ulfTone » artists » American Dog

American Dog
red, white, black and blue


Fired from the belly of original hard rock and the back-breaking wages of physical labor, American Dog are the authentic shot-gunned heart of rock 'n' roll. Hard work, hard livin', no sleep: grease 'em up with a couple o' cases of the brown elixir of life, shoot it all towards the bright lights of a nasty club, and you're gonna see an explosion of classic drinking man's metal that is going to leave headliners shaking in their boots. It's loud, lewd, and so live you can taste the metal.

And fortunately for those who remember the intense rock passion of Ted Nugent's Free For All tour in '76, or AC/DC unraveling 'For Those About To Rock' for the first time, or Motorhead waking up the world with Overkill, American Dog won't be apologizing that they didn't capture the heavy metal insanity of their live show on record. It's there. Dying Breed sounds awesome and it sounds live and it reaches out and shakes you.

But don't expect cerebral escape into heavy metal worlds of trolls, demons and fairies. This band is about the blood, getting the juices and oils of the machine moving so you can pick yourself up and face another day. American Dog. That's who they are and that's who you are.

American Dog’s Michael Hannon (Salty Dog & Dangerous Toys) is in an ass-kicking mood these days, and with good reason. After the release of their debut CD “Last of a Dying Breed” in 2000, and 2001’s “6 Pack!” (a live EP celebrating alcohol wisdom and reckless abandon) the band headed back into the studio in 2002 to record their 2nd full-length studio effort. Amidst their sessions the band decided to do a string of regional dates in and around their home state of Ohio to connect with eager fans and blow of some steam. It was following one of these dates that American Dog guitarist Steve Theado was struck by a hit and run driver and left for dead.

With 2 broken legs, a fractured pelvis and a broken rib, one would think that this was a career ending tragedy for American Dog.” If anyone could survive this type of thing it was Steve” explains Michael “I’ve seen him fall down two flights of stairs after a show and get up still holding his beer” The trio’s drummer Keith Pickens goes on further to say “He may have been left to die like a dog, but he’s not just any dog; he’s an American Dog and we weren’t about to leave him flat on his back in that fuckin’ hospital”. Within two weeks after the shocking news rippled the band and it’s audience, guitarist Steve Theado was practicing in a wheel chair to resume recording sessions at famed John Schwab Studios in Columbus, OH with legendary engineer Joe Viers at the helm. Michael Hannon’s tentative album title “Red, White, Black & Blue” now took on an even greater meaning and the band returned to the studio with a renewed sense of purpose and conviction for their own powerhouse high-test brand of dirtbag rock & roll.

“It’s been a busy couple of years,” recalls Michael “We’ve toured overseas, played the mainstage at Sturgis, SD (the world’s largest biker festival) and shared the bill with everyone from Slash to Nazareth.”

Red, White, Black & Blue is the hard learned result of Michael, Steve & Keith’s experiences at home and abroad over the last couple of years. It’s also a much-needed kick in the ass for a music industry that’s more concerned with the next version of what’s already on the radio. From the opening chords of the razor riff rocking “Shitkicker” to the drunken acoustic lament of “Bullshit”, American Dog proudly wave the Ohio state flag and salute an audience worldwide hell-bent on kicking ass!

1. Shitkicker (MP3)
2. Train
3. Can't throw stones
4. Dog will hunt
5. Glad it's over
6. Blame it on the booze
7. Motors down
8. Swallow my pride
9. Can't stop the rain
10. I keep drinking (you're still ugly)
11. Hear me howling
12. Bullshit!

Bonus Track:

A new evil


========================================

to the top