SAN BERNANDINO, CA. (www.dogfacedgods.com) - If you want to get something done, the old saying goes, you have to do it yourself. In the case of San Bernardino rock outfit, Dog Faced Gods (DFG), that adage applies to their full length debut, Stoned Council, which will be released on Voodoo Nation Records, January 2005.
Stoned Council, recorded on the San Manuel Reservation in San Bernardino, CA was an album that almost didn't happen. Halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, The San Manuel Reservation is the smallest of its kind in the United States - a mere two miles in diameter. The "rez" as the kids call it was nearly destroyed by last year's atrocious wildfires and mudslides. But amidst the lingering tragedy and disarray Dog Faced Gods - Raymond "Shorty" WhiteOwl (lead singer), David "Snakeyez" Torres (guitarist), Fernando "Nando" Gonzales (bassist), and Paul Garcia (drummer) - were able to complete their album with a little help from esteemed producer, Bobby Brooks who had previously engineered major-label debuts for P.O.D. and Zebrahead.
Brooks' 30 day stay on The San Manuel reservation swelled into a six month residency during which they immersed themselves into the project - writing and recording nearly sixty songs of which 15 were selected for Stoned Council. The result is an album that encompasses pounding hard rock, alt-metal, elliptical psychedelic-rock and even traces of hip-hop - not quite what you'd expect from an album recorded on a reservation. Some are hard and funky like the single "Brings Me Down," which is about a relationship fallout, "Will I Ever Fit In," which introduces a recurrent theme on the album - adolescent struggles and the inherent isolation the comes with feeling bound to the reservation.
The music focuses on more tangible topics like the struggle to belong, defining our relationships with each other, the emotions that come with falling in and out of love, insecurities, and self-awareness. Some songs are mellow like the classic rock remake of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man." On "! Earth Is Hell," the band brings asks the question over and over again, "What you gonna do, when the troops in front of you," prompting us to action as we approach the election.
Shorty, the lead singer says that decision to chose more universal topics was intentional. "Considering what's going on in the world, it's important that our music be universal. We chose not to focus specifically on the reservation. Stoned Council reflects sound of DFG. It's important to me that the Native American heritage is shared in a way that respects the elders and keeps our culture sacred, so I'm careful not to exploit it." In fact, Shorty is not pictured in early photo shoots for DFG because of the ancient belief that the picture takes away ones soul.
DFG has already cracked the Los Angeles club scene, having graced the legendary Whisky A Go Go.
The House Of Blues in Anaheim, The Roxy, and other prominent venues. They are lining up a tour to launch with their album release.
