Sunday, February 03, 2008
Dusty Cobb Interview in the Lowell Sun January 2008
Category: Music
Dusty Cobb interview in The Lowell Sun
Going it alone: The Dusty Cobb story
The Lowell Sun
WHO: Dusty Cobb
PLAYS: Guitar, harmonica and "known to rip up the kazoo."
VISIT: www.myspace.com/thedc5 and dustycobb.com
DOWNLOAD: "If Only"
HISTORY: Musicians can be a fickle bunch. Not Dusty Cobb. The 28-year-old alt-folk rocker slips a tinge of sarcasm into almost every sentence. His refreshing attitude towards life and music can make you a fan of him before even hearing one of his songs. He chatted with us over his first cup of coffee at his home in Worcester earlier this week.
By Rachel R. Briere
rbriere@lowellsun.com
Dusty Cobb is not your real name, what is it?
That's off the record. No, it's my stage name, it's my persona. I created it to detach myself from myself. It makes playing on stage a lot easier when I was starting out and if I am not that good, I can just use my real name instead.
Why Dusty Cobb?
It came to me in a dream. I was playing in Central Park with a couple of my friends and some famous musicians. They were all calling me Dusty Cobb, when I woke up I was like, 'wow I got to keep this name' and it stuck.
How did your musical career begin?
Well, my father is a musician. He played guitar around New York. I was a fan of music in general then my dad bought me my first guitar. It was right handed and I'm a lefty. It think I broke it. I didn't pick up the guitar again until I was 22. I went through a bad breakup and needed a hobby. I buried myself in my apartment for about a year and a half and tried to write my own songs. That was four or five years ago.
You play in both Lowell and Worcester. Is Worcester's music scene better since there are more venues?
I wouldn't say that. I honestly love the Lowell scene. There are good musicians there and it has very good vibe. Lowell is a little more accepting, it's more about the music. Worcester is very competitive, everyone has to get along because they can't afford to have a bad rep. It's a little more difficult -- there are so many bands. Lowell has fewer places to play and the camaraderie around the musicians in Lowell is exciting.
If you could share the stage with any musician dead or alive who would it be?
There are so many, but I would say maybe Peter Gabriel.
Is he one of your influences?
To an extent he is my favorite artist even though we don't really do the same thing. He is a great song writer, with complex arrangements from his early pop stuff to recently. The drums and rhythm is amazing. The stuff hooks me.
Who are your other influences?
My dad, even though he's into metal and I'm not. I like classic stuff -- Dylan, Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams, Cat Power, Dave Matthews and Radiohead. I try to think of everything I have listened to my entire life. I don't set out to sound like anyone else, just myself.
Other than your solo gigs, you play in The DC5. What is in store for the group this spring?
We took a break, after a recording project fell through the cracks. I have been mostly doing solo work. We're all older, wiser and a lot more polished. I miss playing with them. There is a possibility that we'll be releasing our first record in the next few months.
Do you have a name for the album yet?
Not yet, there are a couple floating around -- Dustified, Delicious and The Story of Love and Loss are all possible. (Laughs)
What about a solo album?
No, most of the stuff I have recorded is all live. I had problems with a producer, he was a talented great guy, but things just did not work out. I would love to do my own acoustic solo record. My main concern is to rehearse with the band, tighten up our 12 best songs and show the world we made a lot of progress in the last year. 2008 is going to be the year I treat myself a lot better.
Catch Dusty Cobb tomorrow night at Down The Street Cafe, 25 Market St., Lowell. Show starts at 8 p.m.
8:18 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wormtown.org Interview with Dusty Cobb
Welcome to wormtown.org
Wednesday, September 26 2007 @ 08:04 PM EDT
--> START OF CONTENT AREA -->
INTRODUCE YOURSELF: DUSTY COBB
Wednesday, September 26 2007 @ 05:10 PM EDT
Views: 4
WHO ARE YOU (AND WHAT INSTRUMENT DO YOU PLAY)?
Dusty Cobb, singer, songwriter and rhythm guitar player.
HOW LONG HAS YOUR BAND BEEN TOGETHER?
We've been together for a year.
WHICH MUSICIANS AND BANDS INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PERFORMER?
Peter Gabriel, Robert Tietze (my father), Dave Matthews, David Gray, Radiohead, Joy Division, Craig and OSB.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BAND'S MUSIC?
The music tells a story, it's honest and pure much like early Johnny Cash, Dylan and Springsteen. Prog-Alt-Folk-Rock.
WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU PLAY YOUR FIRST GIG?
Mocha Java for a crowd of about 15 people.
ANY RECORDINGS AVAILABLE YET?
You can check them out at http://www.myspace.com/thedc5
An EP is being recorded presently and should be released Fall '07.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMERS?
Craig, OSB.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE YOUR UPCOMING GIGS?
October 7 at the Pearl Street Nightclub in Northampton.
Every second and fourth Wednesday Ralph's Diner downstairs 10 PM – free.
Check the http://www/myspace.com/thedc5 and/or http://www.myspace.com/dustycobb for upcoming dates
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE GO SEE YOU?
The music and songs are honest and heartfelt.
http://wormtown.org/article.php?story=20070926171006503
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thank you to Doug Sparks
Current mood: thankful
Category: Art and Photography
If you've seen the new black and white pictures on the page, then you have seen the works of Doug Sparks. His stuff is incredible. If you ever need a photographer to really capture the real deal, he is your man.
Visit his flickr http://flickr.com/dougsparks
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Lyrics - "Son"
Son
Snow crunches under my feet
I am on my way to meet the family
in the town that I was raised
Down the driveway I make it to the door and knock
Please don't leave me alone out in the cold
I watch the lights turn off I am freezing
Standing on the cold, cold ground
Oh, mama, don't leave your only son
You see a boy seeking instant gratification
concerned with attention and not real love
I know now where I have gone wrong
do not leave me alone, please do not forget about your
only son
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
The Good Girl
Category: Music
The Good Girl
Seven years have passed
I turn around to see you at last
and after all this time
you remain
the good girl
wave of emotion splash over me
please talk for me I have no words to speak
and still
you remain
the good girl
you have not changed
eyes wide and beautiful you remain
and after all these years
you are still
my good girl
10:21 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove
NEW SONG - My Morning Cigarette
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music
My Morning Cigareette (new song)
My morning cigarette, coffee steams my friend is adament,
Nealle says put a jacket on, cold and alone I'm nothing,
watching the cars drive by, watching the cars drive by
My morning cigarette, all these thoughts of bitter regrets,
I wonder is this the best it can get, watching the cars drive by
watching the cars drive by
cold lonely morming
cold bitter day morning
cold and I'm learning
I'm learning to
stand
My morming cigarette, I am trying to forget,
the lady in my mind, mouthing words to songs in time,
watching the cars drive by, watching the cars drive by
cold lonely morming
cold bitter day morning
cold and I'm learning
I'm learning to
stand
My morning cigarette, I am trying not to forget,
that I cannot give up
on myself
say love, love and only love fail
finallly believe love and fail
love and fail
and love
fail
love love and sail away
believe trust and and love away
I am love
Sunday, July 15, 2007
All about Dusty Cobb...
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music
Dusty Cobb: A Man with passion and soul.
Hailing from Queens, New York Dusty Cobb and his mother and father moved to Massachusetts nearly 20 years ago.
"Since I was a little kid my Dad was always playing records for me and turning me onto some really great artists like Peter Gabriel, Beatles, Alice Cooper, the list goes on and on."
"My Dad is an accomplished guitar player and songwriter in his own right, he played in several successful projects during the 1970's in New York City and still makes music today, he's truly the reason why I love music so much and I wouldn't have even gotten started if it weren't for his ever-present influence."
Dusty Cobb is an award winning singer and songwriter. Worcester Magazine named him the Best Solo Artist of 2006 and also in 2006 Dusty was recognized as the Best Singer Songwriter at the Worcester Music Awards sponsored by Pulse Magzine and hosted by Carmelita of WAAF.
Despite Dusty's solo act he also fronts DC5 a band that consists of a core of experienced musicians that truly compliment Dusty's songs and bring out a sense of energy, passion and good times that one man could not do alone.
Dusty Cobb and DC5 has performed alongside some of Massachusetts' hottest bands including OSB, Craig, Ray Hendricks Revival, Jediah, Frank Morey, and The Cold Pilgrims. DC5 is currently recording their new album and looking forward to sharing their music to as many people as possible.
Things are moving fast. Onwards and upwards, the future looks bright.
More info can be found at
www.myspace.com/dustycobb
coming soon... www.dustycobb.com
Monday, August 28, 2006
Special thanks to...
Category: Music
DC5 would like to thank all of our friends and guest musicians that have supported us and continue to support us, we appreciate it!
A very, very special thanks to Steve Snuffer, Paul Chase and Kevin Hennessey for sitting in with us 8.24.06 at the Attic in Newton. Some of those recordings, although from the soundboard and not mixed are quite special and can be heard on this page. We truly appreciate the time invested by these talented musicians!
Thanks to OSB and CRAIG for their ongoing support and inspiration.
Peace and love and see you out there in the real world - DC5
Dusty Cobb
April 6th 2006 Trutle Boys Music Awards
Winner of the Singer/Songwriter category
Hailing from Queens, N.H., Cobb moved to Massachusetts when he was but a lad. He played sports, got in fights and had his heart broken in Gardner. It was also where his father made him realize that music is an amazing and important part of life. Five years ago, he moved to Worcester and took up the guitar, which was followed by writing some stuff. “At first I started out at open mics,” says Cobb. “I got jeered, hissed at, people made negative comments. I was scared shitless but over time I developed confidence and my own style.”
What’s the best song you’ve ever written?
“Maria,” a combination of something very real and very personal, and a fantasy.
What is the best song ever written, and does it make you cry?
These questions are so tough to answer, I wish I could pencil in the circle that reads “Not applicable.” “Wallflower” by Peter Gabriel — the lyrics and melody and the build-up in this song have made me cry. Music can be very cathartic, can’t it?
How close are we to seeing the world come to an end?
Are we all going to hell in a hand basket? Who knows, maybe W’s old man, but not me. I do take solace in the fact that whatever the talking heads warn you about on TV — the bird flu, terrorism, natural disasters and nuclear threats — it is not as bad as it may seem. Because as long as money and power — and ultimately control — are important to mankind and the leaders and dictators of the world, then it won’t come to an abrupt end.
Where will Dusty Cobb be in 10 years?
In a pine box? I don’t know. However, I do know that if I’m fortunate enough to be alive in 10 years I’ll be doing my thing and hopefully doing it better and for more people.
