MUSIC

NOW HEAR THIS

Getting Dirty

BY DAWN JANKE

After American Dirt released their debut album, Heavy Thought and Riddle, on Twang N Bang Records in July 2013, UK-based Mudkiss Online Fanzine posted that “the bands’ name is really appropriate, as you get the feeling they produce a sound which is very much from the American heartland rather than the shiny, artificial, Hollywood US of A image that [us Europeans] so often get force fed.” Funny—American Dirt may not be part of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but they are born and raised California boys who reside just three hours north of LA, right here in San Luis Obispo County. Lead vocalist Dave Wilson grew up in Atascadero and formed the band several years ago; bassist Brian Sonniksen, a King City native who has lived in SLO County since 1998, paired up with him a year later. The band has seen a few other members since its inception, but the most recent iteration includes another A-town resident, lead guitarist Jon Bartel, who joined in 2011. Bartel says about the band’s name, “Yeah, I remember someone commenting that American Dirt is probably the perfect name for whatever it is we are doing.” Mark Folkrod, who was born in LA but is a long-time San Luis Obispo resident and who also plays with local band the Dead Volts, began as the “summer drummer” of 2013 after Dirt had already released Heavy Thought, but as Wilson says, “The second we started playing with Mark we knew we wanted him in the band.” Bartel adds, “Our music has changed since Mark joined the band; he is a part of the song-writing process—not just the guy behind the kit.”

Dirt’s sound has what ninebullets.net music blogger RomeoSidVicious calls “rough edges in the all the right places with some pretty amazing melodies hanging out where you’d least expect them.” So, American Dirt is solid and soon begins recording its second album. Wilson says, “We learned a lot from our first record, and I’m really excited for this next one.” He continues, “I think our attitude is ‘Wow, if you liked that, then wait until you hear this.’” Folkrod adds, “We invested in recording equipment with the Dead Volts and we’ve got plenty of material.” Bartel quips, “We’re gonna take our time.”

Taking their time includes what Sonniksen jokingly refers to as an upcoming “Old Men with Responsibilities Tour” up and down the state. He says, “We’re continuing to do what we have been doing. We’ve made great friends in Sacramento and Santa Barbara, and we just like playing with the musicians we’ve met.” But all these guys have day jobs and families, so their tour will consist of extended weekends. Folkrod jumps in to question, “But what else are we gonna do?” Wilson explains, “Some guys wear football jerseys. We wear band t-shirts. We just get to go on the field for a little while now and then.”

As they continue to play the alt country field, the band is pretty happy with the connections they are making across the states. Upon the album’s release, Twang N Bang Records label head Patrick Hayes sent Heavy Thought and Riddle to well-known music blogs and podcasts, and word about American Dirt has spread. Stagger Lee out of Georgia played the band on his “Working Class Radio” show, which is broadcast by Silent Storm Radio; rockymountainradio.net added a few songs from Heavy Thought to its 24-7 Hootenanny playlist; and the W.B. Walker’s Old Soul Radio Show podcast recently featured Dirt’s music alongside alt country favorite, Son Volt. Wilson is humbled by the accolades: “Wow, people I’ve never met like what we do. It’s not just friends who feel obligated.”

Indeed, their fan-base is not made up only of friends who feel obligated to support them. But perhaps what’s even cooler is the way in which American Dirt gives back and supports the SLO County community; they’ve played a number of benefits and other fundraisers. Bartel says, “We get invited mostly because we’ve been in the area and know people.” “We’ve all been in different bands at different times,” adds Folkrod, “so someone will call and ask us to play a gig.” The community is “such a cool thing to be a part of,” says Wilson.

Bartel continues by observing that community is pretty much how they approach everything: “We perform mostly at our friends’ places—and it’s not like we play there to help them out. We prefer it.” American Dirt jams regularly at Molly Pitcher Brewing Company and Camozzi’s in Atascadero, The Libertine Pub in Morro Bay, and SLO’s Frog ‘n Peach Pub. “It’s definitely communal,” says Wilson. Bartel adds, “It’s a testament to the Central Coast that there’s a lot of pockets of places to play music. It’s cool to live in a place where you have such a range.”

“Everywhere in this county there is a different vibe,” says Wilson, “and it’s so gorgeous.” He continues, “We get to be so in touch with things; we’re surrounded by nature… How lucky are we? North, south, east, and west— the Central Coast is amazing.” I think that Mudkiss music reviewer nailed it with these guys: as the band discusses life on the Central Coast, it’s clear they’re organically rooted in Americana rather than a genetically modified version of musicianship some believe comes out of Hollywood.

One thing the band members celebrate about the local music scene is that there is so much happening in different ways, in different genres. Wilson explains, “To have as much variation as we have in this small of a space is incredible,” and Bartel adds, “There is just so much good music coming out of this county.” Sonniksen sums it up: “We get to do the thing we like to do and live in a place where we like to be.”

When asked what song on Heavy Thought and Riddle defines their sound, the members of American Dirt unanimously reply that with its mid-tempo country moments and its rock-n-roll outro “Leave My Mark” is most representative of their range as a band. A little punk bang and a little country twang—sounds like SLO Life to me, and these boys are livin’ it.

REDS BAR

See American Dirt live here: April 19 at BooBoo Records in San Luis Obispo May 17 at the Libertine Pub in Morro Bay May 23 at Caravan Lounge in San Jose May 24 at Old Ironsides in Sacramento May 25 at Thee Parkside in San Francisco

Stream their album at americandirtmusic.com

DAVE & BASSIST BRIAN SONNIKSEN

LEAD SINGER DAVE WILSON

LEAD GUITARITS JON BARTEL