Still Ripping and Rocking
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Dash Rip Rock Dec. 20 STILL RIPPING AND ROCKING Mud and Water 9:30 p.m. With the release of their 17th Album, Dash Rip Rock keeps it interesting dashriprock.net ash Rip Rock has been rocking out for nearly three de- With Dash Rip Rock’s 17th album, Black Liquor, released in D cades and continues to produce new material for fans. November, the band showcases its local roots. The band’s new album, Black Liquor, was released last month “This new record brings us back to what we originally on San Francisco’s Alternative Tentacles Records, and has started as. It has a little bit of everything,” Davis said. “This new been praised as one of Dash Rip Rock’s best works yet. one is sort of getting back to square one. It’s full circle.” Bill “Diamond” Davis is Dash Rip Rock’s founder, front- The band worked with one of its biggest fans on its new man, guitarist, singer and main songwriter. album: respected Louisiana producer Ben Mumphrey, who As a DJ at KLSU while he attended LSU, Davis fell in love used to play Dash Rip Rock songs on his guitar when he was with roots rock and rockabilly – a mix of old country and roots 12 years old. rock. This sub-culture inspired Davis to form his own local ver- “I was really blown away at how great they still sounded,” sion of roots rock’s greats. Mumphrey said about seeing the band play in New Orleans The product, Dash Rip Rock, was born in the summer in 2006. of 1984. The name has a dual Their collaboration on Black meaning. It is most obviously a Liquor was a proud moment for clear description of what they “!is new record brings us Mumphrey. are doing. “I’m very satisfied. It came “We’re ripping, rocking and back to what we originally across exactly how I wanted it to,” dashing,” Davis said. “It’s a high Mumphrey said. energy crazy rock band.” started as. It has a little Mumphrey claims the new The name also originates bit of everything.” album is a cross between ZZ Top from the character Dash Riprock and Motorhead, with a Led Zep- on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Dash pelin flavor. Bill Davis of Dash Rip Rock. PHOTO COURTESY OF DASH RIP ROCK was known for his constant courting of Elly May, who was “Bill’s guitar is really showcased on this record,” Mum- played by Baton Rouge local Donna Douglas. phrey said. “It’s much heavier than anything they have done This year Dash was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of The band has been called an ocean of genres over the years. before. I’m very proud of this record and think it’s truly one of Fame alongside fellow rockers Better Than Ezra and Cowboy Mouth Considered one of the founders of the country punk genre – a the best rock albums ever to come out of Louisiana.” (headed by former Dash Rip Rock drummer Fred LeBlanc). mix between country music and rockabilly – Dash Rip Rock is For Black Liquor, Davis focused on keeping it a locally “You look at the hall of fame and see this really wide, broad hard to pigeon hole when it comes to one genre because the themed record based in Louisiana. cross section of Louisiana music. It’s good it doesn’t focus on music floats between a bit of southern rock, alternative rock “On the new record, my inspiration is coming from having one kind of thing,” Davis said. “We feel like we are now part and punk. It is all accented with high-energy roots rock. lived in Louisiana for so long and just seeing the good things of that family and we are trying to act accordingly since we The band currently has three members, with Davis being and the bad things about the state,” he said. “There’s a lot of have this respectable honor now.” the only original musician. The bass player, Patrick Johnson, beauty and a lot of tragedy here in Louisiana and that is sort Regardless of any success, Dash Rip Rock remains grounded. is from Baton Rouge and has been with the band for about of what Black Liquor is based on.” “Our success has been spread out over the years and sort six years. Drummer John Value is from Chicago. There’s been a heavy Creedence Clearwater Revival inspi- of marginal, and the amount of success we have is perfectly Since Davis wrote and sings most of the band’s songs, it has ration through Dash Rip Rock’s music, along with hippy, heavy fitted to what I expect from the band and my personality. I’ve made it easier to sustain the band’s authentic sound. Dash Rip metal band, Pop Liquor. had no problem being humble. I’m totally grounded,” Davis Rock still performs the same high energy live shows as they did “They are kind of a forgotten Louisiana institution from said. “I expect for us to be able to mature and continue on nearly 30 years ago, but there has been experimentation with the 70’s in Baton Rouge,” Davis said. “With Black Liquor, I am and never get too cocky.” several different producers on the band’s recorded work. trying to resurrect the spirit of Pop Liquor.” – Kasey Emas DIG • December 19, 2012 • digbatonrouge.com 35.