 33 for giving Raw Dawg the much desdreved light. They aways put on a good show and there fans have a great vibe.

   Monday, March 08, 2010 Carrie