Friday, February 17, 2012

Boston band The Del Fuegos full of energy these days, will perform in Chicago area this month


By ERIC SCHELKOPF

After playing together last year for the first time in 21 years, Boston band The Del Fuegos are now acting like they never broke up.

The Del Fuegos next week will release an eight song EP, "Silver Star," and embark on a U.S. tour that takes them to Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, on Feb. 25. Hollow also is on the bill.

The show starts at 9 p.m., and advance tickets are $20, $25 at the door, available at www.lincolnhallchicago.com. On Feb. 26, The Del Fuegos will perform at 8 p.m. at S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

Tickets range in price from $22 to $40, available at www.evanstonspace.com.

Formed by brothers Dan and Warren Zanes, The Del Fuegos stormed through the '80s with hits like "Don't Run Wild" and "I Still Want You." The tour will feature the band's original lineup, which also includes bassist Tom Lloyd and drummer Woody Giessmann.

I had the chance to talk to Warren Zanes about The Del Fuegos' latest activities.


Q - What was it about last year's reunion shows that made you want to do a 11-city tour?

Really, we were encouraged by the feeling in our guts and, possibly, groins. It was that rock and roll thing, still working on us. Of course, we all have jobs, kids, families, love lives, and various matters to attend to, so we can't go out for too long. 

But we found a little window of opportunity and wanted to see what kind of trouble we could make for each other and the folks along the way.




Q - There seems to be a lot of good buzz about the tour. What are your expectations for the tour?


It took a while, but we finally got ourselves out of the expectations business. That's a dangerous business. When you're young and putting out records, you get into dreaming about what might happen. 

With every release you're thinking maybe this one will break your band at a higher level. Fair enough - but it can get in the way of the music. 

This time around we're not asking the music to change our lives. We just want to feel that feeling of playing in a band. And we're playing better than ever. It's a simple affair. And it suits the music.

Q - You guys just recorded eight new songs. How was the process? 

I've never cut tracks this fast. We recorded for three days. No room for second guessing yourself. No room for self-indulgent musings, you know?

A great guy named Rob Friedman helped us stay on course and make good choices. And, frankly, next to falling in love or watching your kids shine, cutting tracks is about as much deep fun as a man can have. 

Dan gave me some room to bring in songs, which felt like a really nice change and a soulful gesture. Overall, the machine started without having to change the oil.



Q - In forming the band the first around, what were your goals? Did you achieve most of them?  

Speaking for Dan and Tom, who started the band, I think the goal was primal: sex and rhythm. And the meeting of those two things. Nothing changes since Elvis came along.


Q - Your relationship with your brother has been described as "fractious." How is your relationship these days? Do you think healthy competition is good, especially when being in a band together?

Hmmm. It's great being in a band with a brother. It kicks off a particular energy that really works in the rock and roll territory. 

And it's awfully hard being in a band with a brother. Sometimes fratricide seems like a reasonable option. When I went off to get my doctorate and start teaching, it helped that we were in different territories. We weren't competing to see who the undergraduates liked better. 

But time passes, and we're both involved in music, and we're really seeing that if we weren't brothers, we'd probably be best friends.




Q - What's the future of The Del Fuegos after this tour is over?

That one can't be answered. We certainly never thought we'd be heading out on a tour.

But here we are. It's better to sit back, ask no questions, and watch where life takes you.

As had been said, "If you want to give God a laugh, tell him your plans."

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