The Dogs are Out, and They Are Ready to Rock, Wag, and Roll: Interview with The Living Dogs
North Jersey-based hippie punk trio The Living Dogs: Tommy Hyde, Kaelan Delaney, and Connor Larkin, removed all songs from their previous lineup from their Spotify, replacing them with a live album, marking the band's new beginning. Get ready to rock, wag, and roll to their catchy tunes.
IB: Hi, it's so nice to talk with you all today. Could each of you introduce yourselves and say which instrument you play in the band?
LD: Tommy Hyde: guitar/vocals. Kalean Delaney: drums/vocals
Connor Larkin: bass guitar/vocals.
IB: How long have The Living Dogs been together? And how did you meet and start the band?
LD: The Living Dogs have been a band officially since the start of 2024, but the lineup has continued to switch. Kaelan has been a constant for over a year now, and Connor is the newest member, having joined only this summer. But he gets it. He’s a Dog.
IB: How did you come up with the name The Living Dogs? Were there any other names on the drawing board?
LD: There were a lot of bad names. Elektric Kool-Aid, The Mop-Up Crew. Just plenty of garbage. But we landed on one that sounds cool and has depth. It comes from an old saying: “It’s better to be a living dog than a dead lion.”
IB: Do you all have dogs or any other pets?
LD: Kalean and I each had childhood dogs.
IB: What are their names?
LD: Lucy and Jezabel.
IB: Besides music, what are some of your other hobbies?
LD: I read a lot. I journal. I go to dive bars and write about what’s going on around me.
IB: What was the first venue you ever performed at?
LD: I played Forge Winery in Pittsburgh when I was 22. I’m a late bloomer.
IB: When you are on stage, what are you each thinking as you are performing?
LD: We’re just in it. We’re not in our heads, at least more than any one of us has to be for a moment to get out bearing right. I’m in the song, and I am the song, and that’s it.
IB: Would you rather perform in front of a large crowd, such as 1,000 people, or a smaller and more intimate crowd of 100-200 people?
LD: I don’t know. A large crowd sounds fun. But maybe I’d get sick of it. But probably not. But a crowd of 15 people can be an absolute joy if the energy is right.
IB: How often do you go out and perform? And what is your most frequented location?
LD: We get out and perform as much as possible. The Meatlocker in Montclair is a pretty regular spot for us. Check out our socials for when and where we’re playing next.
IB: Tommy, how long have you been singing? Did you take vocal lessons, or just learn to sing yourself?
LD: I’ve been singing since I was a little kid, and I would annoy my mom and brother in the backseat of the car. I took lessons once a week for a month or two back in college.
IB: Who are each of your favorite artists, and your inspirations?
LD: Kurt Cobain (duh) and Elliott Smith for me. Connor loves Death Cab For Cutie, highkey. Kaelan lives off Ween.
IB: Who are the people that support you the most?
LD: We want to give a big round of applause to Devin Delaney. We couldn’t do this without him. Chloe Hand as well. And you, Bella. Coming to our shows and supporting us means the world.
IB: After seeing you guys perform live, I noticed that you have an immense amount of energy and stage presence. Where do you get this energy from?
LD: There’s something inside us that wants to be heard. We have to let it out. Raw, unviolated emotion just waiting to be liberated. Big hearts will explode on stage. Just look at Tiny Tim.
IB: How do you typically write and record your songs?
LD: I just pick up the guitar and start playing and singing. It’s half-conscious. Something’s trying to get out, and I’m just midwifing.
IB: Is there a main writer for your songs, or do you contribute to them equally?
LD: I write most of the lyrics and chord progressions. With a certain tone in mind, my bandmates then go ahead and help flesh them out. But Kaelan writes as well. And we’re starting to add his. And they are heartfelt, genuine, well-structured certified bangers.
IB: Can you tell us a little about the headspace you were in while writing your first single, “Shit For Brains”?
LD: I was getting over a relationship that ended pretty badly. Infatuation with a cold-hearted woman who ultimately cheated on me without my knowing, of course. And I felt so dumb about it. Knowing it couldn’t work but still being stuck in love. That’s where that song came from.
IB: I have seen you perform “Shit For Brains" quite a few times now. How do you think your performances differ from when you first performed it to now?
LD: Having this beast of an instrumental section behind me genuinely gives new life to the song. I’m also just a much better performer now than I was when I first wrote it. I think it’s better now. Like polishing a gem.
IB: One of the lines in that track is “another dog, another bone.” How often do you reference dogs in your music? And is this something you intentionally do, drawing the theme to your band name, or is it unintentional?
LD: It's frequent enough. I just can’t help it. Sometimes that’s just what pops out, and it’s the result of the same core that brought the band name out in the first place. Thus, it fits.
IB: Your most recent single, “Nostalgia,” definitely has a nostalgic lo-fi vibe to it, and it feels very different from your other originals. What inspired this change?
LD: This was more incidental than anything. It has to do with the lineup at the time and our producer and me going back and forth attempting to get something
IB: What is one song you wish you wrote?
LD: "If I Needed You" by Townes Van Zandt.
IB: I notice on your website that you have quite a few original songs, one of my favorites being “Real to Me,” yet only two are recorded. Do you plan to record and release them anytime soon?
LD: We have our debut scheduled for this Fall. We’ll have all our music inevitably, soon.
IB: Your band has had a few shifts in members since first formed. How does today's lineup differ from your lineup a year ago, and before?
LD: The lineup is different. We now have our own sound that we’ve honed in on. The band isn’t being pulled in a bunch of different directions anymore. With the present lineup, there’s a clear picture that we’re painting. And that’s just the result of previous members rightfully leaving to pursue their own vision, and current members joining because they see the one shared vision. I’m very happy with the current lineup.
IB: Your band has had a few shifts in members since first formed. How does today's lineup differ from your lineup a year ago, and before?
LD: The lin
IB: What else can we expect to see in the future from The Living Dogs?
LD: Our debut album. Multiple follow-ups. Consistent tours and a growing immersion into the grassroots music scene.
IB: It was so great speaking to you all. I wish you the best of luck!
LD: Radical
Stream The Living Dogs Live vol.1 (Live at Autodidact 4/11/26) below!
Credits:
Composition, Guitar, and Vocals: Tommy Hyde
Composition, Bass, and Production: Andrew Ghaleb
Composition and Drums: Kaelan Delaney
