Stereophonics: From Dakota with Love

UK band, Stereophonics.

With a reputation as one of the UK's best live acts, the Stereophonics have captured the energy and power of their live show on a new double CD set entitled "Live From Dakota." It follows hot on the heels of the success of their No.1 album, "Language. Sex. Violence. Other?" which believe it or not is still charting in some parts of the world.

Klublife caught up with bassist Richard Jones to go inside the band's lineup change, their Live 8 performance the Live @ Dakota release, and the band's plans for 2006!

Klublife: It's been a long road since the '96 Newport Filing station gig where the band got signed. Recently you've had a line-up change with Javier coming in on drums. How has it reshaped the band now that Javier has joined the band?

Richard Jones: Whenever you get a new band member or a new musician playing with that band, that gives the band a new lease on life—and Javier in particular has such a thing he does that it bumps your spirits up, really encourages you when they are on the same page, makes you feel like you can do everything that's in front of you then. It's really cool.

Klublife: Live 8? You guys headlined. What was that experience like?

Richard Jones: That was bizarre. We were in America on tour when we first heard of the gig but then we ended up in Australia. First off, it was two songs and we were in Melbourne in Australia and we had to cancel one of the shows there to fly to back to do that show! So we called the promoter, Harvey, and very cheekily-like asked for a 20-minute set instead of the 2 songs, and he agreed so it worked out. We flew on the Friday, did the show on Saturday, we were in Chicago on the Sunday and all in all it was a pretty intense hectic weekend. It was well worth it because the aim for that concert was all good and they got what they pretty much wanted.

Klublife: Was it difficult to select tracks for "Live from Dakota" seeing as you had take bits and pieces from five albums?

Richard Jones: It wasn't too difficult for the album because it was pretty much the set list for the shows. We only took out three songs I think, simply because we had a two-disc album. It would have been pretty difficult if we had wanted to make a one-disc album which would have been a pain in the ass because we would only be able to put on 10 songs. But as we were listening to the shows off this tour, it felt so right to put the whole show on a CD, and that is what we managed to do.

Klublife: What was it like working with producer Jim Lowe?

Richard Jones: Ah, it's always good working with Jim. He's been there with us for the past five or six years now. Jim started off with us recording our live shows and we just fell into a really good relationship with him. He managed to help us out in the studio then, so we've done two original albums with him and now the live album.

Klublife: The Dakota video, where was that shot on the tour?

Richard Jones: I think that's from a show in Manchester.

Klublife: The energy in that video was voted one of the best in 2005!

Richard Jones: Yeah, that's what the whole tour felt like, and that's why we had to release a live album. We've just recently been editing all the footage for a live DVD, so hopefully that's going to be released a month after the live album.

Klublife: What was the biggest surprise for you personally on this record?

Richard Jones:  For me it's just the consistency of the whole tour from show to show. We listened to all the show’s which I think was 24 on that particular UK tour, and this one show just stood out as the most vibey and the most consistent in our playing. It is really impressive; we have a couple of samples running for the new songs but basically it's the three of us on stage and there's this big noise coming out.

Klublife: Where does 2006 take the band? Are you heading back into the studio or are you heading back out on the road?

Richard Jones: For the summer now we're going to be working on the DVD, as well as it's our 10th anniversary of the band from being signed. We're gonna like kind of compile a bit of documentary footage for a release in the fall, and hopefully a picture book—hopefully one of those things the fans like and then back into the studio.

"Live From Dakota" is in stores now and is one of the best double-CD live albums from any band in quite some time. With a DVD pack in the works and new studio sessions this fall in preparation of their sixth studio album, it looks like the Stereophonics show no signs of slowing in their output or in touring. They truly are one of the best bands on the planet today!

UK band, Stereophonics.