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How Dear and the Headlights Became the Most Important Band in Arizona

A A A Comments (14) By Martin Cizmar Thursday, Jun 25 2009

...continued from page 4

Backstage at Coachella, DATH have finished the biggest set of their career and are kicking back, smiling, smoking, and drinking beer waiting for the truck to haul away their gear. They've connected with the fans they know who came early to see them. Now they're basking in the glow of a great show. Where do they go from here? Well, first, there's Warped Tour, and they've got one more record on their contract with Equal Vision. Then, they're free to sign to another, perhaps bigger, label. They are not, they say, indie by principle.

"I think the idea is we'll do our third record, continue to have success, then hope there's a bidding war between the big labels," says drummer Mark Kulvinskas.

Kyu

Coachella

Jamie Peachey

Lead singer Ian Metzger (right) fronts a band of surprisingly normal guys.

Jamie Peachey

Dear and the Headlights win fans by putting on an impressive live show.

Jamie Peachey

One of their legion of fans joins the band onstage.

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Playing Coachella and about to start their first bus tour with the Warped crew seems like a natural by-product of the effort they've put in, Metzger says. Sure, they've got a great sound, but they've also done hard work. It's not about image (sorry, Sonny Long), it's not about MySpace friends (sorry, Medic Droid), and it's not about the monetary support that comes from a major backer (sorry, Hollywood Heartthrob). Dear and the Headlights show that.

"It doesn't seem very magical to me, the way anything has gone down. It just seems like we've paid our dues. We've just tried to tour our asses off and just tried to be the most decent human beings that we can possibly be to the people we encounter," Metzger says. "It's kind of old-fashioned, in a way."

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Ashford & Simpson 07/07/2009 11:49:00 PM

Jack Swift is boob...no sour grapes...DATH is amazing but Martin Cizmar is a hack. hack, hack....I don't care what anyone says..he is the worst editor in the history of the New Times....I don't care who he writes about, as long as it is compelling....and Martin Cizmar NEVER is....please just leave town and on to another job very soon....an atrocious journalist....

DavidJensen 07/02/2009 12:18:00 AM

Regardless of Martin's percieved writing ability or any perceived importance of Dear And The Headlights, this band deserved the cover and finally got it. These guys have been hard at work gaining all kinds of notoriety for a couple years now... and why is it so common that our best local talent remains the best kept secrets in the Southwest...and are discovered lastly by our own hometown rags. I mean, outside of a couple of people and/or organizations the radio and press here seem to be the last ones to know or at least speak about the best locals, and rarely even catch on until after they're already 'national' I remember calling The Edge to have them play Jimmy Eat World after Bleed American came out and they didn't know who they were. I called back later and they said they knew of them but didn't have any of their music. Anyway, I digress... Point is, Dear And The Headlights are great, and if you can't agree with that you should accept that they are at least deserving. Let's be happy for them.

Jack Swift 06/30/2009 9:14:00 PM

Isn't it telling how all these apparently young-and-dumb local music fans complain about an article of a few pages being too "long," and how stupid it is to write "long" articles? Who's stupid here? Have this 'tards ever heard of a BOOK!

Brent West 06/30/2009 10:24:00 AM

After the first page (of this novel) i knew i was going to comment about it.. Because if you want proof to back this article then i would be the cinderella.. Kinda of the story.. Page 2 when talking to Brian from Kinch (who is amazing and listening to right now) was talking about "a kid" that waits around before and hangs out with DATH.. That would be me.. Basically years ago after Merchnow missed up on my order for a couple months they sent we a bunch of free stuff.. In it was a DATH sticker.. I checked them out on myspace.. Enjoyed it.. I ended up sending a message to them via myspace asking when they would tour, more so through Portland.. I actually got a message back saying that its happening soon.. Not only that but they say theyll put me on the guest list for it.. Little shocked that some band just throwing me free tickets and its the first time ive talked to them.. The show comes, i have a great time.. I get to meet all of them and chat a while.. They already had me hooked with their music, then i saw them live, whatever is more than hooked is what i was after that.. Plus being chill guys.. So basically i kept in touch with them.. Started getting all my friends into them and it spread quickly.. I loved it.. Everytime they came through town the crowds started to get bigger.. I would come with a group of people.. Then the JEW/PARAMORE tour came and they didnt have room for me on their guest list so they hooked me up with theyre record labels street team.. Which works out great for me because EVR just happens to be my favorite label (The Fall of Troy/Circa/Fear Before).. Now thanks to DATH.. Were friends.. Now after leave Rise Promo i get to promo for them and the label and bands i LOVE.. They showed me Kinch.. Love them.. Met countless number of people because of the words Dear and the headlights.. So i guess after my novel too.. DATH went out of their way to be friend one fan.. So i return the favor by turning anyone i meet into fans too.. So far its paid off.. So for all the AZ kids out there that are bashing down on DATH for being your best.. i would gladdly take them up here.. And i know you dont want to start something with the Portland indie/music scene.. That one kid that lives in phenoix and just listened to DATH online and has never gone to a show.. Needs a solid foot in the ass.. id kill to see them at a home town show.. ive seen them in Portland Seattle and Chicago.. But i hear, mostly from the one guy at ticketmaster that started talking to me about DATH bc i was wearing their shirt and said he lived down there, that shows are just amazing there.. So basically i semi hate you Laters!

Katrina 06/29/2009 9:26:00 PM

Dude, you guys need to all chill out. No one forced you to read the whole thing. I love Dear And The Headlights and found the article very interesting and not too long.

Ella 06/29/2009 4:24:00 PM

DATH is probably my all time favorite band but I couldn't read past the first page, I'm sorry. But it was great to read some more praise for the band that takes up most of the space in my heart! (:

Lenny Leonardson 06/26/2009 12:57:00 AM

I live an Phoenix, and contrary to this article, it is NOT hard for me to leave them off my list of the best bands in town. Listened to them on myspace, they sounded a bit boring and didn't make me feel that I'd really want to listen again or check them out live. It doesn't bother me that you like them, that's your thing, but when you say "the most important band in Arizona" you just look dumb.

Phoenix Love 06/26/2009 12:54:00 AM

"there are so many great bands in Phoenix, why this band? Duh, no there aren't, dumbasses!" Dude, get out of my city. Please.

myname 06/25/2009 9:23:00 PM

I really like this band, I've seen them about 4 times and they're always really solid. i dont think its out of line to call out writers when they play favorites. I dont understand the grunge/being 30 comment either. Im 21 and think the article was too long so I guess Im a grunger? Also there ARE a lot more people making great music in this town. If you're too lazy and disconnected to find them without The New Times that's your problem.

Pete 06/25/2009 9:03:00 PM

Not a bad article but its really stupid how you spend paragraphs going on how recent cover stories were worthless. Guess your editorial decisions suck. Maybe it includes this story as well.

Ted Obrien 06/25/2009 8:10:00 PM

The problem is that Martin's idea of an important band is a band that, as you say Jack, has taken the steps to make it. What does it even mean to make it? Take Brittany Spears, NKOTB, Miley Cyrus - they all took the necessary steps that were needed to make it. The thing is, that doesn't make them important or good or the best or anything besides popular. The music industry circle jerk that's a make-or-break for up and coming bands is only a make-or-break for the bands that want to be part of the music industry. Most of the good bands, the ones who do something innovative or exciting, aren't trying to be part of that industry, they're doing what they want because they want to, not because they'll be popular.

Jack Swift 06/25/2009 7:18:00 PM

Anytime anybody does a music cover story about a great band, you can count on goobers like the above two to chime in that the story is too long, poorly written, yada, yada. See, they gripe, there are so many great bands in Phoenix, why this band? Duh, no there aren't, dumbasses! And its funny how grunges who are pushing 30 and still living in their parents' houses think they know anything about writing. This was a great story about a band that's taken the necessary steps to make it. Stop with the playa-hating sour grapes.

douchetastic 06/25/2009 6:36:00 PM

OMG.. why did this story have to be THAT long? Dath is a good band. They're also doing pretty well in respect to their career thus far. Great for them. What I want to know is, why do we always have to play king of the hill in this town? There are so many artists and bands in Phoenix who are really friendly, hard working and business savvy. I'm not trying to hate, I'm just saying "The most important band in Phoenix"? C'mon dude... That's just asking for widespread resentment which these guys don't deserve. Does anybody at The New Times write objectively? About anything???

Ike Turner 06/25/2009 4:17:00 PM

Ughhh...Martin your writing is abyssmal...I love DATH so much but I almost fell asleep reading your drivel.....it's literary ambien....please, please, please go away as quick as possible...thank you.