Photography Rock and Egg
NYC-native Des Rocs just announced Des Rocs Alive, a 20+ date debut headline tour that kicks off with Firefly Music Festival in September and concludes on November 4 with a hometown show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.
The announcement of Des Rocs Alive follows his breakthrough EP This Is Our Life, which was released via 300 Entertainment in December of 2020. The album’s title track “This Is Our Life” has been streamed 6M+ times and hit Top 20 at Active Rock radio and Top 40 at Alternative radio.
The tour will make stops at iconic venues around the country like The Troubadour in Los Angeles, The Turf Club in Minneapolis, and Antone’s in Austin, TX. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 21 HERE with Filthy Animals and local presales in the days between now and then.
Here is what Des Rocs told us about his persona and music
Tell us about the genesis of your project.
I fell in love with being in bands at a really early age. I was constantly playing shows all over Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, anywhere they’d let me. I’d roll in to these empty clubs and pretend I was playing to an arena with whatever shitty punk band I was in. After a while it became more and more clear exactly what I wanted to do musically, exactly what I wanted to say to the world. Des Rocs was born out of a lot of pain & hard times. Creating a sound that was entirely me and a world I can live in helped me through those trying days.
What is the favorite song you wrote and why?
They’re all my babies & I can’t pick favorites. There are songs though that I kinda fall in love with over & over again.
Who are your all time musical icons?
Tina Turner, Elvis, Prince, Queen.
What are some things to do to keep your inspiration alive?
I constantly (sometimes neurotically) listen to & watch live concerts of those all-time musical icons. Over and over.
Who are you binge listening to these days?
Prince & the Revolution Live from Syracuse, 1985.
Favorite movie or TV show?
Raging Bull.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
It was music made during peak lockdown. I was riding a Citi bike every day to a little room in Brooklyn above a dog food warehouse. We called the place Chernobyl because it was literally an abandoned little office space from the 80s. There were legit like toilets and sinks ripped out of walls and in the middle of rooms.
Do you have any peculiar pre or post show rituals?
Nah I have a weird thing about rituals – if you have a ritual you have to do before every show, then you’re gonna be so mentally fucked if for some reason you don’t get to do it one night.
What’s the future looking like for you?
The future involves releasing my life’s work.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
I was born in the wrong time. I love the look & feel of the 50s, 60s & 70s and all things New York City.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why? I have one in my mind but haven’t gotten there yet, so when I do I will come back around to ya.
What do you think is the best way to make it as an artist nowadays?
Just be yourself. Make music that is true to you and that you love. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing.
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
I would continue the fight to have greater diversity in every facet of live and recorded music
Tour Dates:
September 23-26 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
September 28 – Detroit, MI @ El Club
September 30 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement
October 1 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
October 2 – St. Paul, MI @ Turf Club
October 5 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
October 8 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
October 10 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
October 11 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
October 13 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
October 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
October 16 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
October 19 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s
October 20 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links
October 21 – Houston, TX @ The Secret Group
October 23 – Nashville, TN @ The End
October 25 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Backroom
October 26 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27
October 27 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd
November 2 – Boston, MA @ The Middle East (upstairs)
November 4 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Tickets are on sale this Friday, May 21 at 10am local time. There will be a Filthy Animals Fan Presale on May 19, and a Local Venue Presale on May 20. See HERE for more info.
