Conservative Dad: PRESS

Conservative Dad - Best "acoustic" transformation - Awesome CD out now
Category: Music

I am still reeling from the performance of Conservative Dad at The Back Room @ Piecora's last Saturday night. They played the small room brilliantly having [Conservative Dad - My Photos - Photo 12 of 17] tranformed their set to an "acoustic" version in order to play to the size of the room.

Actually, singer/guitarist Matt Batey played an acoustic guitar instead of electric and guitarist CJ Stout hung out on the Rhodes and a toy Yamaha key board during the set. They toned down the loudness, playing at an excellent level perfect for the room: Not too loud, not too soft. The sound was, therefore, mixed very well. The result was a set of lush and meaningful arrangements seemingly performed with relaxed ease.

One reason I like seeing a band in a more softer setting is that you can hear the nuances of the song's arrangements, experience the overall tightness of the band and can hear the singing (and therefore the words) clearly. Con Dad put together a set that delivered on all three accounts. It was as if you had their new full length CD at almost full volume nicely EQ'd on a pro stereo system.

It is clear the band thought out the new "acoustic" arrangements and how they would have to be played differently than the regular versions of the songs. The challenge is to rework the songs without losing the essence of them or making them too sappy or going over the top and sparsing down way too much. ConDad did a fine job of treating the songs with just the right "tone downedness" without losing any of the original work. The depth, drama or emotion and original meaning of their music was that much more heard and felt as a result. As I said, I am still reeling...

Con Dad has a self-titled full length CD out now. I have been listening non-stop to the 12 track work CONSERVATIVE DAD: Con Dad LPsince I got it at the gig Saturday. This is pure indie rock bliss with a stroke of pop and a touch of angst to keep it interesting. Sparsley arranged, clear tracks, with Batey's clear, high and sparkling voice over crisp instrumentation make this freshman full length work a great debut from the up and coming NW band.

Along with a new CD, the band also has a new website. You can join their email list, order the CD and their earlier released EP (also self-titled) as well as check out their music there. The address, of course is, www.conservativedad.com

Sometimes, like last week, Bobble Tiki lets someone else (usually Matt Driscoll) talk him into covering a certain show with his column. To be honest, Bobble Tiki’s a little lazy, and usually when you give him a chance to get out of work he’ll take the bait. That’s just the way Bobble Tiki rolls. When someone else has a good suggestion about what event Bobble Tiki should cover here in the Weekly Volcano, and it means Bobble Tiki needs to think just a little bit less that week — Bobble Tiki is typically all for it.


Sometimes, believe it or not, Bobble Tiki decides which show to cover in the Weekly Volcano because he actually knows something. It’s true. Sometimes a band or musician has a show scheduled and Bobble Tiki knows in his heart of hearts that it deserves ink. Bobble Tiki has seen many, many bands in his alcohol influenced life, and while it doesn’t raise his actual IQ or offer any real hope for self-betterment, Bobble Tiki does know a lot about a lot of bands. It’s one of Bobble Tiki’s few positive qualities.

And sometimes, like this week, Bobble Tiki just kind of wings it. When there’s no one around to tell Bobble Tiki what to do, and the big box of wine in his head doesn’t have any ideas of its own, Bobble Tiki flies by the seat of his pants — letting the most inconsequential of emotions or desires influence his column.

This week it was a funny name … or at least Bobble Tiki thinks it might be a funny name.
Saturday, Sept. 13 Seattle’s Conservative Dad will play Bob’s Java Jive. If you’ve got a rock/pop bone in your body — this show is sure to delight. Plus, Conservative Dad is a funny name, don’t you think? Bobble Tiki did, at least at first. Now he’s not so sure, but it was at least enough to draw Bobble Tiki in. From there Conservative Dad’s music does all the talking necessary.

A collaboration between four young musicians — all in their 20s and all fresh faced enough to look as though they could be Bobble Tiki’s love children from decades past — Conservative Dad is a surprisingly fresh mix of everything Bobble Tiki loves about rock. Urgent. Scrapping. Beautiful. Ferocious and fun as hell. Conservative Dad can run any play called — and they do so with a vigor that makes the package nearly irresistible.

Bobble Tiki caught up with Conservative Dad frontman Matt Batey this week, to get his thoughts his band’s sound, Tacoma, and that debatably funny name:

BOBBLE TIKI: First of all, talk about the makeup of this band. What makes Conservative Dad tick?

MATT BATEY: It’s always been exciting to play together because we put such an emphasis on the live show and experiencing the moment. Anytime we do anything, whether it’s writing a song, booking a show, or spending time in the studio, we constantly ask ourselves, “Is this right? Is this real?” Being so committed to the honest and genuine experience of music makes the band constantly rewarding for all of us.

TIKI: Who brings what to the table? Do you guys all have similar musical tastes, or is it varied?

BATEY: Our musical tastes vary quite a bit. We share a love for similar musical and philosophical principals, but the music we listen to ranges quite a bit. This keeps things interesting and exciting when we write and record, because Conservative Dad is a complete four-person collaboration. Every decision that gets made is made by all of us. None of us would have it any other way.

TIKI: Where’d the name come from? (Bobble Tiki thinks it’s hilarious, by the way)

BATEY: The voices of torrents are from one great tongue, the lions of the hills are the pure body of Buddha. “Isn’t that right?” he said to the teacher. “It is,” said the teacher, “but it’s a pity to say so.”

TIKI: That doesn’t sound very funny

BATEY: -silence-

TIKI: Anyway, what are you expecting from Bob’s Java Jive in Tacoma? Have you played Tacoma before?

BATEY: We never know what to expect when we play a show, even if we’ve played a place 20 times. That’s what keeps us interested. We’ve never played Tacoma before, but we’re looking forward to adapting to a new environment and giving our show to new people.

TIKI: What can people expect from your live show?

BATEY: We love to create moments in our music with other people, almost as an interactive experience. We encourage people to disregard the supposed separation between band and audience that makes most rock shows feel so impersonal. We put a lot of energy into the people who are watching, and if that energy comes back to us, it starts to snowball. It’s a really beautiful thing.

As usual, Bobble Tiki doesn’t care what you do this week because he doesn’t even know you. Unless you’re that old lady in line at the Top Foods last weekend who wouldn’t shut up about how Sarah Palin was so likeable she should have a reality television show about gutting large game and schlepping kids to hockey practice, then Bobble Tiki’s pretty sure he doesn’t want to meet you. If you are that women from Top Foods, then you know what Bobble Tiki said — and he still means it. Check out www.weeklyvolcano.com for all your South Sound World Wide Interweb needs, and consider that close enough. If you got any closer you could see Bobble Tiki is but a boy on the inside.

[Bob’s Java Jive, with Rising Tides, Microtia and Sammy Swell, Saturday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m., $5, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

con dad
The Tractor Tavern reminds me of being home in Montana, in a good way. Unpolished floorboards, tiny red lights strung about, barstools with cracked vinyl seats. It’s cool though, which is something most Montana bars don’t have going for them. In the Tractor there are people wearing shoes other than cowboy boots, holding drinks other than Bud Light. And most importantly, the music isn’t coming from a jukebox whose Aerosmith, Eagles, and Joan Jett albums are worn to bits.
Friday night the Tractor’s stage hosted Conservative Dad and you’ll be hard pressed to find any other band that will get me to come way the fuck out to Ballard for the evening. I’m biased, of course. I’ve been to almost every one of Con Dad’s shows, originally to support lead singer and my best friend, Matt Batey. But soon I became their biggest fan. I’m addicted, and addicts need their fix, so The Tractor Tavern is where I spent my Friday night.
I had hardly made it inside before getting tapped on the shoulder and then embraced by guitarist CJ, whose hugs I’ve come to expect and love almost as much as the show itself. His energy is simple and pure, infectious and relentless. On stage, that energy is shared by the entire band – they glow with anticipation, ready to fill us up with anything they have to offer.
When the music starts, something happens to me. I am warm and smiling. Anything I had been feeling is drowned out by the music, replaced ten-fold with tranquility and happiness.
After seven years I’m still impressed and awestruck by Matt’s voice. It is older and more jaded than its years, but with a tinge of innocence. The rockstar in Matt shines brightly through in his songs, in which he is self-deprecating and fed-up with girls, work, whatever. But his lyrics are clever, honest and relatable. The latest “Man In a Mask” is especially impressive, smothered with truly rock‘n’roll anarchist attitude.
CJ and Terry harmonize perfectly with Matt, never overpowering and never too shy, which back-up vocals sometimes can be. Their voices move together like a rowing crew, strong and trusting and smooth. CJ and Matt match and compliment each other on their guitars like they’re playing one single instrument. The melodies are catchy and snappy, and I just dare you to listen to “Too Late” without finding yourself head-bobbing and toe-tapping.
CJ’s stage presence is impossible to ignore, a physical manifestation of the way Con Dad’s music makes me feel. He bobs around, swaying with a momentum that, if interrupted, would continue on the inside forever. He is expressive, boundless and genuine, and that is mirrored in his playing, which also seems to come effortlessly.
Terry and his bass seem like old friends, like they both know what the other is going to do and say. The intimacy is enviable. As Terry looks out over the audience, his sound dances beneath his fingers, and pulses into the soles of our shoes and suddenly it’s inside us too, that best-friends-bond, that strong foundation. I can feel it especially on “Commit”, where the bass bolsters the emotion of the song, and forces me to strum my fingers like a wannabe rockstar.
Not to be overlooked is Sean on the drums. He is modest in his playing, not freaking out - arms and sticks flailing - like many drummers I’ve seen. His beats are nothing to downplay, however. “The Devil That You Know” comes to mind, in which Sean is the conductor of a train that is headed straight for a cliff and no apologies are being offered. The sound of the kick drum is the heartbeat of everyone onboard, angry and excited and saying goodbye. That tick-a-tick-a-clack he does with the sticks on the rim of the snare, or whatever, is exhilarating like standing at the edge of an abyss.
Together they are Conservative Dad, pure gold. I wonder how easily it comes to them, pouring their brilliance into little gems for me to admire. I wonder if they know that this is how music is supposed to sound and that it is all that makes sense to me some days.

49. Ballad of an average Joe

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a wine party at Genève Café on Fremont Ave. For $18 a person we enjoyed all sorts of delicious little appetizers and seemingly unlimited pours on several African selections. And if that wasn't enticing enough, the cover included an intimate patio performance by local indie rockers Conservative Dad.

I am an enormous sucker for the small venue situation, and this band did not disappoint. The four of them are incredibly approachable people who seem to enjoy the actual connection with their audience as much as they love to play. There is not a hint pretension or self-absorbed snobbery among them, as can often be the case among musicians possessing this much talent. They even handed out gratis copies of their LP, which I now have on repeat. Yay!

While far from an acoustic set (these kids rocked out), they performed somewhat toned down versions of their songs in order to accommodate the close proximity of their patio stage. The set up was uncomplicated; no microphone, just a few guitar amps and pedals strewn about. One of which did delightful analogue-ish things that entertained me more than it probably should have...

Matt's vocals are bright and endearing, the lyrics thoughtful and easy to relate to, and the rest of the band's backing vocals harmonized perfectly. I think my favorite tracks are currently the blue-collar ballad "Mighty Dollar" and the heartfelt "Full Time", but I kind of want to (and just may) make a ring tone out of "Too Late". It's the perfect sort of punkish temper-tantrum to roll out of bed to at 3:15 in the morning on a Monday, when the last thing in the world you want to do is drag your ass to work.

Con Dad's set was surprisingly longer than I would have expected to see from a band playing at a cafe. As the evening wore on and the stars came out, everyone was invited to move even closer and sit at their feet while they played. I frequently found myself utterly fascinated by the performance of one particular person, yet there was never a moment where any one member's piece swallowed or overpowered another.

It was a perfectly rad way to spend a Friday evening. Surrounded in good company, good wine, and good music. I think the only thing missing was a campfire, but just as I found myself wishing for one, the scent of someone in the neighborhood grilling on their deck drifted past my nose

No, this isn't a post whining about my uptight, white collar suburban dad. Which wouldn't work anyway, given that my dad is a blue collar Boston native. This is about a killer band I saw last night, Seattle's Conservative Dad.
And no, my approval of them has nothing to do with the awesome Big Lebowski shout out on their MySpace...but it doesn't hurt!

I'll admit it, I get surprised when my little town plays host to good music, given that it's exactly what Bob and Doug McKenzie would label as the Great White North. So it was a delightful treat when after they went into the first riff, I couldn't help but move with the music. Conservative Dad played a relatively short set, but it left everyone wanting more. So much so, in fact, that the crowd started chanting the ever-popular "one more song" routine. Now that's pretty common in larger venues, but this was in a small venue, where most of the crowd couldn't even see the band since the stage was level with the audience. Conservative Dad plays a show, though, where you don't have to see them to feel their energy and intensity.

There wasn't a person in that room who couldn't feel the energy. Not to mention, these guys treat audiences like royalty, thanking us about ever five minutes, and sincerely wanting to meet those who came out to hear them. I half expected to be taken out for a nice steak dinner afterwards. But back to the tunes!

Their music is way fun. I can't even label their genre, which is nice. I can say the live show was intense. Whether they were going slow, or inciting head banging, the raw honesty was palpable. This wasn't a show, this was an autobiography.

For a reference point, I would have to say there are some Weezer sounds mixed in with Conservative Dad. Nada Surf also travels along the same vein. Matt Batey's voice smacks of Ben Gibbard often, which works surprisingly well for their more punk songs.

So here's to the Northwest for putting out another honest band to give the people what they need; perspective through the b.s.