Interview: Son of Dave talks upcoming album

Son of Dave recently released the video for Pow Pow, the latest punch-packing track to emerge from forthcoming album Music For Cop Shows (out October 27th via Goddamn Records).

Pow Pow is a cheerful, whistling, perky new Son of Dave song all about cop shootings. And violence on TV.

Complete with another delectably twisted music video to accompany the release, Pow Pow is delivered to you with endearing scenes of kids beating the cr*p out of Son of Dave and watching old 70s cop shows and b-movies that they really shouldn’t be watching. What’s not to love? At first glance, the video seems to illustrate a happy field of kids (and the dodgy Bluesman) playing kung-fu and shoot-em-up games. But then the TV they’re watching gets progressively more violent…

Featuring reels of 1970’s b-movie footage intercut with hilarious animation by long time collaborator Stephen Plunkett, this video is sure to be another cult Son of Dave classic, but perhaps unlikely to mentioned by Oprah.Son of Dave will be on tour throughout November and running in to December.

Son of Dave is fifty years old, and has lived for twenty-one years in the UK, hailing originally from Winnipeg Canada where he was steeped at a young age in the blues-bar tradition. His resumé is long, having had many other successes along the way. He plans to perform until his 80s at least, pointing out that there is no pension plan for Bluesmen, and that the whole live-fast-die-young game is for kids who can’t handle their booze (or for their managers simply after publicity). An unrecognised genius somewhere between Beck, Muddy Waters and Tom Waits, he’s been sampled by Rizzlekicks, jammed with Cindi Lauper on the Jools Holland show, and been hired to play Grace Jones’ private party. Too cool to be hip.

Check out Pow Pow below!

We managed to catch up with Son of Dave as he talked about his latest track, upcoming album and more!

How has the video for Pow Pow gone so far with fans?

It’s too early to tell if it will make it onto Oprah’s hit list. But the first fans to hear it are saying amusing and positive things.

Tell us something about the video no one knows about

The suit is stretch fabric. Got it in the post from China. None of the pockets work.
I suspect one of two of the children in the video might be mine.

What was your favourite moment recording the video?

Seeing it with the animated TV and cash grabbing Son of Dave character gave me good laughs.
Plunkett, the illustrator cracks me up.
Of course horsing around with kids on a nice day in a park is a joy. But it’s also very hard to wrangle them. Took many parents off screen to make that happen.

How pumped are you for the release of Music for Cop Shows?

People want to hear how excited and happy and optimistic the band is when the new album is about to come out.
But really I feel it’s already doomed. I’m starting to write the next one. I need to have it ready as soon as possible because this album will be forgotten in six months.
That’s the truth. People can’t handle the truth. Well, perhaps they can be amused by my suffering pessimism at least.

Would you say this is your strongest release to date?

The people in my circle of powerful music professionals all whisper that in my ear. This is the strongest record to date they say. Exactly those words.
I don’t believe them, but have to carry on, put on a smile, and book my train ticket to the next town.
I’ve had my flu shot, so I look forward to not having flu at least.

If you could play at any venue you in the world, where would it be and why?

Sure, encourage me to fantasise about shit that will never happen.
Glasto main stage. They put Carsick Bob up there. He made everyone feel so sorry for him, they had to.
I’m not going to stop being a sarcastic genius so I’ll never make it up there.
But I’ll die honest.

If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?

More fantasising about stuff that won’t happen. Great.
I’ve had Rolling Stones dreams all my life. At least one a month. In my waking hours, I don’t obsess over the Rolling Stones, but when I’m asleep, it comes. And not just music dreams, Imagine your mom coming and embarrassing you in a Rolling Stones rehearsal with milk and cookies. And nightmare scenarios where i’m invited onstage and fail to play anything in tune. Why? Why them? Is it fate that one day I work with them? No, it’s just the subconscious practising disappointment so that life doesn’t seem so bad when we wake up.
If the call comes to work with a band who can pay me a few quid to come and do a session, I’ll be there. There have been some great collaborations. I don’t see them coming or have any wishes. Don’t need more disappointment.

What was the first gig you ever went to as a kid?
I think it was Stompin’ Tom Connors. Canadian Maritime folk hero. I liked him on TV so Ma took me. He signed a songbook for me.