A Dirty Dozen with TOMMY ELLIOTT of BAKER’S DOZEN – June 2019

According to a recent press release: “Las Vegas hard rock band Baker’s Dozen release their album Cake and Chaos worldwide via Pavement Entertainment. The release is available on digital outlets everywhere. Stream the dirty and dusty rock grooves now on iTunes. In their own words, Baker’s Dozen says, “We are simply an American hard driving ‘punk and roll’ band focused on world domination!” Having formed in October 2016 with only a few short years under their belts, the band has played multiple national shows and won over a legion of fans in their surrounding hometown area. Clearly, Baker’s Dozen are on their way to becoming mainstays in the rock music scene.” We get vocalist Tommy to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Cake and Chaos is our debut release with Pavement Entertainment. It’s a American hard driving punk and roll album full of desperate times, truth and lies, love an hate, vision and sacrifice. It’s tongue and cheek and serious as well. but not to serious. We’ve sprinkled ear candy throughout the album, little stuff that makes you go WTF was that. Things that we hope make the material more visual. All the music we love takes us somewhere, we were hoping to achieve something like that. You put it on and it takes you where you need to go. “24 Hours In El Salvador” is full of juicy nugness. It’s my recommendation for a set of headphones and a cold cerveza or two.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Mom and Dad were always cranking the best of what the late 60’s and 70’s had to offer around the house when I was growing up. The first stuff I really got into was Bowie, The Wings and Led Zeppelin. I still really love the first album. It’s in my all time top ten. I got to see Def Leppard as a kid on Pyromania, and Steve Clark playing guitar all super low and shit, just emulated coolness. I wanted to be that, a combination of him and Nikki Sixx. It was terminal.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that has guided your musical taste?

My musical taste is guided I like to think by everything. I absolutely relish and worship so many different styles of music and artists. Everything you listen to comes out in what you play. One show that stands out possibly as an influence unknowingly is AC/DC’s 1979 Paris show. The band is magnificent.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

My main five would be Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Damned, Black Sabbath and Motörhead.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be and why?

You know I think I’d wanna collaborate with Dave Grohl. He’s a full spectrum player, punk, funk, metal. From Black Flag to the Ohio Players and everything in between. He get’s it.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has mad that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’d tell them we’re a powerful high energy American brand of old school punk and roll, something the neighbors wouldn’t approve of. As far as comparisons to other artists there has been people saying we’re like The Clash I don’t see it, I’m honored someone would think that but I don’t see it.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

There is a combination of things that make it super cool, being able to be a kid forever, the creative freedom aspect killer gear. But, I’d honestly have to say it’s live performance. nothing beats rocking out.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is the first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

This band loves food and drink! We’re called Baker’s Dozen! I’m definitely the dude who handles all things food, Sushi, Barbecue or tacos, we are getting our grub on. Jake used to be a bartender so he’s the Booze Baron. It’s seriously a tossup on who grabs the guitars first and starts strumming and a wailing, Zach and I are both party minstrels.

9. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Here’s a funny one, I’m a huge Mötley Crüe fan and Tommy Lee friended me on Facebook. I was running around tripping out that he’d accepted my friend request, showing all my friends just to validate it for myself. Pretty funny, But I’m friends with Tommy Lee! on Facebook! (laughs!)

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

If I wasn’t a musician, I’d be a surf instructor living on fish and coconuts on a nice warm beach in Costa Rica. Pura Vida Baby!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over” even if it didn’t change your current situation.

All our missteps and fuck ups have added to the resiliency and brotherhood bond of this band. Granted we’ve had our learning experiences and there’s been a few bumps along the way. but that goes with the territory, It’s just part of it.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be part of the recording sessions for any one record in history which would you choose, and what does that record mean to you?

It would be Led Zeppelin I, The change in the old guard musically was prevalent on the entire album. Sex and mysticism drip off the turntable with the middle finger in the air and the other hand squeezing your lemon. It was a game changer for me as a kid, it was a game changer for Rock n Roll. It was the blues turned heavy. Pure sizzle, In my top ten forever!

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Category: Interviews