Courtesy of Robert Kinsler

Robert Kinsler who writes for the Orange County Register and also has an excellent blog over at Rock ‘n’ Roll Truth has penned a couple of articles on dada’s upcoming show at The Coach House.  Be sure to check them both out and if you haven’t got any plans on Friday night, get yourself out to San Juan Capistrano for an excellent show.  Or make it a twofer and follow the guys to L.A. on Saturday for an outdoor show at Pershing Square.

• Dada drops by San Juan for concert Friday [O.C. Register]
• dada returning to The Coach House [Rock 'n' Roll Truth]

In sports, taking a timeout is a strategic move to rethink the way things are going and formulate a game plan in order to proceed.

It can work the same way in life: Sometimes a pause from a job or a relationship is the only way to improve things.

But in the pop music business, taking a time out can prove to be deadly.

If you’re not making a record, touring, somehow staying in the news and trying to keep ahead of the game, people forget you quickly and move on to the next band with the buzz. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

For the members of the band dada, though, deciding on a break after a decade running on the rock ‘n’ roll treadmill was something they had to do despite knowing that it could be career suicide.

The muscular rock trio, which is playing the Beachcomber in Wellfleet tonight, had hit a critical point in its tenure as they got dropped from their label, MCA Records, in 1999 when there was an executive shuffle, their popularity had reached a plateau and their next move was in question.

The band that roared to success in the early ’90s with radio hits like “Dizz Knee Land,” “Dorina” and yes, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” realized that a little time off might make the future a bit clearer.

Long time gone
Four years, though, is a lifetime in the land of Britneys and Snoops.

“We were without a record deal, and it just seemed to be the right thing to do,” says drummer Phil Leavitt from the group’s tour bus somewhere in Manhattan. “We realized that it could be a hazardous decision – any band that takes time away knows that it can be risky – but it was important for us to do different things, take a look at our priorities and when we someday got back together, things might make more sense.”

Leavitt, along with bassist Joie Calio and mercurial guitarist Michael Gurley, went their separate ways,. staying in the music business either working on solo projects, in other bands or, in Leavitt’s case, joining the Las Vegas company of Blue Man Group. But in 2002, they were offered one reunion gig and, ultimately, they decided to take the plunge once again by reuniting full time the next year.

“It felt good working together again, and we decided that what we needed to do was to go out and reconnect with our audience,” says Leavitt. “Instead of trying to go into the studio or write, we wanted to hit the road for a year, get out and do what we really, really love doing, and that’s playing in a live setting. That’s what we are, a rock ‘n’ roll band, and good rock ‘n’ roll bands play live.”

‘Throwback rock band’
And, make no mistake, the California-based dada is simply a great live band. They don’t get the press, they don’t get the airplay and they don’t get video exposure, but their soaring harmonies, crackerjack musicianship and expansive, adventurous improvisations are riveting.

“We are a throwback rock band,” Leavitt say. “We love to get out there and bang it out together. I’m not going to trash others, but the reality is that there are no bands out there anymore. There may be one guy who is the focus of the group, but that interplay and the need to explore the musical limits doesn’t seem to be there. I don’t know what motivates other groups, but for us it’s to be out there playing and having some fun. It may sound corny, but I like these guys, and that’s why we’re doing it again.”

The group put out their first record in five years, “How To Be Found,” on their own label, Blue Cave Records, earlier this year. It’s a collection of tracks that they recorded in 1998 during the sessions for their last effort.

“While it doesn’t represent what we’re doing right now, we wanted to have something fresh out for fans while we toured,” Leavitt says. “People always want to hear new music, and we think these tracks represent the best of songs we had in the vault.”

This week, Blue Cave is also releasing re-mastered versions of the group’s first three records: “Puzzle,” “American Highway Wallflower” and “El Subliminoso.” All have been expanded with extra cuts. The group also put out an all-encompassing live record, “Live: Official Bootleg (Vol.1).”

“Listen, we’re pragmatic, and we have no illusions about our place in the pop music world,” Leavitt says. “But I also know that we have carved a niche for ourselves and that we’ve developed an audience who really believe in what we do. We have seen that on this tour-people are coming out because they remember us and like what we do. Ultimately, we’re going to make another record, hopefully more than one, and build on our body of work. When all is said and done, you have to be proud of what you do and, let’s face it, this is my life’s work. Up to this point, it’s been really good, but I do believe that it can get better.”

- Ken Capobianco

The band dada is living a lesson for all bands: Dropped by MCA, the Los Angeles-based musicians fought the label to gain control of the unreleased tracks they recorded. Then, they put out their own darned album. And, as the San Jose Mercury News pointed out, Wilco did the same thing, after getting dumped by Warner Bros. So, keep at it, dada.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

There’s no finer company to be in than Wilco. Not only did dada release one sparkler of an album, “How To Be Found,” the band has embarked on a carefully planned tour that comes through our area for two whole nights: July 15 and 16 at The Saint, 601 Main St., Asbury Park. You won’t hear “How To Be Found” on crummy radio stations (meaning most radio stations…), but you will if you tune in to Brookdale’s 90.5 The Night or other indies. The album presents the same Beatles-by-way-of-The-Smithereens sound that earned dada a modicum of fame in the early ’90s, when the band had a hit in “Dizz Knee Land.” Harmonies are clean, lyrics are smart, melodies ring. You can buy “How To Be Found,” and reissues of the band’s earlier albums, at www.dadatheband.com. Admission to the shows at The Saint are $18 at the door each night, or $30 for both nights. Opening bands for July 15 have not yet been announced, but on July 16, dada will be joined by No Soap Radio and Stereosoul. For more info, call The Saint at (732) 775-9144.

- Kelly-Jane Cotter

Source: Asbury Park Pess

As you may know, Fair St. Louis is making an effort to attract contemporary rock fans on July 4, with Saliva and the Wallflowers playing on the main stage. But that approach is nothing new at Laclede’s Landing. This year, the Bud Light Rockin’ on the Landing lineup features an array of local and national acts performing on four stages. Local acts will be featured at the President Casino, Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn-Gateway Arch Stages, and national acts will headline at the Bud Light Main Stage at Second Street and Lucas Avenue.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

Five for Fighting is the Main Stage headliner on Saturday, and the Gin Blossoms close out the event on Sunday – both starting after the Fair St. Louis fireworks displays conclude at 10:30. But there will surely be plenty of Main Stage musical fireworks earlier on Sunday evening, when dada plays from 8:15 to 9:40 as a prelude to the real pyrotechnics at the riverfront.

The West Coast-based rock trio is still best known for its 1992 hit, “Dizz Knee Land,” and many rock fans might be forgiven for thinking dada broke up in 1999. But the group reunited in 2003 and has been touring virtually non-stop ever since – pausing only to record a new disc, “How To Be Found,” released in early March.

On the new recording, bassist Joie Calio, guitarist Michael Gurley and drummer Phil Leavitt blend powerhouse instrumental technique, strong three-part harmonies and well-crafted, witty original compositions, creating a distinctive aural identity for the band – while still exploring a wide range of musical styles.

“As a band and as writers, we really don’t adhere to one sound and one style,” explains Calio, speaking from his home in Washington state. “We tend to float around and experiment. For example, Michael’s guitar playing has a strong jazz influence, so he figures out ways to fit that into his rock overview.

“But it’s definitely a double-edged sword. Radio and the record business tend not to like an eclectic approach. They want something that fits a formula.”

Despite dada’s eclectic approach, Calio asserts that the group does have an identifiable sound – one that’s been developed through years of playing together, and through a strong emphasis on songwriting.

“We’ve been playing together off and on for more than two decades,” states Calio. “Michael and I started back in high school in the late ’70s. And even back then, we put our emphasis on writing songs. I’ve always thought that songwriting was the weakest link in any band. That’s because bands break up when they run out of good songs. You see it all the time.”

In addition to the band’s new CD, dada is reissuing remastered and expanded versions of the group’s first three recordings – “Puzzle,” “American Highway Flower” and “El Subliminoso” – on July 13.

“We always recorded more songs than we could put out on a CD,” says Calio. “And there were quite a few that I always wished we could have included on the original releases. Now we’ve got that opportunity. And it’s also going to be great to have these three recordings back in print. It’s like reclaiming your past.”

- Terry Perkins

Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch

When Joie Calio and Michael Gurley took the stage for the first time together, opening for Mary’s Danish at the Coach House in 1991, little did they know what the future held for dada.

The band – completed several months later with the addition of drummer Phil Leavitt, and which has never boasted any other lineup – has developed one of rock’s most passionate followings.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

And the fact that it took a hiatus from June 1999 until March 2003 despite never officially breaking up only seemed to enhance its well-deserved reputation. In addition, “dada Live: Official Bootleg, Vol. 1″ (recorded live at the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana last July), was released by Orange County’s Coach House Records and marked dada’s first new commercial release in five years. Saturday night, dada will come full circle when it records material at the Coach House for its second official bootleg CD.

So, while the band will undoubtedly feature classics such as “Dim,” “Dizz Knee Land” and “Ask the Dust,” look for new songs from its recently released album, “How to Be Found.”

“There is no other show for us like the Coach House; it has all the emotions of being the first show,” said Calio in a recent phone interview from Jacksonville, Fla., in the midst of a lengthy tour that includes more than a dozen states this month.

“We were never that big in California, but we’ve done really well at the Coach House, and it’s funny because it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s a very good synergy between us as a band and the Coach House as a venue.”

For fans who have seen the band’s shows outside Orange County, such as at the tour kickoff at the Whiskey in Hollywood in February, it’s clear the band usually performs before audiences that stand. The Coach House doubles as a restaurant and is a challenge for a band that depends on crowd feedback.

“There are honestly challenges within that for a band because when people are sitting down there is a little less energy in the room. … But at that place (Coach House) we’ve figured a way to get around that. We walk out on the tables once in awhile; the crowd there gets up on its feet and cheers. The crowd there is just fantastic. Yeah, we really do like playing that place.”

Audiences catching dada this Saturday will get to see something unique in modern rock; musicians who display equal measures of skill as songwriters, virtuoso musicians and singers capable of dazzling with harmonies that recall the magic of the Beatles.

“From the very beginning our attitude was, we’re two lead singers who are going to sing harmonies. “Let’s make them a little bit more complicated or at least a little bit more left of center,” Calio said.

“A lot of what you’re hearing is something where we got lucky. There is something about the sound of Mike’s voice with my voice. It can’t be re-created when I sing to myself, and it can’t be re-created when he sings to himself.”

The band has performed some of its most memorable shows in Orange County, including opening for Sting at the Pacific Amphitheatre shortly after the release of its 1992 debut, “Puzzle,” but Calio said the trio always look forward to returning to San Juan Capistrano.

“It’s like an old jacket when we go to that place … you put it on and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, there’s a reason why I didn’t throw this coat away,’ ” he said. “It always makes me feel good.”

- Robert Kinsler

Although Dada never hit the heights that many critics and fans had hoped when it stormed into the alt-rock consciousness in 1992 the trio has remained active on the alt-rock scene long after many of its contemporaries faded from the limelight. It’s even made a lasting impact on the alternative pantheon with its 1994 ‘Dizz Knee Land.’ Dada was one of the most pop-based (and therefore radio friendly) acts to come out of the alternative boom of the early ’90s.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

If Nirvana represented the pissed-off sum of alternative bands’ anger, Dada was its happy-go-lucky counterpart. Dada built a following around its tight playing and focused songs that were poppy without sounding too polished.

Now over a decade after its debut, Dada continues to rock. The band has maintained its alt-rock sound, which makes it sound slightly out of step, though never out of touch, with up-to-the-minute musical fashions. Dada keeps the college-rock wit and the musical sparks alive in its set even though many of its contemporaries have long since faded.

- Matt Schild

Source: AOL CityGuide: Columbus

There’s a fine line between a band “on hiatus” and an “ex-band,” and guitar Pop trio dada has successfully blurred that line beyond definition with new bands, solo projects and an unexpected comeback after a nearly five-year absence. The band became a sensation after the 1992 release of Puzzle and its infectious debut single “Dizz Knee Land,” which drew natural comparisons to The Police and led to opening gigs for Sting, Crowded House and Depeche Mode. Dada was poised to capitalize on their debut’s three hit singles and half million in sales, but their label, Miles Copeland’s I.R.S. Records, was woefully ill-equipped to do the same.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

Although dada followed up with two strong albums — 1994′s American Highway Flower and 1996′s astonishing El Subliminoso — the band lost steam when I.R.S. foundered after the second album and closed altogether after the third. An MCA contract resulted in dada’s well-received eponymous fourth album in 1998, but the Vivendi/Seagram’s deal the following year cost them their second label and they went on extended hiatus that summer. Guitarist Michael Gurley and drummer Phil Leavitt formed a side project called Butterfly Jones and released their excellent debut, Napalm Springs, in 2001; they’re currently writing songs for their sophomore album. Gurley and Leavitt also record and tour in a Jazz outfit under the name Michael Gurley and the Nightcaps, and Leavitt has drummed for Blue Man Group and the BMG offshoot Uberschall. Dada bassist Joie Calio did A&R work for MCA, formed a solo band project called Candy Apple Black, recorded his debut album and wrote a book. Early last year, dada reassembled for some limited touring, resulting in the Live: Official Bootleg Vol. 1 release and more extensive follow-up touring. The overwhelming response to dada’s return has led to the band’s fifth studio album, the recently released How to Be Found, and now, against all odds, the trio is back together full-time for the first time since 1999. It’s not a reunion because dada never broke up. And it’s not a vacation because they’ve been working like mad. Regardless of what they’ve been doing, it’s good to have dada back.

- Brian Baker

Source: Cincinnati City Beat

Dada loves Hampton Roads. And the feeling, obviously, is mutual. The California trio returns to The NorVa, this time playing with another local favorite Fighting Gravity. What’s Dada been up to? The chops-heavy guitar pop band recently released a new album, “How To Be Found,” which is pleasing fans with catchy tunes and immaculate production. The new tunes break some new ground, but fit comfortably with Dada favorites “Dizz Knee Land” and “Dim.”

- Sam McDonald

Source: Hampton Roads Ticket

WHO: Dada and Ingram Hill WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday WHERE: State Theatre, Falls Church

A band that had its biggest hit more than a decade ago exits the scene for nearly four years and then hits the road to promote a new album. A typical reunion tour, right? But the L.A.-based trio named Dada has always sought to be more than a typical rock band.

Back in 1992, Dada released “Puzzle” on the small, hip IRS Records label (R.E.M.’s first home). That debut sold more than a half-million copies, and its single, “Dizz Knee Land” charted high on alternative radio before denting mainstream pop and rock playlists as well.

Phil, Joie & Michael of dada

The trio — Joie Calio (vocals, bass), Michael Gurley (vocals, guitar) and Phil Leavitt (drums, vocals) — became a critical favorite, blending the pop-smart melodies and beautiful harmonies of classic Beatles with a muscular musicianship that made for high-voltage live shows.

The group toured relentlessly, headlining at clubs and opening big halls for the likes of Sting, Crowded House and Depeche Mode. Two CDs followed — 1994′s “American Highway Flower” and 1996′s “El Subliminoso” — but the IRS label folded shortly after the third CD was released. The trio moved to MCA Records for its fourth CD, simply titled “Dada,” but was evicted when MCA’s parent company was sold and the label drastically cut its roster.

Calio, calling from a tour bus parked in Killington, Vt., said that’s when he instigated the idea of a hiatus. “There was no explosion, no implosion, no arguments,” he said calmly. “We all just decided to take a deep breath. Things were not totally going our way, and instead of fighting it, [we thought] let’s just take a break. There are no rules here. That’s why we became musicians in the first place.”

During Dada’s intermission, Gurley and Leavitt played together in a new rock band (Butterfly Jones) and a jazz trio (Michael Gurley and the Nightcaps), recording independent releases with both. Leavitt also performed with the Blue Man Group and had a short gig with the Gin Blossoms.

“It turned out everyone used the time to benefit their own musical muse,” Calio said. He himself moved to Seattle, worked as a talent scout for MCA Records, recorded an album (“The Complications of Glitter”) and toured as a solo act, including a date at Arlington’s Iota Club and Cafe.

Just as Calio was finishing his solo album, Leavitt and Gurley’s managers proposed two quick Dada gigs opening for the band Dishwalla. As Calio recalled, the three agreed to “just put our feet back in the water.” The crowd was enthusiastic, the music felt great and… “That’s it. The time’s right.”

Dada was back in business.

The State show is part of a six-week tour in support of a new studio CD, “How to Be Found,” which came out earlier this month on independent Blue Cave Records. Dada performs material from all five studio releases and, thanks to the strength of the new material, there’s none of that stale reunion-tour smell.

“We were never the cool band anyway. We never plugged into any scene,” Calio explained. “The plus side now is, we’re not nostalgia. We’re continuing on.”

- Marianne Meyer

Source: Washington Post

The title of dada’s latest album is “How to Be Found,” particularly apt given the band released it after a three-and-a-half year hiatus.

Not that the band needed help to re-establish itself. Testing the waters last year, the band was encouraged when a show in Central California attracted fans from all over the country.

“They seemingly never went away,” says singer and bassist Joie Calio of the group’s followers. “It was one of the happy bonuses when dada did decide to come back.”

Dada plays the Rex Theatre on the South Side on Wednesday.

- Regis Behe

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune Review