TIME OUT: A case of Route and wrong...
IT is fair to say Do$ch have had the odd observer thinking they might be from the land of opportunity.
Of course, one would argue they are – South Yorkshire, that is – but guitarist founder Ian Bartram says the use of the dollar sign in the band name has nothing to do with any allegiance to the American dream, even if the Martin Bedford-devised artwork for their new album also features a big US-style motor.
"It makes the name look better. It's just a symbol, an aesthetic thing," confirms Ian, adding: "We're not bread heads either."
Pretty much a constant on the county's, if not Yorkshire's, gigging circuit down the years, it is five years since Do$ch last put out an album. Ian says that is partly down to many line-up changes.
The sole originals now are singer and tambourine handler Andrew Hinkler – brother of former Mission member Simon and Artery member David, for all you band family tree enthusiasts – and guitarist/backing vocalist Ian. Richard Makinson now plays bass and Pawel Marcinkiewicz drums. It seems these Polish chaps don't just do good plumbing.
"We've had several drummers and bass players," says Ian. "It's more down to commitment. People have kids or have work commitments, move away."
Do$ch are based in Sheffield although their live schedule sometimes suggests they might be from elsewhere. "You can overplay your own town," Ian says simply.
So Do$ch tend to pick their gigs and venues carefully, such as The Boardwalk where they play a launch show for new album Route Of All Evil on Saturday.
"We all do other jobs for a living as well so this album has taken over a year to do."
And, unlike full-timers, Do$ch aren't writing specifically for a record but have taken a selection of songs that have made it into their live set and recorded them, partially in the rehearsal room and partly in the studio where they've laid down Andrew's vocal tracks.
"We've chosen what we thought were the best 11 out of what we've got at the moment and didn't make it on to the first album.
"We still do other people's tracks in our set but change them around to our own fashion of playing. It keeps people who have not seen us before happy as well."
Their choice of covered artists maybe gives an idea of the vibe if not the style of the quartet, enduring names such as Dr Feelgood, Wilko Johnson, Rufus Thomas and Sonny Boy Williamson.
The division of writing duties is pretty straightforward with Andrew putting lyrics to Ian's music. Having worked up a riff Andrew will go off and pen words which he'll bring back into the rehearsal room when they'll hone the final song.
"He will moot whether he likes what I've done or not as I will do with his lyrics. I'll come up with something at home, a riff or verse, and have an idea of whether it works. For every 10 we do maybe one will make it."
What links many of the songs that have made it on to Route Of All Evil is a sense of tongue in cheek. A casual listen suggests something of a misogynisticoutlook within the Do$ch camp, what with lyrics about the house burning down while the missus was on the blower (How The House Burned Down) or the trashy lover with expensive tastes (She's So Cheap).
But Ian says they've never been hit by a handbag yet and he denies their audience is mainly male. "It's goodtime rock 'n' roll," he says of the band brief. "We have a mixed audience and the girls see through the lyrics and see it is tongue in cheek.
"We're having a laugh at ourselves and we have got a few soppy ones in there as well. The gigs are about having good fun, not nagging at folk."
Support on Saturday is Leeds band Vinnie & The Stars and fellow Sheffield veterans Durban. Tickets cost 4, there's a late bar and you can pick up the album with the cash you have left over – much healthier than a kebab.
You can also buy it from the website www.dosch-uk.com and from Sheffield independent stores such as Jack's Records and Record Collector.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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