[show_avatar email=jess@iwenttoashow.com align=left avatar_size=62] This Sunday at Off Broadway, energetic local pop rockers FIRE DOG take the stage to celebrate the band’s five year anniversary and the release of their newest 7″, Wait to Die. FD’s Mark Pagano sat down (on the Internet) with IWTAS and talked about the origins of the record, FIRE DOG’s St. Louis history, and the party that will be April 17th.

What did the creation process consist of for Wait to Die ? What do you hope fans hear on it?

The idea for the album came about when musician and friend Dave Hagerty died in a tragic car accident last summer. A raffle was held to help pay for medical bills, and I won a day of studio time donated by Firebrand Recording. At that time, we had a couple new FIRE DOG tunes and a song by a dear friend, [Kansas City] songwriter Mikal Shapiro, that we had been playing (all of which appear on this record).

I also had a real desire to pay tribute to Dave in some way through this project. When I heard Ellen Cook, who survived the accident that took Dave’s life, perform the song “Jorge” (a song written by Dave that he never had the chance to play out), I thought it would be perfect for the record. Ellen agreed to record it with FIRE DOG backing. We later asked two members of Dave’s band Fattback to play on the track as well (John Joern on drums and Sean Dallmeyer on lead guitar). It all came together. I’m really proud of “Jorge” in particular as it seems a fitting tribute to record his song. Everyone just did an amazing job to make the track sparkle in that bittersweet, beautiful, heart-wrenching way. It’s really the most unique and collaborative thing I’ve ever done in the studio.

As for what we hope fans hear on the record, the title track’s message says it best : “you can start living now / you don’t have to wait to die.”

How has the band changed/evolved over the past five years?

Well, we’ve gotten better.  I remember when we went to the studio to record our first record after only playing six or so shows together. It was like, “Whoa, can we actually pull this off.” But after playing together so long, we now really know how to use each other’s strengths. And the songs that I’ve been writing lately have been written with [band mates] Celia and Brandon in mind. We also know how to read each other, which opens things up on stage and allows for spontaneity. Celia sings lead for one song on Wait to Die; we’ve never done that before. But for the most part it’s the same approach, the same friendships, that we’ve been working with from the beginning. Now it’s just more developed and better fundamentally.

What’s your favorite “St. Louis + FIRE DOG” memory?

There are many awesome St. Louis memories, but two particular scenarios come to mind.

Our shows at the ARCH Riverfront Pavilion in October of 2008, 2009, and 2010 were such a thrill. I personally think that the Gateway Arch is the most inspiring monument on the planet, and to play on the riverfront looking up to the Arch is an amazing feeling. One year it got really cold; another year we got high from the sunshine. The weather is its own kind of buzz. I hope we can do it again, and forever. Oh, and you’ve got to love the tourists.

The other set of  memories is our Halloween shows at the St. Louis Skatium in 2009 and 2010. Where else can you throw a party like that at a skating place? We set up in the middle of the rink and watched the costumes roll by.  In 2009, we were Mexican wrestlers showing a LOT of skin, and last year something I can’t remember but totally awesome black and white kinda thing [Note: IWTAS thinks it was ghostly skeleton things]. And the sound is just so big in there it’s like an arena rock show. Also, I love to skate and watch people fall down. Hilarious.

FIREDOG is an unapologetically fun-loving pop band. How and why do you maintain such an optimistic theme in your music when so many other bands lean heavily on the, um, heavier aspects of life?

I think that people need it, and we are trying to make music for the people. We want to make them dance!!!

My father always impressed upon me the importance of a good attitude ,and how the one thing that you can control in life is that. There’s so much destruction and pain and suffering. I mean, really, the world is in shambles and I don’t want to deny it, but music is something that I believe can lift you up and make you feel good. It’s magic in that way. And the better people feel, the better a world we have for living.

And that’s why our mission is “to spread positive vibrations through songs of truth and intrigue, creating a sound
full of energy and optimism for the 21^st Century, to make the people dance!”

What should we expect about the upcoming release show at Off Broadway?

Sunday at Off Broadway will be a true LOVE-O-RAMA. We’ve secured a really awesome lineup. While I don’t want to say too much about it, know that The Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra is totally classic and unique. They’re performing the score of a Buster Keaton short, which I love. The Kinetiks are just a killer, high-energy band who we’ve played with in Lawrence several times. They’ll get the dance party bubbling. And Ellen the Felon [Ellen Cook] is one of my favorite St. Louis songwriters. Her stage presence is supremely inviting. It’s inspirational.

Expect special guests, good looking people, dancing, and surprises.

 

Notes:

— Check out FIRE DOG on Facebook and on their band website, where you can hear songs from Wait to Die and the group’s other releases.
— We sincerely think that this will be one of the most unique and entertaining local shows happening in St. Louis this spring.
— This Sunday’s show is ten bucks ahead and starts at 7:30p. Early shows mean extra fun, y’all.