PHOTOGRAPHY BY NEIL FAVILA
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/doseofadolescence
COUNTRY: United States  l  STYLE: Rock / Punk

WITH A BAND NAME LIKE “DOSE OF ADOLESCENCE” DO YOU THINK YOU’LL ALWAYS BE YOUNG AT HEART NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU GET?

I think we’ll always just be ourselves. That’s what the name Dose Of Adolescence has always meant to us, it’s just when your a kid and you haven’t been tainted by the world yet and been taught to be fake. You’re just you cause that’s all you know how to be.

YOU GUYS RELEASED YOUR NEW ALBUM “MEMORIES ATTACK” RECENTLY. HOW MANY TRACKS ARE ON THE ALBUM AND IS IT A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF WHERE THE BAND IS AT MENTALLY AND CREATIVELY?

There are eleven tracks on the new record. I’m really stoked about this new record I think it represents us very well and brings across what we’ve been through and where we’re going.

WOULD YOU SAY THE BAND PUSHED ITS SONG WRITING ABILITIES TO THE EDGE FOR THIS ONE OR DID YOU TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH THIS TIME AROUND COMPARED TO PREVIOUS SONG WRITING EFFORTS?

Yeah we pushed really hard this time around. After the summer of 08 we all stayed together and wrote everyday. We definitely took some new approaches to this record as well, by experimenting more with songs and not keeping in the mold. We didn’t want to stay in the box, were always growing and changing.

DO YOU GUYS FIND THAT YOU WRITE YOUR BEST SONGS WHILE JAMMING TOGETHER OR DO YOU WORK BETTER ON YOUR OWN AND THEN PRESENT YOUR IDEAS TO THE REST OF THE BAND?

I think usually for us the on our own approach is best. This time we did do a lot more jamming together on a lot more new songs than usual. We don’t really ever have a formula it just kind of happens. We always write about real life experiences we like to sing and play about things we are passionate about.

THE BAND HAS THREE BAND MEMBERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SONGS VOCALLY. IS IT ALWAYS FUN TO WRITE PARTS THAT EVERYBODY IN THE BAND CAN SING ALONG TO?

Oh yeah it makes it so much more interesting and fun. It for sure brings new vocal styles to the band and melody work it’s really fun. It’s changed a lot since I was the main vocalist in the band (Timmy Brown).

THERE IS A LOT OF PRODUCTION THAT GOES ON IN SOME OF YOUR SONGS. IS YOUR LIVE SHOW BASICALLY A “STRIPPED DOWN” VERSION OF ALL THAT?

I wouldn’t call it a stripped down version at all. We’ve always been huge believers in always rocking the house and putting on a great live show. Even if it’s one or one thousand in the audience. You will hear everything at our live show, you hear on the album and you’ll have an awesome time too.

DO YOU USE THE SAME GEAR IN THE STUDIO AS ON THE ROAD AND DO YOU GUYS GO THROUGH A LOT OF GEAR IN A YEAR OR DO YOU CHERISH YOUR INSTRUMENTS MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD?

We do use the same gear we used for the record Memories Attack. Besides strings, chord’s, stick’s etc. We don’t go through to many instruments in a year. We try really hard to take care of our gear.

EARLIER I ASKED ABOUT FEELING YOUNG AT HEART; DO YOU GUYS FIND THAT BECAUSE THE LEGAL DRINKING LIMIT IS TWENTY ONE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT A LOT OF TEENAGERS MISS OUT SEEING THEIR FAVOURITE BANDS ON A REGULAR BASIS?

I don’t think it has too much of an effect on it. There are still a lot of great all ages venue’s out there. I personally would rather play all ages club’s the vibe is always amazing.

WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS THE COOLEST PERSON OR BAND YOU’VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET ON THE ROAD AND IS THERE A BAND THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN LIVE YET WHICH YOU WOULD SACRIFICE AN ARM OR A LEG FOR TO SEE LIVE?

I would have to say some of the coolest people I’ve met on the road are the fans. They’re all so awesome and always have a lot of love to spread. I’ve seen my 3 top favourite bands and amazingly got to share the stage with one of them at the Slidebar fullerton recently. It was super awesome to jam a show with guys (face to face) I grew up listening to.

WITH YOUR NEW ALBUM BEING CALLED “MEMORIES ATTACK”. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST AND WORST MEMORIES YOU HAVE FROM YOUR TRAVELS SO FAR?

The best memories will always be me getting to share so many amazing experiences with my best friends. Out there it’s just us against the world and my fondest memory is of course all the time I got to spend with my best friend Stephen Patrick Madigan. I’ll never forget those times. Can’t say I have to many bad memories just life it happens.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE FANS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?

Just would love to thank everyone who has stuck with us and shown their support. For sure check out Memories Attack available online pretty much every where and we’ll be on tour forever so keep checking with us for dates near you. We can’t wait to see you guys.

INTERVIEW BY NEIL VAN ZYL