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Detroit power pop rockers DUDE have finally dropped their much-anticipated second full-length release entitled “AUTOBIOGRAFFITI”. Hot off the heels of lead singer/songwriter Tony Muggs’ autobiography of the same name, the album has been in the warmer for over three years while Tony finished his first installment recapitulating his life’s tumultuous experiences. From harrowing childhood experiences and adolescence in Detroit’s local music scene to surviving and recovering from a stroke, Tony doesn’t want to leave anything on the table.
Throughout the album’s nearly 50 minute runtime, a multitude of layers and harmonies can be found on each and every track. Vocal harmonies, guitar harmonies (or “guitarmonies,” as Tony likes to call them), and even piano and organ harmonies come together graciously in all the right places. There’s no filler or padding needed – Tony and his crew took their time to write everything as it would be best fit for each and every song. “You Are So Wonder” pulled me in with its dense unison hook wrapped around the vocal harmonies, colliding into a powerful classic rock-tinged romp. There are no slouches performing on this record (which is impressive given the diverse cast of guests throughout – a testament to excellent arranging skills), but the guitars in general really bring me in, especially on stand-out tracks like lead single “Blue Canary.” I’m enthralled every time a guitar lead comes up, but even outside of solo sections, the rhythm work hauls everything in and keeps it all grounded.
While the majority of the album is rooted firmly in power pop and classic rock vibes, the group isn’t afraid to slow things down and break out the ballads when appropriate, or even the slide guitar on “Devil’s In My Whiskey (Once Again)”. “Own the Day” is a heartwarming number that I feel serves as personal inspiration for Tony as much as it can the listener, sending a suggestion of focus on what’s most important and meaningful instead of the fleeting fancies of life:
“When we waste / All our time chasing gold / Just give it away. Own the Day, Own The Day.”
It might be a purposely introspective collection intended as a companion piece to his autobiography, but these songs stand on their own and as tracks in a whole and complete album. “AUTOBIOGRAFFITI” is a condensed collection of smartly-written and earnest rock tunes that will especially easily lure you in if you love the finer points of power pop. As Tony himself said, “It is my hope that our fans will come back to this album again and again and discover something hidden or new that they’d never heard before in prior listens.”
We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed rockers extraordinaire, DUDE! Greetings and salutations, gang! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Tony: Hello there. The rest of DUDE couldn’t be here so they’ve left it up to me. But here’s the current line up: Stephen Garcia on rhythm guitar & backing vocals, Alice Sun on synth & keys, Mike Latcha “Comin’ Atcha” on lead guitar & Erik Roosen on drums. Hi! I’m Tony Muggs: songwriter/lead singer/Fender Rhodes bassist & all around good guy!
Major congratulations on the brand-spankin’ new release of your remarkable album Autobiograffitti! Tony, what was the genesis of this gem of an album? How did it come into being?
Tony: Wow! What a kind thing to say. Well, the story goes something like this: Back in January of 2016, DUDE had an opportunity to tour Spain for 3 weeks. Now, I’ve been touring in Spain since 2007 (5 times with The Muggs) and boy, do they love their gitty Detroit rock. Now, at the time, I had only released DUDE’s 1st album entitled Kid Gloves. Not a rocking album. We were all set with our tour to take place in November of 2016. So from January to November of that year, I tried to write what in my mind would feel like a classic rock album. I guess you could say that the entire country of Spain is responsible for me writing Autobiograffitti!
How is Autobiograffitti similar to past albums from DUDE such as 2012’s Kid Gloves? How is it different?
Tony: I never anticipated putting a live band together after I released Kid Gloves in 2012. KG was a collection of songs from my mid-20’s & songs I wrote after I got out of the hospital. I had a major stroke that almost killed me at 28 years old. Paralysis? yep! Not able to talk? yep! Fucking nightmare, right? Well, I had to prove to myself I could still sing & write music so a lot of Kid Gloves songs are personal stories. Ex. Angels Looking Over Me was written about me in the hospital & Before The Day Got Away was written about me coming to grips with near death. You get the picture…the very dark, foreboding background…the sky pissing all over me! haha! Shoot – I named the album Kid Gloves because I wanted the listener to treat me with kid gloves! I was still healing. Eventually, I got all the “Oh poor me!” outta my system and I set out to have grand adventures in songwriting and wanted to write a fun, catchy, classic rock-esque album with Autobiograffitti.
Who was the producer on Autobiograffitti and what did the collaboration between band and producer look like in the studio?
Tony: I co-produced it with a good friend of mine, Carl Kondrat. Basement bro-deals dude! For a year and 3 months we got together 3-4 hours one day a week, split a six pack of expensive beers, got high and created. Carl also did some amazing playing on this album in post production. On some songs, I didn’t quite think they were complete so I’d listen to them on headphones while working around the house, imagine a line (be it synth, guitar, harmonies, whathaveyou), bring it to Carl the following week, hum it to him & he’d perform it & then feather it into the song! We had so much fun working with each other that Carl’s going to engineer the audiobook I’m doing for Autobiograffitti (the book) this coming spring ’23 & co-produce DUDE’s 3rd album entitled DestroyIt! I should mention that there were other DUDE’s who recorded this album with me. Big shout out to Todd Glass (drums), Stephen Garcia (rhythm guitar/harmonies), Charlie Palazzola (lead/rhythm guitar), Matt Hammon (lead/rhythm guitar), Ben Kay (lead guitar), Jarrod Champion (upright piano) and Mike O’Brien (bass, acoustic, electric guitar/harmonies). These are all consummate Detroit musicians who I’ve played with over the years!
One of our favorite tunes off of Autobiograffitti is the gem Own the Day! Is there a special story regarding the creation of this little masterpiece?
Tony: I wrote that song when I was 24. I love writing dreamy pop ballads! It’s like a fever dream. A wise, beautiful woman awakes after being asleep from under some spell and sings about the things we all need to hear every once in a while. Words of hope, encouragement and selflessness. We are like flowers that grow in a beautiful way so ‘Own the Day!’ In other words, live in the moment. Appreciate everything that surrounds you and the people who are in yer life.
What differentiates Autobiograffitti from anything else on the 2023 music scene?
Tony: I don’t have a good answer other than I write songs that interest and satiate me, first and foremost. There is no “making it” anymore so I just try to write the best songs I can and hope that I can trick the world into loving them & following DUDE so I could do this for a living. I listen to music every day for hours on end and I can’t compare this to anything in 2023. Maybe Andy Shauf for certain songs? But he is a giant in the music industry. I strive to produce like him. And his songwriting is just wonderful. But my songwriting has so many influences that I love the freedom of writing anything I want and the DUDE’s back me up!
Tony, is there any connective tissue between the album Autobiograffitti and your autobiography of the same name?
Tony: Yes. I’ve planted Easter Eggs in the book and album that cross over. For example, the entire album begins with my great friend Nick Barone from Mac Saturn (Detroit rock band) hammering away on his S Corona typewriter, a nod to the book I was writing at the time while I was tracking Autobiograffitti (the album). Chapter 13 of the book is the title of track 11 on the album, Tomorrow Is Promised To No One. There are lots of lyrics on the album written out that I bolded on the colored sleeve of the vinyl that are clues to what inspire me, musically and pop culturally as well. I could go on but I’d love for new fans to read my book and listen to the album and search for the clues! tonymuggs.com for more info. regarding my book.
A question for all of you: Who inspires you musically?
Tony: I’m into The Pretty Things S.F. Sorrow album right now as well as Andy Shauf’s new album, Norm. But that’s just this week. I’m all over the map from Stevie Wonder, to Emmitt Rhodes, to Big Star, to Ty Segall, to Cory Hanson of WAND, to deep cut, post Pet Sounds Beach Boys and a ton of local Detroit bands who I love too!
DUDE hails out of the beautiful city of Detroit, Michigan! How do those roots inform the sound of the band?
Tony: Detroit is this cauldron of delicious stew, chalked full of different musicians who are all in 2-4 other bands other than the one you are talking to me about (at any time). So, depending on one’s own influence (dude), you can really have fun combining different dudes together and getting a unique sounding live band. So, for example, Alice Sun & Mike Latcha are in the heavy psych/rock band, Sonic Smut. Mike Latcha is also in The Beggars on lead guitar. Alice Sun has this amazing solo album, Qwinn on Spotify & all streaming platforms. Stephen Garcia sings and plays guitar in cover bands like Supercrunch (Grateful Dead) & Slowwave (80’s covers) and Erik is the all around brilliant musician who can play guitar, piano, bass but in DUDE, he plays drums. I’m also Fender Rhodes bassist in The Muggs, Mega Weedge (a WEEN tribute band), Rattlesnake Shake (a Peter Green Fleetwood Mac tribute band) & The Hourlies. Because when yer a Detroit musician, one band just doesn’t cut it! I also think that collectively, we all have the rich history of Detroit music that somehow permeates into our psyche and affects us positively.
On the heels of the release of Autobiograffitti can fans look forward to catching DUDE on the performing/touring circuit in the coming weeks and months?
Tony: Last year, I pushed the DUDE’s pretty hard. We took every festival and show we could so we could get super tight as a band. Mission accomplished dude! Our main priority now is to get back into the studio to track our 3rd upcoming album, DestroyIt. We will be promoting Autobiograffitti this year as well as my book (now that I’m an author) but this next album isn’t gonna record itself!
At the end of the day what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving copious plays to Autobiograffitti?
Tony: I hope this album evokes feelings of “summertime with your best friends” & garners multiple listens as intended by Yer Dear Author! Thanks for the fun questions dude! All my best, Tony Muggs
