Photo by Chris Fuller

The Dt's are taking their R&B based, groove punk on the road. With former members of Madame X, Mono Men, Watts, Roof Dogs, etc. The Dt's are a true Northwest supergroup. Not only that, but Dave Crider, the man who brought you Estrus Records, is the man flinging the strings. Their live demo, recently released on tiny mini-CD format is recorded live and loud, with all their pals hollering along to the deftly crunching melodies and collosal soul rhythms. It's impossible not to make note one of the highlights of this band, the voice of Diana Young-Blanchard. Her soaring, pipes pack a whallop. She howls, coos and rocks out with the best of them. The Odyssey managed to score an interview with Diana (the singer) and Dave (the guitarist) just in time for their appearance at Moorhead's punk rock hellhole, Ralph's Corner on July 31st.

Diana Young-Blanchard: Vocals
Dave Crider: Guitar

Have you ever been to Fargo/Moorhead before?
Diana: Not me.

Dave: I think I drove through there once really quick. The Fireball boys, I know that's their old stomping ground. Midnight Evils are transplants, basically. I'm looking forward to the show. I think it's gonna be cool.

One of the things I read about the DT's that Dave had said is that you all played lead. When I listened to the demo, I can see what you're saying… I'm need to ask you how do you write a song, typically, if you're all playing lead?
Dave: There are song structures as you can tell. What we're trying to do is not have a binding rulebook of verse, chorus, verse. But yeah, there is a structure to what we do. It's actually fairly structured, but there are parts in the songs where we can just do whatever we want. There is always the chance - sometimes better than others - where things are just gonna go somewhere else. But it's not free jazz. For me personally, it's the most freedom I've had in a band - as far as not feeling tethered and not feeling that if I do go out, or go off, that the show is gonna stop and I'm gonna lose everyone else in the band. You obviously don't want to fucking masturbate on stage.

Diana: When someone is on a really good flow, or roll, the rest of the band is real conscious, or in tune, with that. So we can let them just go off for a while, hopefully. It doesn't always work, but it usually does happen where we come back together.

Dave: I think we're just comfortable enough with each other where we can fuck around and we can still make it where it sounds good and it's entertaining for people. Or at least interesting enough where they don't leave.

Is that the reason why you did a live recording for the demo? Is the freedom you all have with each other reflective of the choice to do a live recording as opposed to a studio?
Diana: Not necessarily. We just thought it would be fun.

Dave: Basically what happened is we knew we had to get something recorded before the album. We set up a time in the studio, and we thought, if we were doing this as a demo and we were just going to do it live to tape anyway. Why don't we just invite some friends down and have a party? That's what we did.

So it's not a venue recording or anything like that?
Dave: No. It's actually recorded at a local studio. We invited about 50 friends or so to come down. It was BYOB. The studio was totally cool with that. We just set up and ran through a couple of sets. We ran tape and then wound up with a big five out of god knows how many songs we recorded. It wasn't too much beyond that really. We just thought it would be more fun for us if we had some people in the studio since we were going to do it live anyway.

In the one-sheet for the recording. It says you released it on your own "Hard Soul" label. Is it available to the general public?
Dave: On the website, you can order it, but we'll have it on tour as well. It's $6 post paid on the web site.

How long ago did you record it?
Dave: 3 months ago.

So it's pretty representative of what you sound like right now.|
Dave: It's pretty representative of what we did that night. I think that's a pretty fair statement.

You said you had a lot more that you recorded that night?
Dave: That was only really the second time Patti, our keyboard player played with us. We didn't really spend a ton of time getting the sound. I'm sorry. What was your question?

I was wondering how much material you had besides the 5 songs on the demo.
Dave: We have about 50 or 60 songs right now.

So how long do you typically play at a live show?
Dave: That depends on where we are on the bill, quite honestly. But it's rare that we play longer than an hour. The sweet spot for us is between 40 and 50 minutes. How many songs can you fit in that time frame? That depends on the song! It could be two songs! Generally though, a set is between 8 and 12 songs. We just kind of shake stuff around. Some of the songs have some open parts so they get kind of long. Sometimes they're kind of short.

Diana: Sometimes one song turns into 5 other songs that we never intended to do.

Dave: Or know.

You mentioned the recording is the first time Patti played keyboards with you. That's not quite true, in your case, is it Dave?
Dave: Nope. She just recently joined the band. She was our birthday present.

But she played with you before in the Roof Dogs right?
Dave: Yes she was.

Have you played before with every other person in the band?
Dave: You know, I had never thought of that, but yes. I have been in different bands with everyone in this band. And I have been in different bands with myself! Diana and I had a typical high-school band. We played in the garage and the basement.

Diana: We didn't play any shows.

Dave: We didn't know how to get a show.

Diana, have you ever had singing lessons? Not too many bands have singers that belt it out really well, while still maintaining control of their voice. I know you've done some great stuff in Madame X.
Diana: Thanks. That (Madame X), is very different, huh? I took some singing lessons when I was a kid. They taught me how to sing maybe operettas, but nobody told me how to belt it out. That's a new discovery for myself, actually, with this band. It's something that I've always wanted to do but I didn't know that I could. I thought that I probably could, but I never tried this hard before. I sing a lot of different stuff. I've been in a country band... Some hillbilly country music... Punk rock bands in the early 80s... I've tried a lot of different styles. I don't know. I guess I have big lungs!

Do you feel like you need to change as you go from one project to the next, or is it more determined by the people you play with?
Diana: No. I do. Maybe it's my short attention span, but I actually have a tendency, once I feel like I've done something, to go on and try something else... To keep challenging myself. Plus I like a lot of different styles of music.

Dave. You've been a little more consistent in that you've always been a rock guitarist (at least in the stuff that I've heard). Have you ever done any drastically different projects?
Dave: The Monomen was such a huge part of my life. I did that for so long. Watts was a progression to what I'm doing now. Actually it's really pretty different in this band. What makes this band different is that I think we try to push each other. And it's friendly. But we all try to push our abilities. It's cool to have that. I guess I haven't done a whole lot of country and western.

Diana: That's next.

Dave: I incorporate that. I think that's actually one of the bigger influences. Some of my favorite guitar players are the chicken-pickin' motherfuckers. Don Rich… It's got a lot of influence. I just can't play it that well! (Laughs).

It seems like even 7 or 8 years ago, the most popular bands that had the "garage" label were sticking closer to the roots - like blues, gospel or surf, 60s garage or psych. They sounded more like what came before. Now it seems like there are more bands that are taking the influence from rock and roll's past and they're pushing it a bit further, and turning it into something new. Is that what you're going for with the Dt's?
Dave: Diana and I have a certain idea of what we try to accomplish as far as energy and the sound of the band. We share a lot of musical tastes as far as soul music and hard rock. So I don't know if it's reinventing the wheel. But that (energy and sound) is what I'm trying to go for. A lot of it is more feel than actual sound. I think that's sort of what happens. Is that a non-answer?

I think maybe I asked a non-question.
Dave: I've never been one to sit down and say "Well this is really cool." I'm going to do something exactly like this. I have pretty varied musical tastes. But I'm also a slave and victim of my abilities. Any person is. You try to grow and think outside of the box you create for yourself. Some people let other people create those boxes for them. But I think the biggest thing is to think outside of the box you create for yourself. That's easier said than done. It doesn't matter whether that's music, or writing, or whatever that is you're doing. That should be a goal for everyone.

The debut is coming. Do you have a lot planned for the future? Will you be releasing anything on different labels?
Diana: I don't think we've thought past finally recording this fucking album. We've been trying to get it together for a while for various reasons. The time didn't work out or it fell through. So I think our goal right now is just to make this the record we've ever done. So that's the only goal for recording right now.

Dave: We set some pretty low standards for ourselves.

Most of you have been doing music for quite a while, right? Do you find it gets easier or more difficult as time goes on?
Diana: That's a good question. In what way?

Well. I guess every way. As far as day-to-day responsibilities, significant others, even just the process of figuring out a new sound.
Dave: My rheumatism!

Diana: I guess for me personally, as far as getting in the headspace of performing, and getting more confident and comfortable... everybody around me makes me pretty comfortable. I guess I'm older now. So I wish, maybe, that at age 20 I had the know-how and the capability that I have now. But... C'est la vie!

Dave: That's for the next life. Unless you come back as a pigeon.

How about you Dave?
Dave: If I come back as a pigeon? I'm gonna be a class A, pigeon-shittin' motherfucker!

What about whether it's gotten easier as time has gone on?
Dave: It's gotten different. I don't think it's gotten easier or harder. You always have to make sacrifices to do things that you want to do. Sacrifices are difficult sometimes.

Diana: They're always difficult though aren't they?

Dave: No. When I cut my left testicle off., that was easy because I had a right one, so I didn't need two! But If I had to lose them both... that would be a tough one.

Diana: We're digressing here.

Dave: That's an analogy. But no. For me personally. It's just a different set of circumstances. It hasn't gotten harder. I hasn't gotten easier, but it's pretty much stayed the same.

Diana: Doesn't it seem easier in that this band is more proactive, responsive and gets their shit together a little bit?

Dave: This band is just a dream band. We're four really cool people. All like-minded, good friends who really don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks. Nothing personal Phil. Finally getting to that mindset makes a lot of it easier. Okay... Yeah it's easier.

I think that's a good attitude to have when you're dealing with different audiences on tour. Have you had to take that attitude in your home town at all? Are they receptive to the Dt's?
Dave: If you love what you're doing who the fuck cares!

Diana: People are cattle, so why put too much stock into what the trends are. Just do what you want!

Dave: Start up the grill motherfucker! Pass the barbecue sauce!

Diana: I think people are receptive to us. People have voiced appreciation for doing something balls-out. Something I really dig, is that a lot of chicks come up to me and say "you inspired me to do this" and that's great. Because there aren't a lot of women out there doing this you know?

The comments you've published are pretty glowing, so it seems like people are catching on at least.
Dave: That's true, but you realize that we wouldn't publish any of the bad ones!

Have you noticed any bad reactions?
Diana: We got one really bad one from a pissy-pantsed little kid... Not everyone is gonna dig us. But unless they're talking behind our backs - and they probably are - people seem to be really receptive to what we're doing and that's great.

Dave: But keep in mind, we just don't give a shit.

Diana: Ulimately we don't give a shit.

Dave: We care about the people who see us play, but you know what I'm saying? I think at this point when Diana and I started doing this, the plan was just to play and have a good time. It's great that people like us, and enjoy what we're doing, but that's what's important - to have a good time. It makes it more fun when other people want to join in and have a good time too.

Ed. note: Dave asked me what I was trying to get at when I asked that wierd question about garage band's from 7 or 8 years ago. When I actually cut to the chase, I think I got a better idea of what the Dt's were about than any of the previous questions.

I think I was trying to figure out how you define your style as "hard soul?"
Dave: I've actually had someone corner me in a bar and ask me for a manifesto. I think it's pretty simple though. There is a certain attitude that you want to convey. Where did hard soul come from? Well duh! Hard rock and soul music! Those are the influences that we share as a group. But we also want people to be proactive at shows, and to be proactive in their lives by thinking and reacting to their surroundings rather than just being a part of the MTV generation. Live music and live art is not a spectator sport. It becomes a better experience for the audience and the performer if everyone becomes involved. It's just a strange thing, but I think a lot of people have lost the ability to become part of a situation. It's too easy to be a spectator nowadays. I don't know if you've experienced that there (in Fargo), but I've seen it more and more over the years where people are grabbing for their remotes.

Diana: They don't want to get too close. They don't want to move too much.

I was actually talking about this with someone I know at work, and how you need the audience to be involved for it to be more fun. The band that I'm in, pretty much just sticks to Ralph's, instead of playing any different or larger venue because it's small enough, and reliable enough, where you're going to have a fun time playing for the people there. You need that interaction.
Diana: Otherwise you don't play as well right? Live music is not meant to be background music. If you want background music that's easy enough to get.

Dave: It's like a play too. If nobody responds, or claps… If you stabbed some guy in the neck and nobody shows shock or horror, or whatever, why is it live? Why are you going? Do you want to be part of this experience? If not, what the fuck are you doing here? You got beer in the cooler in your house! You know what? Your band should play the other venue. You should get off the stage and shock those people. Bring it to them! Some people will be oblivious. Some will be frightened that you've left your stage area. But you might make them think "whoa! That's not the way things should be." I think people need to think about that.

Diana: And they'll remember it always!  

There you have it. Make sure you get to Ralph's Corner on Thursday, July 31st and check out the Dt's. You just might see something you'll remember. If you're looking for more Dt's action, download a copy of "Loaded Gun" right here on The Odyssey! Or visit their website.

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