“Nasty Blues Based Punk Rock from the Southeast”
If memory serves me Dirtbag Love Affair found me on myspace back in the days when it was a useful site. They left a comment on my page telling me I had a good taste in music and I should check them out sometime. I don't really know anyone in Charlotte, NC but felt confident I would see them playing with Sex Slaves in the future. I had no way of knowing at the time that a local “promoter” would wind up asking me for Sex Slaves contact info and promise a guarantee in the middle of them preparing for one of those lengthy tours they are known for.
As the story goes, as it got down to business the “promoter” did not respond and the Slaves were left with a gap in their schedule. I had already given Sex Slaves Rockshowbooking's contact info in Augusta, GA, knowing they had never played there and that people would make the drive from Atlanta and that Rockshowbooking is very passionate about what he does! Anyways, I sold pieces of myself to find out the best way to book a show at New Brookland Tavern. I wound up with a local band, who wound up breaking up the night before the show and not informing anyone, Dirtbag Love Affair, and Sex Slaves. It was a dark outside, the box was out, jambalya was at the bar, and the one and only Johnny Moon was present.
What I did not know was that Devin Holiday of Dirtbag Love Affiar had every reason to be a pretentious ass and could have very easily not agreed to play a show an hour and a half or two away on what would wind up being a Sunday night, for a door deal. This is the part in the story where the music starts playing and I call upon people I know will be reading this ( i.e. Big Troy of Augusta's 95 Rock). I ask you to pick up Murderdolls' “Women and Children Last” CD and read Wednesday13's thank-yous.
My favorite memory from seeing Dirtbag Love Affair for the first time was sitting at the bar of New Brookland Tavern with Angel, the rockbox, Crystal, and Sasha, and Devin walking up to Angel and getting him to play guitar mid-song. Angel's new project Durty Rockstar can be found at www.facebook.com/durtyrnfr and www.myspace.com/durtyrnfr.
MsBrandyRock: Have you ever toured the midwest before this past spring?
Devin Holiday: This was our first time in every city that was on our midwest schedule. And I must shout out to Tulsa and Stillwater Oklahoma for being two amazing cities on our route!!
MsBrandyRock: Out of all the crazy setbacks on the road, which is the most memorable?
Devin Holiday: We began having trouble with our transmission with about 8 days left. Somehow we kept motoring through. We got home at 5 AM after a brutal drive from Kansas City. I'm talking like 20 hours thanks to interstates being closed because of tanker trucks wrecking. Anyway we got home and left our gear in the trailer. The next day we go to unload it at our rehearsal room and our van won't come out of first gear!! We are so thankful it got us to where we were though.
MsBrandyRock: Has anyone mailed the Dirtbag Love Affair banner back?
Devin Holiday: No we have not seen the banner. Funny story though with that too... Our singer had a childhood friend in Austin ( shout out to Matt for housing us). He came to the show and wound up catching the eye of the bartender at the club we played. And even after going on a date with her and having her scour the club neither Matt nor the bartender or anyone at the club could find our banner. It was one of the more hostile clubs we played. Even amongst bands we were the outsiders. So we have our theories that the other bands didn't give a shit if they found our banner or not.
MsBrandyRock: You were near my hometown in October. I have never heard of The Smiling Moose in Pittsburgh, PA. Should I tell me parents to check it out?
Devin Holiday: It was simply the only club open to having a band on a Monday night in Pittsburgh. And we were there so briefly we can't give it an honest review. An ex of mine who used to live in Pittsburgh always mentioned it. So I think it's a cool watering hole for the locals mainly.
MsBrandyRock: Your next show is June 18th at The Money in Rock Hill, SC. Any more future dates in the works or anything you want to say about that show?
Devin Holiday: The show on the 18th is a benefit for cancer research. Everyone has been affected by cancer it seems but for us it hit very close. Davies Dirt's little sis lost her battle while only 18.
And yes we are beginning to focus on some regional shows for the end of summer.
And yes we are beginning to focus on some regional shows for the end of summer.
MsBrandyRock: Where can fans who have not been to a live show purchase “Wakin Up in My Chucks”?
Devin Holiday: We are of course on iTunes and amazon, napster, and all such digital download sites. As far as getting a physical copy come to a show, hit up CDBaby.com, or our website.
MsBrandyRock: What is up with the bubbles?
Devin Holiday: Hahaha. That is everyone's favorite line!
We recorded our second live show ever just to get some music out to the public. The club we were playing at had great lighting and smoke and other things. One of those things was a bubble machine that we did not know of until halfway thru the set. What you hear on CD is our exact reaction when we got showered in bubbles.
We recorded our second live show ever just to get some music out to the public. The club we were playing at had great lighting and smoke and other things. One of those things was a bubble machine that we did not know of until halfway thru the set. What you hear on CD is our exact reaction when we got showered in bubbles.
MsBrandyRock: What does an unhealthy obsession with music entail?
Devin Holiday: Ruining everything else in your life just to pursue music. Ha
Seriously though I am known for rambling and could go on with an answer for this for an hour!
I've sacrificed, given up on, and turned down many good things in life just to pursue this dream of playing rock n roll for a living. And let's just say that wasn't always the smartest choice for me.
Seriously though I am known for rambling and could go on with an answer for this for an hour!
I've sacrificed, given up on, and turned down many good things in life just to pursue this dream of playing rock n roll for a living. And let's just say that wasn't always the smartest choice for me.
MsBrandyRock: What bathroom was the picture in the About Us section of the website taken in?
Devin Holiday: Mine was taken in the Trash Bar bathroom in Brooklyn NY. I think Davie Dirt's was in Wonderland in Richmond VA tho I could be wrong. It's become a ritual for us. We take a pic of someone in the band on the toilet in ever club we play when we go on tour now.
MsBrandyRock: So I am somewhat curious, what other career choices did you flirt with in the past?
Devin Holiday: None! I went to school for music business at James Madison University and considered something on the suit and tie side of music but couldnt do it! I had to be on stage and create.
MsBrandyRock: Why didn't you go on tour with Wednesday13 when asked? What project was it for?
Devin Holiday: Many people don't understand my reasoning behind this and it is no disrespect to Wednesday at all!!! But joining his band would be the same to me as being in a tribute band or cover band because I'd be playing someone else's songs. And they are great songs. I've always loved the whole mentality that Motley Crüe had where the band was a gang and not just a band. So I am very die hard about playing in a band I helped create and mold from day one Wednesday once told me that if he hadn't met Piggy D I was next on his call list for his first album after the Murderdolls. If I'm not mistaken though I believe he asked me about playing bass for the Fang Bang album and again later on that tour he offered the guitarist spot when he was considering a lineup change. I think I was also offered a role in Gunfire 76 but that was a hazy period.
MsBrandyRock: What is the NoDa?
Devin Holiday: NoDa is the bands neighborhood in Charlotte. It is centered on North Davidson St. It is the arts district and the coolest little tight knit community in the world! Every member of the band lives here. Three of us live in the same building even!
MsBrandyRock: Ok so I have this bag of random questions. And yes it is actually random. Would you sell you soul to the devil?
Devin Holiday: It all depends on what I get in return.
Dirtbag Love Affair's Official Site can be found at http://www.dirtbagloveaffair.com/
Upcoming shows include:
Friday July 8th: The Chop Shop, Charlotte, NC
Friday August 5th: The Chop Shop, Charlotte, NC
Thursday November 3rd: Dirtbag Love Affair with Wednesday13 Tremont Music Hall/The Casbah, Charlotte, NC
Twitter: @drtbgloveaffair
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/dirtbagloveaffair
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dirtbagloveaffair
Myspace: www.myspace.com/dirtbagloveaffair
All pictures found on Dirtbag Love Affair websites.
