Desaparecidos released their long awaited new album ‘Payola‘ via Epitaph last week.

Their first album in 13 years, and the reviews are glowing so far. Whilst never technically ‘breaking up’, members have been busy with other projects over the years, and this outfit had been on the shelf, only occasionally coming out to play in that period.

There’s whispers they’ll make it to Australia on this album, so keep those fingers crossed.

While we await that news, we caught up with Denver from the band to answer our Hotseat questions. Take a read below.

LISTEN WHILE YOU READ

THE BASICS
Name : Denver Dalley
Band : Desaparecidos
Job In Band : Lead Guitar
Website Address : www.desaparecidosband.com
HOME
Hometown : Omaha
Hometown is best known for : Steak, Corn, The Counting Crows song, tv dinners (Con Agra), Warren Buffett…
Best venue in your hometown : The Waiting Room
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : At the Drive-In at Sokol Underground with Cursive
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : Concert For Equality, Benson 2010
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? We all grew up together in Omaha and had talked about playing music in different combinations- finally Ian (keyboards), Matt (drums) and I decided to start practicing together and Conor caught wind of it and joined up with us, Landon shortly after that. So we all got together and started playing loud rock music together in Matt’s basement.
How long has the band been going? We first started playing together in 2001, went our separate ways in 2003 to focus on individual music projects, played a show in 2010 and then really started back up again in 2012.
Is there an interesting story behind the name? It was a situation that none of us had heard anything about living in the middle of America. Sort of the whole “world outside my bedroom” type of thing.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… We’ve got a new album coming out on June 23rd on Epitaph Records called Payola. Its our second full-length (the first came out in 2002), so needless to say, its been a long time coming.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? Honestly, completing Payola and releasing it. Scheduling has always been a huge hurdle with us- its basically the reason that we had to go our separate ways in 2003- so having it finally work out for us to play shows together again, let alone write and record a new album, has really been amazing. And we are all very pleased with the way that Payola turned out.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? Watching old VHS tapes of The Beatles’ Hard Days Night and Help! Those were huge for me growing up. I remember being fascinated by George Harrison and his guitar playing and I would watch those tapes over and over again. I knew that I wanted to do play guitar right then and there.
Any band, album, or song that you personally credit as a major influence? I would say the Pixies’ Doolittle. Very influential album for me going back to grade school and it still is today. For the songwriting, but mainly Joey Santiago’s guitar playing.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? In junior high school my buddies and I had a little rock band called Fiend. We practiced at our bass player’s house, but played a show in my parents garage.
Most prized music related item you own? I collect a rare model of Gibson guitar called an RD- they made them for a few years in the late seventies. I currently have 4 of them, but I bought one of them from Tim Kasher from Cursive. Hes been another major musical influence in my life- Ive grown up listening to his various bands, but Slowdown Virginia was a particularly influential band for me- for all of us in Desaparecidos, actually. So that guitar is pretty prized to me.
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? I love to travel- Im always scheming on a new place to go explore and do anything water related. I also like to take photos, so I’m often found snorkeling, cliff jumping or kayaking while taking photos of my surroundings.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… Hanging out and practicing with my bandmates! Like I said, we all grew up together and I consider them to be some of my best friends- more like family, really. So I really look forward to the band practices and getting dinner and drinks with the guys and their wives (and hanging their pet dogs too).
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… In the months leading up to a tour, I start to get tired of the business side of things- all of the emails that have to be sent and replied to by everyone and decisions to be made, etc. I get to a point where all I want to do is just get onstage and be out on the road!
WATCH
ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Obviously water, beers and towels are the bare essentials, but I love having catering that we can take onto the bus and make weird late night snacks after the show. We are particularly fond of making “bus nachos”, but just about anything really… It seems like often, you get caught up with sound check and seeing friends in that town, interviews, etc and then pretty soon its too close to stage time to eat a whole, heavy meal, so by the time you get done playing and hanging out after, youre starving. Bus nachos and random sandwiches to save the day.
Got a favourite place you’ve toured… and why? I really enjoy touring overseas because the scenery is so different than what we are used to, but also everyone seems to be even more excited to have you and is also so incredibly hospitable. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing venues in the states that take great care of you, but I remember being blown away on my first European tours by how kind the promoters were. I really loved Spain and Sweden in particular.
Got a favourite song to play live? I would have to say Manana. Its such a high energy, chaotic rocker. Everyone recognizes the count off- before we even start playing- and starts to scream. Yeah, that’s definitely my favorite one.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? We played FYF fest in LA a couple years ago and it was such an incredible lineup- I was so excited just to be there to see all of the other bands, let alone play with them. I thought we would end up on some small stage somewhere in the middle of the day, but we played one of the main stages in the evening at a pretty ideal slot. I really felt great about the performance and the crowd that was watching us seemed endless and super into it. After the show, I thought that I might have just overinflated the show in my head, but everyone (audience members, promoters, critics) all said that it was one of the best performances of the entire festival. A very fond memory.
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? Anytime that my guitar/pedals/amp cut out and aren’t working. Theres really nothing you can do- that sort of thing just happens sometimes, but I cant stand that feeling. I don’t think anyone really even cares that much (unless it’s a substantial delay), but to me it feels like an eternity when you are trying to figure out whats not working and theres a whole room full of people waiting on you. That’s why I travel with back ups of everything at the ready- in case something goes out on me!
Any pre-show rituals? I usually stretch. I think that we all do, actually. You spend so much time traveling and waiting to go onstage. Just kind of sitting around all day and then for an hour or so youre suddenly super active, so I started stretching a few years ago. We usually always do a band huddle before we go on too.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Paying the bills! No matter what level of band you are, no matter what vehicle youre touring in or what your accommodations are- bus/hotels or van/floors, it can be really tough these days. Overhead is higher. Gas is more expensive. So its really amazing when you are able to pay the bills while doing what you love.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? Inhaler by Foals.
Last album you picked up? More Faithful by No Joy
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? Ive been listening to a lot of Metz and Blood Brothers lately. Ive also been revisiting some classics like Thin Lizzy, Kiss, Led Zeppelin and Queen…
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? I really like what Ive heard from Bully. If you haven’t checked them out already, I highly recommend them.
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? We will be touring the states through the end of the year and then hopefully we will head overseas- FINALLY make it Australia!
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Fugazi- In On The Kill Taker. We’ve spent so much time listening to that album together and we get so amped just listening to it, I think we would have a blast playing it live together.
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? At The Drive-In just because I loved watching them play live so much. Such incredible performers- individually and as a band.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? Queen. I would absolutely adore to see them play those songs live.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? Honestly, anywhere in Australia, Japan or Brazil. Ive had tours in all three of those places that have fallen through- often more than once- Im dying to get to those places
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? I would love to play guitar in The Darkness… if only I was that good!
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. We are pretty fond of touring with Joyce Manor and the So So Glos…
COVER ART
desaparecidos-payola
TRACK LISTING

01. The Left is Right
02. The Underground Man
03. City on the Hill (Ft. Tim Kasher)
04. Golden Parachutes (ft. Laura Jane Grace)
05. Radicalized
06. MariKKKopa
07. Te Amo Camila Vallejo
08. Ralphy’s Cut
09. Backsell
10. Slacktivist (Ft. So So Glos)
11. Search the Searches
12. 10 Steps Behind
13. Von Maur Massacre
14. Anonymous

PURCHASE
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