The Dodge Brothers
The Dodge Brothers | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Southampton, England |
Genres | Skiffle, Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk, country, blues |
Years active | 2006-present |
Labels | Weeping Angel Records |
Members |
|
Website | www.dodgebrothers.co.uk |
The Dodge Brothers are a British skiffle band from Southampton playing Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk, country and blues music. The band includes film critic and BBC television presenter Mark Kermode,[1][2] along with Mike and Alex Hammond and Aly Hirji.
Formation and Early Releases
According to guitarist Mike Hammond, The Dodge Brothers started in 1996 when Hammond and Kermode were introduced by their wives. "By the end of the night, we were drinking whisky and playing piano," Hammond recalls, at which time Kermode suggested they form a band. They then played local gigs with a third member Pete Stanfield on harmonica, and then as a two piece before soundman Aly Hirji joined on rhythm guitar after meeting Hammond and Kermode at a pub where the duo were playing in 2005.[3] Kermode explains "Mike and I played as a two-piece for a while with me playing bass and harmonica, and then Aly and I met. I told him to come down to a gig and check it out because he’s a sound engineer; he said 'Fine, but it sounds horrible – can I fiddle with the sound?' So, he fiddled with the sound, and then the PA, and then the guitar..."[4]
Kermode has described the band as "guitars,
On writing 'old' songs Kermode says "We used to say that we write songs about transport and homicide and that was the original joke. When Mike and I started a band we were playing the old American songbook. At some point I thought we should play our own songs, but it didn’t fit with the old material. We used to say we wouldn’t play anything recorded after 1956. So I wondered if I could write something that sounds old, so I wrote a song and then next time I saw Mike I sung it to him. Very simple, straightforward twelve bar blues. I told him it was called ‘Church House Blues’ and he went away and looked it up on the internet and he couldn't find it anywhere. He called me up and said “I can’t find this song online, did you write it?” and I said that I'd answer that question if he thought there was a possibility that I didn't. And I was trying to prove that if you think of all the elements you can write new old songs. We started with transport and homicide, alcohol, and heartbreak. We asked, “how would you write a song that starts with ‘I woke up this morning and…’?”."[6]
The Culture Show & TV/radio Appearances
The band played on the
Silent Cinema
The Dodge Brothers and silent movie pianist
The Dodge Brothers
In 2006 they recorded their first album, a self-titled record of covers from "the songbook of weird old America". Drummer Alex Hammond appears on two tracks before joining the band just before their first TV appearance in 2007.
Louisa & The Devil
In 2008 The Dodge Brothers released their second album Louisa and the Devil, the first with the present line-up and featuring mostly original material "written to sound old". The track 'Died and Gone to Hell' also features
The Sun Set
The band's third album, The Sun Set, was recorded at the famous
Kermode also writes about the experience of recording at Sun Studios is his book 'How Does It Feel: A Life of Musical Misadventure' released in 2018.
Drive Train
Drive Train, the fourth album by The Dodge Brothers was released in 2018.[13] Henry Priestman from the band Yachts plays organ, accordion, kettledrums, melodica & penny whistle on the last track on the album 'When I'm Gone'. Neil Brand plays piano on silent film (Hell's Hinges) inspired track 'Blaze'.
2023 Christmas Singles
In 2023 The Dodge Brothers release four new Christmas singles which include a cover of Jimmy Butler's 1959 song 'Trim Your Tree'
Discography
- The Dodge Brothers (2006)
- Louisa & the Devil (2009 Weeping Angel Records)[14]
- The Sun Set: Recorded at Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee (2013 Weeping Angel Records)[15]
- Drive Train (2018 Weeping Angel Records)
- I Can't Wait For Christmas (2023 Weeping Angel Records)
- Christmas in Heaven (2023 Weeping Angel Records)
- It's Christmas! Don't Shoot Santa (2023 Weeping Angel Records)
- Trim Your (Christmas) Tree (2023 Weeping Angel Records)
References
- Newsnight Review. 6 August 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
- ^ Kermode, Mark (1 June 2008). "My 20-year love affair with the joy of skiffle". The Observer. London. p. 6. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ "Interview: The Dodge Brothers". The Current Presents: Blues Highway, Minnesota Public Radio. St Paul, Minnesota. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "The Dodge Brothers: Making The Sun Set". www.port-magazine.com. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ "Interview: Dr Mark Kermode". Heaven or Las Legas. Archived from the original on 30 July 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ Ainslie, Richard (4 November 2019). "An Interview with Mark Kermode". Exeposé Online. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Culture Show Skiffle with The Dodge Brothers & Billy Bragg, retrieved 6 July 2022
- ^ The Dodge Brothers (Mark Kermode) Busking Challenge, retrieved 6 July 2022
- ^ Gladysz, Thomas (24 June 2014). "A Glastonbury First". HuffPost. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Diary of a Dodge Brother skiffling at Glastonbury". the Guardian. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ Mark Goes To Memphis: Recording The Dodge Brothers album "The Sun Set", retrieved 6 July 2022
- ^ The Dodge Brothers at Sun Studio Memphis, Tennessee., retrieved 6 July 2022
- ^ "Drive Train - The Dodge Brothers". Spiral Earth. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ Irwin, Colin (26 October 2009). "The Dodge Brothers: Louisa & the Devil review". BBC Music. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
- ^ Hazlewood, Iain (12 September 2013). "The Dodge Brothers: The Sun Set review". Spiral Earth. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.