Photos by Jez Beasley
WRECK THE HALLS 2011
A few quick words with Johnny Rioux from STREET DOGS
By Jason Walsh
Photos by Jez Beasley
It’s that time of year again, as the sun moves further from the Earth, days get shorter and darker, and the cold winds descend harshly, erasing any memory of summer. Winter is coming…but, no need to fear, because this December, the 7th Annual “Wreck the Halls Tour kicks off in Houston, winding its way through the Midwest and into the Northeast, for a run of holiday shows that will be sure to warm pubs, fans, and hearts across the country with some old school seasons greetings. Hosted by Street Dogs, this end-of-the-year tradition has become an important tour for the guys in the band. Formed by former Dropkick Murphys frontman Mike McColgan in 2002, Street Dogs have put their own bit of flavor on working-class anthems, songs of revolution, and good old-fashioned street punk.
Bassist Johnny Rioux grew up in the turbulent Boston punk scene, playing in The Bruisers and Roger Miret & the Disasters, as well as working alongside Dropkick Murphys and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Now a Texas resident, he’s played with Street Dogs for almost ten years, through five albums and countless tours. Aside from his duties with the Dogs, he has become a successful producer as well, working with Flatfoot 56 on their 2009 “Black Thorn” album, as well as co-producing last year’s self-titled Street Dogs record. On top of all this, he has a side-project that will be along for the ride on this year’s “Wreck the Halls Tour.”
One of the great things about this stretch of shows for the guys in Street Dogs is they have the opportunity to bring along some amazing groups for their loyal followers to hear, and in many cases, check out for the first time. Their partners in crime on this occasion are Off With Their Heads from Minnesota, who released their second album, In Desolation, last year, as well as Murder the Stout, a Houston-based crew that features none other than Rioux on mandolin and bass. During this run, Rioux will be performing double duty, playing two sets a night in seventeen cities. Street Dogs have continued the urban punk legacy that started long ago in the streets of Boston, the city where this tour winds to a screeching halt.
I had a chance to catch up with Johnny before the tour’s start and find out what’s going on and what to look forward to in 2012.
Photo by Jez Beasley
First off how are you doing and how have things been going this year with the band? It looks like you guys have been busy.
I am doing fantastic, thanks for asking. I am currently enjoying the longest break from touring Street Dogs have had in probably two or three years? I’ve been taking advantage of the time recording my other band, Murder The Stout, doing pre-production with Flatfoot 56, which I am producing in Chicago in January. Gearing up unreleased Street Dogs tracks for our upcoming 10-year anniversary, building my motorbikes, and most importantly, hanging with my family. Street Dogs have been so busy this year, so it’s catch up time.
It’s that time of year again. Wreck the Halls. 7th Annual. Do you look forward to this tour and this time of year now that you guys have been doing this run for a while?
This tour is really important to us for a few different reasons. It’s become part of our holiday tradition. We hang out with each other, my brothers, we see some of our favorite friends and fans, and end it all with a couple of hometown gigs in Boston. It’s just a great way for us to celebrate the year with each other and the Street Dogs faithful. It’s also always been a chance for us to introduce some new bands along the way.
And this year is no different. You’re taking Off With Their Heads and Murder the Stout out with you this time. How did you decide on these guys and what do folks have to look forward to with each of these bands?
We were so happy it came together with Off With Their Heads. There are so few hardworking punk bands that tour the world, but when the opportunity arises to share a bill, it is so exciting for us. Murder The Stout is very incestuous with our band. When I moved to Texas, I met the frontman and squeezebox player, Hugh Morrison, when he came in to play on the last Flatfoot 56 record I produced in Texas called “Black Thorn.” We became fast friends and I started to play mandolin or bass in his group, produce his solo record “Burns Rocks,” he played on the new Street Dogs record, and has done a number of tours with us. When we showed our support for the working people of Madison, Wisconsin, The Dogs and Stout collaborated on a as-of-yet unreleased Christy Moore song called “Ordinary Man.” Mike McColgan sang, we experienced the talents of Stout guitarist, Kevin Murphy, and Marcus Hollar, my bandmate and brother of Street Dogs played great banjo. We did a few Mike McColgan and Hugh Morrison duets of traditional Celtic standards, and when Murder The Stout was recording we needed a drummer. My first choice was my favorite drummer I have ever played with, Paul Rucker of Street Dogs. Long story short, I’m really excited to introduce the Stout EP on the tour, play 2 sets, and let’s face it. Any band that has 4 songs about whiskey in its set is bound to be a good time.
Photo by Jez Beasley
Any highlights along the way on this year’s run?
My personal and selfish highlight will be the unveiling of The Choppahead Custom Street Dogs Triumph motorcycle in Boston. That could be the best Christmas present ever.
What does 2012 hold for the Street Dogs? What do we have to look forward to?
We want to do a labor standard solo record with Mike, release the large number of B-sides with the records they were recorded for, mix our live in Boston DVD and record, prepare for our first trip to Australia, return to Japan, get back into some Celtic festivals, and just be happy and grateful people are still loyal after almost 10 years.
What would you say to folks to encourage them to come check out the show?
If you’ve seen Street Dogs for Wreck The Halls, you know these are some of our favorite shows the world over. We will for sure pull out all the stops and then some.
Lastly, Johnny. Any New Year’s Resolutions? or Revolutions?
Resolution? quit the smokes…again. Revolution? Keep fighting for the attacks on working people and the government desire for a two class system of very poor and very rich. While we are at it, maybe the two party system is worth fighting for too. My other resolution is to hold a yard sale.
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