RICHIE KOTZEN On What Makes THE WINERY DOGS Stand Out In Current Rock Scene (Video)

A three-minute video clip in which THE WINERY DOGS frontman Richie Kotzen talks about the current state of music and where THE WINERY DOGS fit in can be seen below.

Said Kotzen: "I guess the fact that we're a rock band is kind of different, because, obviously, rock is not… There's still rock out there, but it's just something different than it was back when I was a young musician learning to play. So we stand out based on that alone. And also, the band has an interesting DNA, because we have this element to us that kind of comes from this crazy, 'shreddy' kind of over-the-top playing, but we also love songs that you can actually sing and that have melodies. So it's this kind of hybrid of that. By nature, I kind of… When I listen to singers, my favorite singers were all the R&B guys, so that is rooted in there as well. So there's this kind of twisted, little thing that… you normally don't hear that combination, I guess, with what this band does."

He continued: "But I like… I'm not one of those people that disses the current music scene. I mean, the only thing I don't like about it is that less people buy records. That's kind of a drag, because it still costs money to make a record and go in the studio and record it. So if less people are interested in buying music, it just gets harder and harder to exist as a musician for people that are at a level where no one knows who they are, I guess, or whatever, or they're trying to break out. So I think it's more difficult for younger bands to break out. That's the only thing I don't like. But I like a lot of the stuff I hear. I don't know the names of all these bands, but I listen to the radio sometimes, and something cool will come on. Years back, I heard a song that [I went], 'What is that?' I took the lyric and I Googled it and it was THE BLACK KEYS, so I went and bought a bunch of their stuff. And I love Jack White and everything he's put out. So, I mean, there's still really great music out there that appeals to me. It's just kind of a drag that less of the general public are willing to go out and buy a record."

THE WINERY DOGS, which also features drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB) and legendary bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH),released its sophomore album, "Hot Streak", on October 2 in North America on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and in the rest of the world via earMUSIC.

After playing over 100 shows in support of their self-titled debut album, THE WINERY DOGS have just returned to the road to promote "Hot Streak". Their first round of U.S. headlining tour dates kicked off October 3 in Ridgefield, Connecticut at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Shows around the globe are already being planned for 2016.