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Interview w/ Doug James of 420 Outback

By Stoney ⋅ August 12, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Lokal Loudness and 420 Outback have always had a connection going all the way back to Doug James’ participation in the 1998 launch party to celebrate Lokal Loudness’ transition from “paper” to “cyber”. In the nearly 10 years since, James and the 420 Outback family have popped in and out of the Augusta music timeline leaving a trail of great music, great performances, great fun. So as the band contemplate closing the door on the current chapter of 420 Outback, Lokal Loudness rapped with the previously mentioned Doug James.

LL - I believe the last time Lokal Loudness spoke to 420 Outback was almost 4 years ago when you moved to Toledo. What initially brought you back to Augusta and eventually back to 420 Outback?

DJ - What brought us back was the snow. Ree just couldn’t hang with the snow people in Ohio. As far as 420… we throw around the term family a lot in this band and for a good reason. They are all my brothers and it just feels right to be playing music with those guys.

LL - Oddly enough, as we have this first 420 Outback conversation in that many years, it would appear that you guys are less than a handfull of shows away from what looks to be the closing of the final chapter of 420 Outback. Why the decision this time to put the band to rest?

DJ - I’d stop short of saying we’re putting the band to rest for ever, this is just too much of who we are. But between the 6 members of the band, we’ve got 5 wives, a fiancee, and 9 kids to look after, so playing music inevitably gets pushed to the back burner.

LL - Can you believe it’s been something like 8-9 years since the band first got together?

DJ - We have come a long way.

LL - Now surely 420 Outback has procured a spot in the history of Augusta music at one time being possible THE band on the Augusta music scene. What’s that meant to the band?

DJ - It makes it a whole lot easier to book gigs when everyone recognizes the name. We really appreciate all the love we’ve received over the years from Augusta particularly, but throughout this whole ordeal called 420 Outback, we were the lucky ones who were able to play in such a kick ass music scene as Augusta.

LL - So this will sort of be the end of the second coming of 420 Outback. How would you compare the bands first run and it’s second go this past few years?

DJ - Not much of a difference except for the lack of time this time around. We’ve actually got new material, but no extra time to lay it down.

LL - If you could pick one defining moment in the history of the band, what would it be?

DJ - Hmmmm…. that’s hard. But I just got off the phone with Gabe and he said the defining moment was the night I received my “honorary” red neck. It was about 5 in the morning out in the middle of Lake Murray on this fishing boat with the band and this guy at our show at Black’s Bridge Marina singing David Allan Coe songs while being drunker than all hell. It’s a miracle we didn’t all go to jail that night.

LL - Not only have we seen two chapters in the history of 420 Outback, there was also two slightly different version of your great debut release. While there was talk many times of a follow-up why did we not see and hear a second 420 Outback cd?

DJ - No damn time to finish it. But never say never… We’ve already got 6 tracks written and no one ever said that we would never record it. It’s just going to be a while before we get er done.

LL - Well 420 Outback has always been a talented group of area musicians. Any hints as to what we might see from you guys post 420 Outback?

DJ - The next project is already under construction. All I’m going to say about it is that its going to be a very bluesy experience.

LL - What do you expect your final show in a few weeks to be like?

DJ - Just like every other 420 show. Again I hesitate to say “final” That word just seems so….. final. We expect these gigs to be a blast and y’all can never count out the 420. We’ll be lurking around in the shadows.

LL - What would you like to say to the “420 Family” who’ve hung with you guys all these years?

DJ - Just because we’re not playing every weekend doesn’t mean the family is no more. We will always be a family and when the time comes to play music, we expect y’all to be right there with us, just like you always have been.

LL - Augusta is surely gonna miss 420 Outback. I think we speak for Augusta and all the 420 Outback fans out there when we say thank you for all the great music, live shows and love…and thanks for taking the time to chat with us again!

DJ - The best is always yet to come my friend. Whether 420 Outback or whatever the next project to come down the road. You haven’t heard the last of these fools.420 Outback will be appearing at the Lexie’s Legacy Memorial Scholarship Fund Concert this Friday August 15 at Sky City.

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