There’s nothing that makes me happier than heavy bands that put significant energy into making interesting compositions. By that, I mean heavy bands that will let softer, more melodic elements into their songs yet also have the guts to actually sing instead of just scream 100% of the time. Well, Salt Lake City’s Dustbloom is just one of those bands. I stumbled across them kind of on accident. I was unknowingly following Dustbloom’s singer / guitarist Ian Cooperstein on Instagram and he had posted a picture of the amazing cover for art for their excellent debut LP Keeping the Black Dog at Bay. As usual, anything that is even remotely entertaining on Instagram gets a double tap and from there Cooperstein got in touch.
Without any previous knowledge of Dustbloom I gave the album a listen and was straight up blown away! All eight songs on Keeping the Black Dog at Bay were heavy, melodic, and genre pushing. Imagine if Every Time I Die, Portishead, and Deftones all took mushrooms and amphetamines then wondered around the streets of Russia and you would kind of have an idea of what the sweet tunes of Dustbloom sound like (or you can just listen below). Well, as is the case with all bands I enjoy, I wanted to know more about them so I sent Cooperstein and guitarist Christopher Peterson some questions and they were kind enough to answer them.
B.G.M. – Tell us a little bit about the origin of Dustbloom?
Cooperstein – Dustbloom came straight out of the breakup of my first serious band out here in Utah, Arches. Actually, that’s not 100% accurate. Cameron (Jorgensen, drums) and I did a brief acoustic project in between both bands while we auditioned people for Dustbloom. Cameron and I were relatively new to Salt Lake and had a ton of common ground so we stuck together and continue to in several projects.
The name Dustbloom is currently one of my favorite band names. How did you come up with this genius name?
Cooperstein – Thanks man! It’s an excellent name when you get it right. Too often we hear “Deathbloom,””Deathblow,” and I’m pretty sure “Dustbroom” happened once. It was my idea. I’m always keeping notes on ideas, concepts, passages, and invented words. It is one of those invented words that I felt could really reflect what I imagined for the band. A pretty blossom coming from this dusty, underrated and overlooked region. Overtime the music has shifted away from as much “pretty,” but the name still works, it just takes on a different meaning to me.
Dustbloom shares a couple of members with another local SLC band Visitors, do you ever have any conflicts with one band getting priority over another?
Cooperstein – We haven’t had conflicts with Cameron and I’s involvement with Visitors. The other two guys in Dustbloom have pretty full plates so we have never attempted to make it a full time thing. If we did then there might be some conflict, but Dustbloom is pretty chill to work with.
Tell us about the writing and recording process for Keeping the Black Dog at Bay.
Cooperstein – The writing process of KTBDAB was pretty much how we got to know each other after Chris (Jensen, bass) and Christopher joined Dustbloom. At that time we already had 10-15 songs, lyrics and all. In fact, we were halfway through self-recording it as a 10-12 track full length. Bringing those guys in helped focus our sound. In reality, the collection of songs we had didn’t work as a unit and those two guys had way too much to offer to disregard their ability to write music. So we decided to keep a few tunes to rework for the record and then write a bunch of new material for that fit everyone’s collective vision. We sat in a room twice a week 2-4 hours at a time for about 4 months. Next, we did some prep in the studio, but really all the intricacies and such were done self-producing each other during the real recording process. That was the icing on the writing.
As for recording, we were essentially the guinea pigs for Red Light Recording, a studio run by Chris. He moved back to Salt Lake to start the studio with a partner and we were the first guys in, before the official opening. Because we weren’t necessarily on the clock and they got busy with a slew of clients, our attitude went from wanting to pump out a recording in 3 months to wanting to spend forever tweaking it. When the 7 month mark rolled around and we were barely into tracking vocals we finally started to turn the heat up on ourselves, mostly because we weren’t doing much otherwise. The weather was getting warm and we wanted to get back to playing shows and it’s hard to book shows with a released body of material that is only 3 songs that we don’t even play anymore.
Peterson – I don’t remember much from my tracking sessions with Jensen. Haha, We had some fun.
With the LP only being eight tracks, did you consider cutting a few to go with a four to five song EP and saving a couple tracks for the next project?
Cooperstein – It’s funny you should ask that because I think that issue was the source of the only disagreement we’ve had as a band. We had a little more material that we left off simply because even though the record is eight tracks, it’s already like 45 mins. When we started mixing the record we played with the idea of cutting 2 tracks, recording a third, and putting those three on a split. When that fell through, it was hard to convince some of the guys to go back into full-length mode. Honestly, it’s makes sense to release more material less frequently when you aren’t good at marketing yourself. Or maybe not since it’s easier to stay relevant when it seems like you are more active. In that case maybe we should have done an EP. Shit, too late now. Hah!
Peterson – Once we decided on a full length, I feel we wanted a mix of “the best of what Dustbloom was”, being just a couple tracks from what Ian and Cameron had put together prior to Jensen and I joining, and about an EPs worth of new material that was a starting point for us writing together and our sound moving forward. Each song we wrote together, was getting better and better as time went on. I think we’re all getting excited to write again and have a feeling we’ll be concentrating on an EP next.
I love the whole album, but my absolute favorite is track six “Prokofiev.” Do you have any particular favorites? Or do you love them all the same?
Cooperstein – Ooh, good call. That song was more of a bucketlist thing for me. I love when bands like Deftones, Glassjaw, The Dear Hunter, etc… throw a curveball chill track or atypical interlude. We were actually going to make it an interlude, but I couldn’t resist singing on it. I loooove trip-hop, way more than most genres so I just couldn’t leave it alone as an instrumental interlude. My favorites change depending on my mood. Right now my favorite one to listen to is “Prokofiev,” but I’m most stoked when we break out “Thresher” on stage.
Peterson – “Pneumonia” and “Vowelphabet” are my favorites to play live, but my beards favorite song is “Empty Deck,” I think this track shows both the heavy and pretty which I guess makes it Brutiful. I also am really happy with how “Thresher” turned out.
Tells us a little bit about the spectacular cover art for Keeping The Black Dog At Bay.
Cooperstein – That art is from non-other than my beautiful and way-more-talented fiancée. It’s incredible, way beyond what I ever had envisioned. I had a general concept based on the title and she took it and added an infinite amount of depth to it. She’s also a way more talented singer than I’ll ever be. How could I not put a ring on that?
I’ve attended a couple of shows were you opened up for Silver Snakes and another show opening up for Nothing. Both of these bands have put out a couple of my favorites albums this year. Is there any way you can make a Dustbloom, Silver Snakes, and Nothing world tour happen?
Cooperstein – Hell yea. We leave tomorrow actually. SURPRISE! No, but those were tight shows. I wouldn’t rule out touring with them either. I’d love to with each for different reasons. Interesting fact relating to degrees of separation: Just last week, the girl that hid Dominic Palermo (Nothing) from the cops when he stabbed that dude back in the day actually crashed at my house while on tour with her band last week.
What are some of the struggles Salt Lake City bands have when playing out?
Cooperstein -Ugh, you are asking someone more perpetually discontent then most. Good shows are hard. When you play more “grown-up” (non-radio) style stuff people seem to have the mentality of “I’ll see them sometime”. There’s very little desire to be present for a 4 hour show. Maybe it’s a West Coast thing. I don’t recall the same thing happening back east. Promoters can be tough too for a slew of reasons. Many are great, but it’s always a pleasant surprise when stuff is completely drama-free. Always prepare for the worst- same goes with touring not just Salt Lake.
Best or worst thing that has ever happened during one of your shows?
Cooperstein -I’m sure there are others, but probably when the PA at Club Sound took a shit on 3/4 of the miked up stuff on stage during our set to 100+ confused 10 Years fans. I just stood at the edge of the stage and screamed at the audience to a drum beat and maybe just bass for the majority of a 7-minute long song. I think it was a good save, but we might have been more memorable if I lost it or threw my face in my hands and pretended to sob.
Peterson – So far so good I’ve forgotten to tune back once or twice I think.
What are some of your favorite local SLC bands?
Cooperstein -That’s a toughie. I’m a sucker for unique and interesting songwriting so there is a plethora of Salt Lake bands out there that are infinitely talented, like seriously pro+ level, that I may not mention only because of being drawn to that more obscure stuff. Currently I’m listening to Settle Down, Grass, Scalps, Sights, Top Dead Celebrity, Cult Leader, Oxcross, I Am The Ocean, Worst Friends, Yaktooth, Babygurl, The Troubles, Great Interstate, Die Off, Wearing Thin, Subrosa…..I’m forgetting a ton, I know. On the otherhand, we seem to be no ones favorite.
Peterson – Right now my top active SLC bands are probably Die Off, The Troubles, CL, Yaktooth, Visitors, though there are a ton more to choose from. I’m 32 so some older bands that aren’t really playing much any more. Form Of Rocket, Accidente, New Transit Direction, IceBurn, Gaza, Loom, Gods Penis Pistol. I loved the Loom house shows back in the day.
I recently purchased one of your killer t-shirts (the white one) then almost immediately spilled a beer all over it. I think I can save it, but I’m not positive. Are guys bummed at me?
Cooperstein -Get in the fucking corner. How dare you disrespect your culture? Our grandparents didn’t endure a shitty fortnight at sea for that kind of bullshit.
Update: I washed it and the stain came out. Disclaimer: This is my chest.
Is Dustbloom going to do any touring? Any future plans we need to know about?
Cooperstein – For the most part we are relegated to the weekend warrior style tours for the time being. We are in the process of trying to set one up to Nevada. I’d like to explore the region a bit- Washington, Oregon, and Colorado so we will see if that can happen.