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.
California rockers Raised On TV have already shared the stage with everyone from Jefferson Starship to Green Jello and are now prepping for the upcoming release of Strangers in Pictures. As the band readies the new album we were lucky to catch a few moments with Keaton Rogers for a Roll of the Dice Interview to chat about the band's past, the new record and what's next for Raised On TV.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the upcoming release of “Strangers In Pictures”. What should newcomers to your band know about Raised On TV and what can we expect from the record?
Thanks a lot! Thanks for having us. Newcomers to our band should know that first off, we appreciate them checking us out. There's so many bands out there, so every stream, every listen, every time someone watches one of our videos, comes to one of our shows, becomes a fan, it really makes all the difference. Strangers in Pictures will be our 4th full album, and our first released on vinyl thanks to Sell the Heart Records. We're really excited about that. I think it's some of our best songwriting to date, and also probably the most we've tried new things in the studio, trying out keyboard sounds, electric drum sounds, etc. We're really proud of this record, and I feel like the growth we've had as a band is on there.
What stood out most to you with this recording compared to “Season One”?
Man, it's crazy how different they are. Season 1, our first record, we were going for the live, get it all in one take sort of vibe, and we tracked all of it, except for the vocals, in three days. We barely knew what we were doing haha, and maybe that's the charm of it. That record is pretty much how we sounded in the garage at that time. With Strangers in Pictures, we were able to take our time, and we had more of an idea of what we were going for, and I think that's probably the biggest difference.
The world has been going through some shit over the last few years. What affect, if any, have the cultural and political landscapes of the last few years had on your music?
The last few years, some shittier than others of course, have had a huge impact on our music. Our third and fourth albums have songs that directly dive into those things lyrically. Songs like “Strange Times” and “Wasted.” The way things were with the pandemic, and everything being shut down for a while, also made us get better at learning how to record in the studio. Learning specifically what certain equipment does, and going beyond just the performing/writing/artistic aspect of it all.
The music world has also changed a lot over the last few years. What are some of the biggest changes you've come across in your time within the scene?
We've seen a lot of bands break up, a lot of venues close down. We've also seen a lot of new bands and venues form in the last few years, so maybe it's some sort of rebirth or something like that? I think the need for live music and connection is stronger than ever, and it seems like new music festivals are popping up everywhere all the time. Some of the best shows we've had have been post Covid.
Raised On TV has performed with an extremely diverse list of classic acts like Jefferson Starship and Green Jelly. What advice or observations have you taken away from performing with such a wide variety of tenured artists?
We always like to talk with bands, share stories. It's part of the fun, but It's the kind of thing where you just need to feel out the situation and know that every band is different. Some might want to hang out, get to know you, party with you, and some might just want to chill and be left alone. We once got kicked out of a shared green room area and had our stuff put in the janitor's closet because the headliner didn't want us around haha.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should?
Great question. A band I saw just the other night, called Taupe, are awesome. Some strong Band of Horses vibes. Some other bands that come to mind: We Are Wasted, Diva Bleach, The Revies, The Captain's Son, Orange Mayfield, Filmspeed, In Theaters Friday, The Dollheads, Mr. Max, Greg in Good Company, Bummer Dude, and The Maybe Next Years to name some.
Once the world has its hands on Strangers In Pictures” what's next for Raised On TV?
We plan on playing as many shows as we can! Hitting the road a little bit. Trying to sell some vinyls! We have some touring planned for the summer. Going up the west coast, out to Arizona, Las Vegas, and some other spots. We'll also be playing a lot at a cool brewery here in LA called Boomtown. A place where we've been helping book some shows every month and that's been sort of a home base venue for us. We want to make some more music videos, and get to work on the next album! We did some tracking for it at a house out in Joshua Tree, and we're really excited to get those mixes done.
What do you wish I asked about or that you had more of an opportunity to speak about during this interview?
I wish you would've asked about my cats! Honestly though, my wife and I just had a baby! Louie Rogers is his name. So shout out to him!
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/