Few bands can bridge generations the way The Dollyrots do. Their songs somehow hit that sweet spot where punk attitude meets pop joy. With their infectious energy, clever humor, and unwavering heart Kelly Ogden and Luis Cabezas have built a legacy rooted in authenticity and fun. We caught up with the duo to talk about their empowering new cover of “You Don’t Own Me,” life on the road with their DollyTots and what keeps the engine running after all these years of noise, laughter and caffeine-fueled chaos.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. The Dollyrots are one of only a handful of artists that we can put on in the house and myself, my wife, our 16-year-old, and 12-year-old are each willing to sing and dance along to together. Thank you for the dance parties!
Luis – First off, Thank you … stocked to hear about your Dollyrots Family Dance Parties!!
First things first — you just released a punked-up cover of Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.” How did the idea come about, and what made you want to tackle such an iconic song now?
Kelly – Unfortunately, with the overturning of Roe Vs Wade in 2022, and the current state of our county this one feels more important than ever. The song is an anthem for female empowerment, it’s about willing to be defiant in the face of something that’s just plain wrong. Sadly, it’s still just as timely as when Lesley sang it over 60 years ago. Recording it was actually the idea of our labelmate Brian Ray who co-produced and contributed guitar parts to the track.
The Dollyrots have been part of the punk scene for years… how do you keep evolving without losing the core energy that’s made fans stick around?
Luis – We’ve always tried to stay true to who we are; we try to keep it fun, authentic, and grounded in pop-punk energy but at the same time we never shy away from trying new things. Each album reflects where we are in life, whether that’s being on the road, starting our family, or navigating the chaos of the world. I think the band’s evolution feels natural because it’s honest, as we matured, the songwriting matured, the production tightens up, but the spirit of it remains the same. Our fans have become our friends and in some cases like family, so every show feels like a reunion.
You’ve got the DollyTots touring with you, your kids are on the road. How do you make a punk tour kid-friendly without losing the chaos that makes a punk show… a punk show?
Kelly – I think we’ve become really good at the art of balancing punk rock chaos with family life. The shows are still wild, loud, and full of energy, but we’ve built an environment where the kids can be part of it, not shielded from it. Instead of toning things down, it’s just a new kind of chaos. A lot of our fans have grown up with us, and now they bring their kids to the shows. It’s about community, fun, and making the space inclusive for all ages. Punk isn’t about destruction, it’s about freedom, love, and creating your own rules, even if that means a break in the live set for kid jokes and Yo-Yo tricks.
Your shows mix humor, sugar-rush melodies, and punk grit. How do you keep that energy high night after night, especially while managing family on tour?
Luis – We thrive on connection, with each other, with our fans, and with the sheer fun of what we get to do for a living. Balancing family life on tour only fuels that energy; it keeps us grounded and grateful. Every night is a chance to let loose, laugh, and remind everyone (including ourselves) why we fell in love with music in the first place. We’ve been doing this long enough to know that if you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong, our kids keep us laughing, our fans keep us pumped, and once we hit the stage, it’s like flipping a switch — pure energy. All of that, and a good amount of caffeine.
If a first-time listener heard your new single, saw the Dollyrots on tour, and felt the band’s personality in one night, what’s the lasting impression you hope they walk away with?
Kelly – I think they’d see that it’s all real, the energy, the laughter, the family, the noise. Some of the songs like “You Don’t Own Me” are meant to make people think, but mostly, we want people to leave feeling lighter, like they just spent a night with friends. The Dollyrots are all about joy, with a side of distortion.
Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should know about?
Go check out Black Widows from Minneapolis and Keep Flying from NYC.
Was there anything we missed or that you’d like to put more focus on?
Luis – Stay tuned, we have no plans of slowing down, 2026 will bring new music, lots of shows, more yo-yo tricks and stand-up comedy from our kids and a good time will be had by all.
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/