Rob Cass - Vocals

JJ Watt - Guitar, Vocals

Frank Meyer - Guitar, Vocals

Kath Edmonds - Drums, Vocals

Steve Ward - Bass

What’s that they say about taking lemons and making lemonade? Dark clouds, silver linings, and all that stuff…?
 

Many unexpected things came out of the Covid pandemic of 2020. For musicians, live performing and touring ceased to exist for nearly two years. While many were sitting at home going stir crazy, others started thinking outside the box and working even harder in their home studios, seeking other like-minded artists to collaborate with remotely. For UK rocker JJ Watt and Los Angeles-based punk journeyman Frank Meyer, this situation paved the way for a unique opportunity. Both were multi-instrumentalist songwriters with home studios and plenty of production experience who were suddenly reaching out to musicians outside of their comfort zone, looking for work or someone new to make music with. Despite their geographical differences, they found each other and were soon collaborating on new, original music together.

“I met Frank through Kory Clarke of alt-metal legends Warrior Soul, who was assembling musicians to make a covers album,” says Watt, known for his bands the City Kids, Thirteen Stars, Spill Sixteen, Whiskey Haze, and Wildhearts spinoff the Main Grains. “We instantly got along great and started writing and recording our own material.”

“We both dig Social Distortion, so after writing some original songs together, we started banging out Social D covers just for fun,” reminisces Meyer, who also leads longtime punk act the Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, fronts hard rockers Trading Aces, plus serves as a sideman with everyone from Supersuckers frontman Eddie Spaghetti, punk legends FEAR and Handsome Dick Manitoba, and Iggy & the Stooges guitarist James Williamson. “We ended up making a whole album of that stuff called A Bit Of Distortion.”

Soon enough, the album garnered a buzz, and was selling solid numbers digitally, so the duo decided that just reinterpreting covers wasn’t quite enough. They expanded the lineup to include drummer Kath Edmonds (Kath & The Kicks, Rubella Ballet, StarRats) and Midnight Dogs members Rob Cass (lead vocals) and Steve Ward (bass). A frontman influenced by the likes of David Bowie, Billy Idol and Michael Monroe, Cass is an ace songwriter himself along with his partner in crime Steve Ward. The Dogs duo waltzed in with a healthy dose of material that fit perfectly with new songs Watt and Meyer were toiling away on.  

“It’s been an absolute joy to work with this crew,” says Cass. “The teamwork has been incredible. No stress, just a very creative environment where everyone has clicked. I think you’ll hear that come through on the record.”
 

“I’m in the Midnight Dogs with Rob, so we already have a good creative relationship,” says Ward. “Once we heard what JJ and Frank were up to, we knew this was going to be a great band. The songs remind me of the Who meets AC/DC via The Foo Fighters, yet with a punky edge. It’s the sound I’ve been looking for since I started playing bass!”

Soon enough, the fivesome were working on the 11 originals that make up the full-length platter Dirt and Dust. From the rough-n-tumble rumble of the debut single “Drag Me Down” to the glam-punk energy of “Day By Day,” to the rootsy title-track, Dirt and Dust bubbles over with catchy pop hooks, muscle-bound guitar crunch, and air-tight musicianship. Think Rolling Stones meets Dogs D’Amour in a barfight with the Wildhearts and Social Distortion. 

“Anti-Fashion is raw rock music at its best,” enthuses Edmonds. “Classic riffs, multi-layered vocals, and tons of rock ‘n’ roll energy. This album has so many levels to it! Hit tunes with slick production.”

“The final mix sounds huge and we cannot wait for people to get the record and see the live show,” adds Cass. “We’re taking no prisoners!”

To promote the album – out in August via Very Fried Artists/Real Loud Records – the band will be unleashing a music video for “Drag Me Down” and hitting the road for an September UK tour that finds its way to the Hard Rock Hell Sleaze Festival and a variety of rock ‘n’ roll venues along the way.

“The live tour will bring together a band of great players,” gushes Edmonds. “I'm very excited to get on stage and blast these tunes out of every PA in sight!”

Amen!