The Dexter Romweber Duo
Interview with Dexter Romweber
Words: Shawn Kyle

Appearing:
August 22, 2007
Jack Rabbits, Jacksonville

August 23, 2007
Copper Rocket, Maitland

August 25, 2007
State Theatre, St. Petersburg
Dexter Romweber EDIT 600 words

" Dexter Romweber was and is a huge influence on my music. I owned all of his records as a teenager...his songwriting, along with his love of classic American music from the south, be it rockabilly, country or R&B, is one of the best kept secrets of the rock n’ roll underground." -- Jack White

Former front man for the world famous rockabilly-garage-punk-psycho-surf two piece the Flat Duo Jets, Dexter released his first of nine albums in 1990 to rave reviews worldwide. Now fronting the Dexter Romweber Duo with his sister Sarah on drums, a documentary about his life at film festivals, new records on the shelves, and upcoming shows in Florida, we took a moment to talk to one of the most authentic and influential rock n' rollers in American music.

REAX:  The recent documentary about you and you music, "Two Headed Cow" is an unflinching look into your life and the experience of living rock and roll music. Have you noticed an increased awareness of your history in indie and rock music since its debut at film festivals?
Dexter Romweber:  Shawn, I am kind of distancing myself from the documentary a little bit.  It’s not that I feel so bad about it, it’s just that… I guess I lived it and if people get something out of it, that's fine.

REAX:  I imagine that being documented is an odd situation.
DR:  It's a little hard to take, I'm smoking a lot in it and it was completed at a weird point in my life, you aren't sure how to take it... you wonder how other people are gonna take it. I think it's strange to have a film about you, but I am not putting it down. There were things that I tried to get taken out that the producers wouldn't take out. That was a little hard. There was some personal stuff that I wanted to have taken out concerning the Flat Duo Jets, about the breakup, I tried really hard to have it taken out but they wouldn't listen. You learn to live with it.

REAX:  Your last record, “Blues That Defy My Soul” on Yep Rock, has gotten some great reviews since it came out and is regarded as a return to form for you and your music. There has been some excitement brewing about your next recording. Rumors of collaborators and guest stars range from Cat Power, Billy Bob Thornton, Jack White, Neko Case and even Beck. What can you tell me about your upcoming record?
DR:  Well it hasn't been recorded yet, (laughs) but we're working on it.  We are now putting together material and guest stars, but it will probably be late fall when we start nailing it down.

REAX:  Recently there have been many groups that have set out as just a drum kit and guitar duo with great success.  Many of them state you as a major influence. How do you feel are the limitations and liberties to being a rock n’ roll duo?
DR:  I like other instruments, bass and sax and keyboards but I think drums and guitar are the essence of rock and roll. When you bear it down, drums and guitars are what it’s all about.  When you are in a duo there is no one to fall back on. Sarah and I are doing it 110. We have to work a bit harder when there are less people up there. That can be a plus; we are giving our all.

REAX:  There are certain aspects of spirituality in your music as well...
DR:  It’s tapping into a universal force. Spiritual psychological studies, Indian saints… I read anything I can get. It's just a trek to add substance to life or strip myself bare. It's a strange thing because as an individual you can have anger in you, this life can be very intense.  You can come off of the stage pretty passionate and angry and you just whipped your guitar into whatever state it was in.  You come home and you feel...you feel warrior like, and it's a passionately angry thing... God just adds to it, really.