SMALL TALK AT SLAM DUNK WITH THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
by Ollie Hayman
We’re here with The Dangerous Summer here at Slam Dunk South! One of the first acts to kick off the Slam Dunk weekend, and they were absolutely fantastic! First up is AJ from The Dangerous Summer, talking about how this was the best show they ever played!
The Dangerous Summer
How was your first show of the Slam Dunk weekend?
AJ: It was incredible, man, I had such a good time. What a good crowd, opening up the day, people were feeling it, people were gearing up.
How was it being on the main stage?
AJ: It’s so sick. It’s just so nice that they still let us play, because I’m like “we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy,” so yeah, we love it.
Who are your influences in music?
AJ: Oh my God, I love so many bands, Kings of Leon, Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World, The Killers, Underoath, I mean, the list goes on.
What’s the best show you’ve ever played?
AJ: I don’t mean to suck up, but I’ll say today was the best. I had such a good time, it was such a good crowd. I love Slam Dunk, and it was nice to play some new songs. We played some new tracks off of our new album coming out next month.
What are you most looking forward to about the upcoming album and can you tell us anything about it?
AJ: I just can’t wait for people to see the whole story. It’s an eclectic record, there’s some heavy, there’s some soft, there’s some emotional, there’s a little bit of everything, so I just can’t wait for people to be able to feel what it really is – the whole picture.
What’s your favorite song that you’ve ever written?
AJ: I’d say The Permanent Rain was really cool. It was a magical thing. It lives in this other dimension, it’s pretty wild.
What do you like the most about the UK?
AJ: I would say the people and the gigging culture. People love rock music, they love going to the gig. You know, in America I feel like it’s a little pretentious sometimes – the scenes. But here, for example, we had this dude who’s having his 60th birthday here at the festival, rockin’ the fuck on. You get an eclectic group of people, people who just want to hear good music live. I love it.
You had a hiatus from 2014 to 2017. How did that affect you guys as a band? Did you still write? Did you still keep in touch through that?
AJ: Yeah, the hiatus really taught us that when you die, you live again. I think it really makes us appreciate all of this so much. Every show, every second of it, you just look around and say “thank God I’m here, thank God I’m here”. I’m here with you, – it’s incredible, it’s incredible.
The Dangerous Summer will release their new album GRAVITY out 21st June via Rude Records.
You can catch the band when they return to The UK this Autumn with tickets ON SALE NOW
TOUR DATES
15th September 2024 – Bristol Thekla
16th September 2024 – Cardiff The Globe
18th September 2024 – Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms
19th September 2024 – Leeds The Key Club
20th September 2024 – Newcastle Tapyard
21st September 2024 – Birmingham O2 Academy3
23rd September 2024 – Glasgow Cathouse
24th September 2024 – Manchester Club Academy
26th September 2024 – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
27th September 2024 – Norwich The Waterfront
28th September 2024 – Brighton Patterns
29th September 2024 – London O2 Islington Academy
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