De Novo Dahl

[Tom Foolery]

So what's up with De Novo Dahl?  Are they still together?  Are they still playing?  I haven't heard anything about them in almost a year.

I found this article in the Nashville Scene:  http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/2009/08/session_from_beyond_the_grave.php
It seems to indicate they're on a break or something.

Does anyone have the skinny?  (Ex-band members can post anonymously if they so choose.)

[Juan Horsetown]

I think the comment section of that article pretty well answers as much as anyone knows at this point. 

I really liked MEMMES, but when I last saw them at what I think was its release show, I thought the show wasn't quite as good as it had been in the past even with the same line-up, and I thought their sets lagged behind and focused too much on the Cats/Kittens stuff that has felt a bit worn since 2005.  They dedicated "Jeffrey" to me that night, and it was very flattering, but I would rather have heard "New Hero."

I hope the band bounces back in whatever form it takes.  I hope they'll just embrace newer material and not keep re-hashing anything from the original EP or the first record.

I would also like to know where or how to keep up with when Joel is doing solo sets.

[Keith]

I quit. Joey quit. I heard that Matt quit, but I don't know. Last I heard, Joel planned to use the DND name in the future, but for what, I don't know.

Joel is playing a solo show this Thursday night at Mercy along with Josh from Feable Weiner/Mondo Primo's new band called Bravo Max. I'll also be there playing with The Privates and Mean Tambourines are headlining.

[Tom Foolery]

I quit. Joey quit. I heard that Matt quit, but I don't know. Last I heard, Joel planned to use the DND name in the future, but for what, I don't know.

One of my favorite entries from the Nashville Scene's 2009 "You Are So Nashville If..." contest:  You are so Nashville if... ...You go to the Wildhorse Saloon to see a band whose only remaining "original member" was their roadie.

So how many changes can a band go through before they should change their name?  Is there any sort of rule to this?  Does it depend on whether the band is truly a cohesive unit as opposed to just being a backing group for the main guy?

[Juan Horsetown]

I wouldn't say there's a "rule."  Bands don't tend to start with the plan of breaking up or whatever may come their way that may cause them to change line-ups.  It is helpful for a band with just a songwriter to re-use a name for recognition purposes.

It might do Joel some good to just do solo stuff or start a new band and cast off the old material.

Smashing Pumpkins should never have brought the name back.

I can't think of other examples, but I know there are more. 

[Juan Horsetown]

Joel J. Dahl plays a solo show tonight in East Nashville for the grand opening of a vintage clothes shop called Humankind.  I don't know if he plays first or last, but the whole thing starts early at 6:30. 

I'm planning to be there.