The Muggs ‘Straight Up Boogaloo’ Interview Part 3: Album Release. Tour Plans.

We last had a proper chat with The Muggs prior to their 2013 Spanish and European tour. The Detroit blues rock band has successfullly gained a dedicated fan base in the underground blues/country rock scene of the country stereotypically known for their flamenco music.

In 2013, prior to leaving the comfort of the Midwest, The Muggs released Full Tilt – an energetic, foot stompin’, head bobbin’ live album in the format of a double-disc featuring twenty-two songs from their self-titled debut album The Muggs, On With the Show, and Born Ugly as recorded October 20th, 2012 live at Detroit East Side bar, the Cadiex Cafe. The soulful, emotional touch the band put on their high-octane music was masterfully captured in the album, and truly reflects the live show experience.

[See 2013 The Muggs ‘Full Tilt’ Interview].

We were able to catch up yet again with Danny Methric (vocals/guitar), Tony DeNardo (Rhodes bass), and Todd Glass (drums) from The Muggs, one of the best vintage rock bands you’ll find in today’s increasingly-poppy, increasingly-bland, increasingly-cookie cutter music scene. The riffy power trio offers a much-needed breath of fresh air and originality, and are back with their fourth studio release, the follow up to 2011’s Born Ugly – the rightfully-titled Straight Up Boogaloo, which came out in March in CD/Vinyl/Downloads formats.

We chatted with our buddies from the Motor City for a four part interview regarding the album’s sound, the recording process, influences and song meanings, touring, and much more. Here’s what they had to say:

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March 21st found you taking center stage at a sold out Magic Bag in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale for your record release party. How was the crowd that night and their reaction to hearing the new songs live for the first time?

Todd Glass: It was great. We sold out the Magic Bag and the crowd was awesome. The Muggs are lucky in that we have very dedicated fans, they truly love the music and were very accepting of the new material. We played the whole new record in full and they hung in there every step of the way. It was a great night.

On top of that, just a month ago, on April 11th, you hit the stage at the Magic Bag yet again, this time playing the support role for late 60s/early 70s Long Island blues rock heavyweights, Cactus. This band seems right up your alley. Tell us about that experience opening for Cactus on their Detroit stop.

Todd Glass: Well, The Muggs have played almost every Cactus show except one in Detroit in the last few years and this one was the best. We really came out and hit it hard knowing that Cactus was backstage. From 2007 until 2011 I played drums for guitarist Jim McCarty in his blues band Mystery Train so it was nice to hear him compliment us that night, he doesn’t give out compliments easily. Also, Carmine Appice was saying that was the best he ever heard us so it was another great night at The Magic Bag for us. Cactus was a big influence on The Muggs sound.

What other memorable experiences “batting leadoff” for bands coming to town come to mind?

Todd Glass: I joined in 2009 so I missed some openers, but we did a show with Thin Lizzy in Detroit that was a memorable one. Also, we’ve had the pleasure of opening for ElDorado in Spain a number of times and they are one of my favorite bands. We will be sharing the stage with them this time around too.

What does a typical Muggs tour consist of? I’ve personally seen you guys play several times around the metro-Detroit area, and in Madrid last year. Obviously there’s a lot of jamming, extended intro and solos, and energy. How do you go about constructing a setlist for each gig?

Tonymuggs: We used to write out setlists prior to our shows. Since our 2012 Born Ugly Spanish and European Tour, we’ve been calling them out on the fly. We all know these shows so intimately now that all Dannymuggs has to say is, ” let’s start the show with ‘these 3′ and then I’ll just call them out.” It’s fun and how can Todd or I bitch, when Dannymuggs has to sing all the songs in the first place. Danny’s our fearless captain!

After playing a few shows south of the border, in your neighboring state of Ohio, are there any plans for a summer tour in the local Midwest or nationally following your return from Europe?

Todd Glass: We have no plans for a summer tour as yet. It’s been hard for us to travel extensively in The USA because it’s such a large country and the money offered to us isn’t enough for us to go out for very long but we are working on some things with a management company at the moment so we will see. We know we have fans all ove the U.S because they email us all the time so we just need to coordinate with the right company to make it happen.

Are any festival appearances in the works?

Tonymuggs: We usually play a fair amount of festivals in Michigan during the summer months. We have been talking to a manager who wants to get us to the east coast this fall for a bunch of tour dates and some festivals. We’ll see what happens. All you rockers out there, pray to your rock gods this fall for your patron saints of the blues rock, the Muggs!

UPDATE: Since the interview, The Muggs have been confirmed to play the Summer Magic Festival in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on Friday afternoon, June 26th, and a headlining gig later than night at the UFO Factory in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit with Moonwalks and Eeres.

We’ve noticed your song “On With the Show” was featured on an ESPN 30 for 30 episode, as well as other Muggs tunes on of Dee Snider’s That Metal Show, plus car commercials. Can you see a noticeable increase in fan growth or Internet radio popularity with each commercial/program your music appears in?

Tonymuggs: We have noticed a steady increase every year. The internet is the great equalizer in this mad mad world of corporate greed and deregulation. Our biggest hurdle now is getting to the states and countries that our fans want us to play. Sooner or later, there has to be a tipping point where kids can see through the bullshit. I hope the Muggs are front and center when that day comes. In my mind, Full Tilt was half time in a soccer match as far as more albums to come.

Tell us about the biggest wow moments you’ve had on tour in the past.

Tonymuggs: There are several. I just can’t pick one because touring Europe is so very special in itself. OK, there was our 2010 On With The Show Spanish tour in which we were booked to fly to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, but that dreadful Icelandic volcano with an even more dreadful name, erupted! Therefore, we were grounded. No flights going in or out. It was quite surreal at the Barcelona airport that Monday morning. Our promoter Edu was amazing though. Later that week, he did in fact fly us to Tenerife on Thurs for a sold out ‘make up’ show. (Flights were up and running to the south only). The following Sunday we were back in Barcelona and there happened to be a ‘blues jam’ at Rocksound bar so Edu took us there and lo and behold, Muddy Waters guitar player, Mr. Bob Margolin was in Barcelona when planes were grounded, so he happened to be there for the blues jam too! Danny and Todd got to sit in. No fender rhodes set up so I wasn’t able to jam with him but it didn’t matter, I was so proud of the boys for bringing their A game with Bob!

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Watch The Muggs play “Kitchen Sink Blues,” “6 to Midnight,” and “Down Below” Live at Trackside: