.,.
Now playing:
Pavlov\'s Dog

Pavlov's Dog: Late November was finished off in a few minutes

Their first appearance in Athens go around even today... On the 9th of November, PAVLOV'S DOG will be here again and with a brand new ('Echo & Boo') album in their luggage.
Read times

Pavlov's Dog

Their first appearance in Athens go around even today... On the 9th of November, PAVLOV'S DOG will be here again and with a brand new ('Echo & Boo') album in their luggage.

Big thanks to David Surkamp (and his lovely Sara of course!) for the time they provided us, as they don't
easily give interviews in web sites. Well, since "David would do it for you Dimitri", I wonder if I could ask for a dedication for my birthday (09/11)... Besides all these, the history of the band speaks for itself and I don't need to say more here... You know. Their special name, their songs, which were adored in our country. Their concerts always have the heart and soul that makes you say "Yes, it is worth it..."

1/  What do you know about Athens?

Well, I love Athens.I felt right at home there. I'm a political animal, so I suppose I fit right in. Democracy is in my blood & water. Consequently, my blood flows from Greece in any perspective. The state of the planet & the United States plagues me. We have got to do better. We cannot leave our children a planet or culture in disrepair. I hope we are better than that.

2/ Tell us some things about your new album.

After six years of pounding the boards on stages all over Europe, the band has generated a singular voice. We needed to capture this in two ways, a studio production & an audio document of Pavlov's Dog on a stage performing for our friends. I like this concept a lot, and two CD's cover all the bases we could have hoped for. Our band is beautiful in so many ways, the way I hoped it would have been the first time around. I poured my soul into the music I created for "Echo & Boo." It is a love letter to the world. The upcoming "Alive and Unleashed" is a thank you to all who have cheered us on in recent years.

3/ Do you remember your first "historic" concert in Athens? Any memories?

Of course!! My wife Sara & I hung out for three incredible days in Athens, before the tour started. We were unknown to anyone, and just drank in the city as casually as one could ever do. Music stores, markets and history were our oyster, two lovers breathing in this unbelievable culture you have brought to our world. I composed a couple of the songs on "Echo & Boo" in our hotel over wine and flaming cheese.

4/ About legendary 'Late November'?

My best songs come quickly. No hardship, nothing about writer's block or poetic challenges. Steve Scorfina had the guitar riff and chorus knocking about for years, but could not finish the song. I considered his plight and finished it off in a few minutes. It was in the latter part of November of that year, hence my choice of title.

5/ Can you tell us the new bands or musicians you listen now?

I love Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons. I still miss Sandy Denny, and my friend Ian Matthews every day, so I go back and I listen. Personally, I would love to spend a few hours with Robert Wyatt. I've sung his "O Caroline" in concert since I was a teenager. Kim Simmonds has always been my favorite blues guitarist & it brought me so much joy when he included one of my songs on the last Savoy Brown album. Also, Bill Nelson, another guitar hero. When I was initially introduced to Mr. Nelson at a Bebop Deluxe show in my hometown, I was almost too shy to speak. Other favorites, Michael Brown, Mike Oldfield, Michael Fennelly, Neil Young, Roger Chapman & Charlie Whitney, Roy Wood, Eric Anderson, Frank Zappa, Mozart, Bach & all those guys, Pentangle, King Crimson (never got over that), Genesis (only with Peter Gabriel & Steve Hackett), and let us not forget Kate Bush. Again, if Paul Kantner & Grace Slick had not taken an unknown band called Pavlov's Dog on tour as an opening act, would we be speaking today?