feature: a giant dog
Formed in high school in Houston by the friendship of Sabrina Ellis (vocals), Andrew Cashen (vocals, guitar) and Orville Neely (drums), Austin's A Giant Dog are quickly becoming a band to watch. The trio kicked things off by covering the likes of Joan Jett, The Ramones, AC/DC and the best one of all by covering the finer points of the Back to the Future soundtrack at school dances under the moniker Youth In Asia. After reuniting in Austin in 2008, the band then came to full form with the addition of guitarist Andy Bauer and bassist Graham Low.
With a huge reputation in Austin built from their electrifying live shows, AGD cites influences of their sound from Mark Bolan to Alice Cooper, and frontwoman Sabrina bring an even more electrifying energy to stage with her presence that is said to be like a mix of Iggy Pop and Tina Turner. The band recently released their third LP Pile on Merge Records, with the album focusing on factors like divorce, frustration, getting older and trying to get by the mess through the power of rock N roll. AGD are currently on their first ever Europe/UK Tour and we're delighted to put them on for their debut London show.
Ahead of their show tonight at The Waiting Room, we got to speak to vocalist and guitarist Andrew about how the ride has been for the band the past year. You can read more about it below.
Pile is available to purchase through Merge Records here
Andrew Cashen
So all I've done this year is sit in a van. The van has been my home. About nine months out of this year have been on the road between A Giant Dog and our other band Sweet Spirit. There is not much to do besides sleep, read, and listen to music. Music usually wins. I feel like when I first decided to play music, my knowledge was minimal. I knew I liked Minor Threat, Black Flag, The Ramones. That was the end all be all of music. I thought that was what I would listen to the rest of my life. Alice had just stuck her pinky toe into the rabbit hole. Through the years, with hours upon hours of time to listen, appreciate, not appreciate music, my knowledge has expanded.
I could go into detail about what each of these songs means to us but that is boring. I've purposely made a pretty eclectic playlist. I don't think any of these bands necessarily sound like us but the common factor that I appreciate with all of these songs is the production. In the studio when we make a record, we really try to pull out all the stops with strings and horns and vocals. I like to think of us as Van Morrison or Randy Newman making a punk record. Some people lump our band into the punk category but I have never thought of us as a punk band.
I hope you enjoy these songs, I hope you don't enjoy some of these songs.
James Ray - Got My Mind Set On You
CHRISSY ZEBBY TEMBO - TROUBLE MAKER
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - JUNGLE
LABI SIFFRE - BLESS THE TELEPHONE
LEE MOSES - BAD GIRL
TWIN PEAKS - WALK TO THE ONE YOU LOVE
GERRY RAFFERTY - RIGHT DOWN THE LINE
EMITT RHODES - WITH MY FACE ON THE FLOOR
HARRY NILSSON - JUMP INTO THE FIRE
KELLEY STOLTZ - PRANK CALLS
A Giant Dog headline The Waiting Room tonight. Last chance for advance tickets here