ACL preview: Back Door Slam

Back Door Slam is from the Isle of Man, playing ACL Fest with other bands. Who will interview them? That Other Paper can.

That Other Paper What can we expect from your show at ACL?

Davy Knowles We’d like to think you could expect some cool, original blues/rock from our gig at ACL. A vintage kinda sound that draws influence from people like Rory Gallagher, Cream, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Free — with hopefully something new mixed in. But come and check us out and decide yourself!

photo / Bill Palmer Back Door Slam 

TOP Who are you excited about seeing at the festival?

DK Bob Dylan, Joss Stone. I think our drummer, Ross, wants to marry her. Damien Rice. There are loads of artists who we really admire that are playing this year.

TOP When you come through Austin, what are your favorite things to do?

DK Unfortunately we don’t always get so much time to wander round Austin as we’d like. But when we do get time we love browsing around the vintage guitar stores, chilling out at Barton Springs is always great, and Sixth Street is good fun.

TOP If you were actually from the ’60s, who would you want in your band?

DK Wow, hard question. Maybe sitting in playing rhythm guitar for someone like Sam Cooke would have been great — I love that smoky southern soul kinda sound. Playing in the ’60s would have been something special. So much great music came out of that era.

TOP So what’s the lowdown on REO Speedwagon? We need dirt.

DK The guys from REO are really down to earth kind people who put on a great show — but you knew that already.

TOP What makes a live show great?

photo / Bill Palmer Back Door Slam 

DK I know a live show is great when you get so lost in the night that you lose all aspect of time — when the artist has you so captivated you don’t want to move. The first time I got that feeling was watching Robert Cray — one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. As far as what makes one of our shows great from a performer’s point of view is when the audience is really into it. I seem to really draw off the audience reaction.

TOP Do people constantly ask you where the Isle of Man is?

DK Yes they do! Most of the time people think we come from the Isle of Wight. A lot of people in England think this, too. But a few people have heard of the TT races, and some know that the Bee Gees grew up over there. Sometimes it’s just easier to say, “We’re from the UK.”

TOP So why should we come see you at ACL?

DK People should come and check us out because playing to an empty room hurts. If people are unsure, check out our MySpace and see what you think. We have a great time playing, and hopefully the audience has a great time listening.