Dandy Warhols Release “Motor City Steel” (Plus Interview with Guitarist Peter Holmström)

The Dandy Warhols celebrate their jubilee year by dropping their appropriately-titled“Why You So Crazy” LP on January 25th. Has it really been a quarter of a century? Most of the songs from their vast catalog don’t seem to have aged a day. Timeless and classic, there’s no denying that these indie darlings have longevity, and in this ‘here one day, gone the next’ musical landscape, that’s indeed something to celebrate.Whether you dig them gritty or glittery, this new record delivers on all fronts.

Described by the quartet as a return to their “freewheeling fashion”, there’s no stylistic boundaries here except goodhearted and heated rock n roll. The album features 12 songs that pack in references as far flung as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Don MacLean’s Chevy, and the church of Bowie’s “Modern Love”.

Yesterday, the band unleash the new video for “Motor City Steel”, of which Courtney Taylor-Taylor says “Motor City Steel is a true story.  I lived in a small SW Washington town from 2006 – 2014 ‎ and found this to be a fairly common occurrence. The guys generally get online to check out fishing gear, truck parts, and compound bows etc whereas more and more the gals check out New York, Paris, Hollywood and the like. I changed the names for the song, but when “Rikki” finally did come back, it was well over a year later. They are married now and have two kids.”

AMFM Magazine’s John Wisniewski got a chance to ask lead singer Peter Holmström a few questions.  Video for “Motor City Steel” Follows.  You’ll be singing along.

John Wisniewski: What are you currently working on, Peter?

Peter Holstrom: I’m currently working on new songs for the next Pete International Airport
record.

JW: Could you tell us how the Dandy Warhols formed?

PH: I convinced Courtney to teach me some of the songs he was writing. There
wasn’t anything going on in Portland musically similar that I knew of.
Then we found the other two.

JW: what was the best part about being in the band?

PH: For me it’s traveling and playing shows, my two favorite things.  The
creative part is not bad either.

JW: will you be playing live?

PH: As much as possible.

JW: do you like live playing?

PH: Oh yeah.

JW: .Any favorite bands?

PH: BRMC, Primal Scream, Massive Attack, Liars, A Place To Bury Strangers, etc.

JW: any favorite artists and writers?

PH: Andy Warhol, London Police, Gallo, Space Invader, etc
Richard Morgan, William Gibson, Neil Stephenson, Kurt Vonnegut, etc

JW: what does the future hold for you?

PH: Hopefully more touring, more recording