Torrin Daniels Of Kitchen Dwellers On Their New Album, His Favorite Fake Band Names, And The Story Behind His Latest Tour Tattoo
Photo by Josh Druding
It’s the third day of the inaugural Sacred Rose Festival, a day riddled with weather delays, schedule changes and wind gusts that challenged the structural integrity of the three stages. The Kitchen Dwellers have finished their early afternoon set not knowing they’ll be one of the few lucky bands to experience uninterrupted stage time - or no time at all.
Shortly after the band walked off stage, they were asked to take shelter as lightening in the area put a halt to the festival. BAND had been scheduled to talk with banjoist/vocalist, Torrin Daniels, but Mother Nature had other plans. Finally, the weather cleared and the festival gates were re-opened. Daniels was given the all clear to join us for a conversation about the band’s new album, his favorite fake band names, the story behind his latest tour tattoo, and more.
The Kitchen Dwellers just finished their set here at the inaugural Sacred Rose Festival, and I think it went pretty well if I do say so myself.
Yeah, yeah I feel pretty good about it. It was a pretty good crowd for that early in the day - especially on a Sunday. People were rocking out. We had a great time.
Your newest album Wise River was recorded during the pandemic, correct?
Yeah, we sort of all came together during Covid. We were lucky enough to be living in the same town still, so we had a place where we could go work on all these new songs and material everyday instead of being on tour. We got a lot of time to really hone in on each song and serve all the songs really well. We recorded it with Cory Wong after all the lockdown stuff lifted, and yeah we’re stoked on it. We’re pretty proud of it.
Photo by Josh Druding
Do you think that process and recording during the pandemic impacted your sound at all?
I think it sort of honed it in. We’ve always been a pretty weird band. The earlier albums definitely had some 10 or 15 minute songs on them. And, we’re still a weird band for sure, but I think we sort of had time to hone in on whatever our sound is and let it mature I guess.
I’m sure you get this question all the time, but the name Kitchen Dwellers, where did that come from? As a raconteur, tell me the story.
So, we all met in college in Bozeman and we used to go over to our mandolin player Sean's house everyday before we were actually a band and just play tunes. We needed a band name for an open mic at the Haufbrau, which is this dive ski bar in Bozeman that’s an awesome place. We had all been playing in the kitchen everyday because that’s one of the only places that was big enough for us to congregate together and play music. But it was actually the idea of one of the band girlfriends at the time. She threw it out there with a bunch of other names that we were coming up with and that was the one we picked. It sort of just stuck
Photo by Josh Druding
With your knowledge of good band names, I was wondering if you’d maybe humor me and rate some band names that I came up with. On a scale of 1-5, with five being good and one being not so good.
Oh yes. In the same vein, I’ve had an opinion that stupid band names definitely serve you well. People remember dumb band names.
This might be fun then. Okay the first band name I have is:
Dog Blood
Uh, dude, at least 4 if not 5. That’s a pretty solid band name. People wouldn’t forget that. And it’s kind of metal.
Brett And The Cosmic Fries
I mean 3 or 4 for sure. I’m always questionable of a band name that is someone’s name and then something after that. Ya know? Unless it’s a very well known name, I’m always sort of questionable of that one. That’s at least halfway - at least a 3.
Are you coming up with these by the way, or are they actual band names?
BAND: Yeah, I’m just making them up.
Oh, hell yes.
Sheer Miniskirt
5!
BAND: Haha just straight 5!
Amanda’s Crush
Oh, 4 at least. People might think it’s a soda, though.
The Septic Dominators
Oh, 5 dude for sure. Absolutely 5. That’s a Warped Tour band for sure.
Here at Sacred Rose, we’ve seen supergroups like Philco, or superduper groups as we call them. If you had to form a superduper group with the Kitchen Dwellers and one or two other bands, or even just specific musicians, who’s your dream team?
Well, I really love hip hop, and I grew up listening to a lot of punk and metal. Anderson .Paak would be a dream collab. If Andy is playing drums for you, you’re crushing. Oh, and King Gizzard. I love King Gizzard. So, if we could get Stu or Amby or one of those guys.
Photo by Josh Druding
What would you call this superduper group?
That’s a hard one. What’s the one that we always throw out there as our radius clause buster? Our mandolin player always says he has a side project called Uncle Dumpster Snake.
BAND: 5!
Haha, yeah I don’t need anyone else's validation for that one.
Your bad leg of tour tattoo, may I see it?
Yes, you may. That was from a dislocated knee in Charleston. I dislocated my knee on the last song of the night. We were like getting kind of metal with it, and I wasn’t even jumping around really. I was like bent over and head banging, and then I went to get my hair out of my face. I went back and took a weird step and I just turned my leg. All of a sudden my knee jumped over to the side. Then I went down, and everyone thought I just bumped into Joe’s amp or something. So, the rest of the band was just standing around me. I was still playing on the ground, and they were kind of like ‘are you going to get up?!’ Then I went to get up and I couldn’t straighten my leg out, and I was like ‘ope nope, not getting up.’ But, we did finish the song! So, that was pretty punk rock.
We have one last question. Would you indulge me in a game of marry, fuck, kill: Chicago venues? This is a hard question, so you don’t need to feel bad. We love all of these venues: Empty Bottle, Thalia Hall, and Schubas.
Oh man, I actually don’t know any of those venues!
BAND: if you had to based on the names. We’re very focused on names today, so just based on the name.
Okay, I think I would marry Thalia Hall, fuck Schubas, and then kill the Empty Bottle, because you gotta kill the empty bottle.
BAND: That’s the best reason to kill the Empty Bottle I’ve ever heard.
Torrin, thank you so much for talking with us today. Where can we catch you next?
This is our last gig of the summer, technically. But we’ll be at Red Rocks on September 17th with Greensky Bluegrass.
Photo by Josh Druding
Listen to Kitchen Dwellers’ new album, Wise River, which is available to stream on Spotify. For news on the band and upcoming tours, visit their website: www.kitchendwellers.com
