Dirty Heads to release new effort

For more than five years, Dirty Heads have been making fans up and down the west coast with their distinctive brand of reggae, hip-hop and folk-influenced party music, as they prepare to release their first full-length album, Any Port in a Storm, which comes out September 23 on EMG through Fontana Distribution.

Produced by Sugar Ray drummer Stan Frazier and Steve Fox [Ashlee Simpson], the album includes the first single, “Stand Tall,” a song that has already been featured in the 2007 Sony Pictures film Surf’s Up, as well as such in-concert favorites as “Chelsea,” “Driftin’,” “Morning Light” and “Everything I’m Looking For.” The disc also includes the late keyboardist Billy Preston, best known for his work with The Beatles, in his last recorded performances before his death. Percussionist Alex Acuna, NIN and Korn drummer Josh Freese, Jamaican dancehall legend Tippa Ire and Indie 103.1 reggae host Native Wayne also appear on the album, which was mixed by legendary Beastie Boys mixmeister Mario C.

“That was like a pipe dream for us,” says the band’s vocalist Jared Watson about the participation of Preston. “We couldn’t believe it when we found out he had heard our music and wanted to play on it. We flew out to Arizona, where we got to meet him and watch him record his tracks. It was surreal.”

Watson and fellow vocalist/guitarist Dustin “Duddy” Bushnell originally founded the group in Huntington Beach, CA, later adding percussionist Jon Jon Orzabal and drummer Matt Ochoa. Rob Cavallo [Green Day, My Chemical Romance] originally signed the band to Warner Bros., but artistic differences led them to leave the label, though they did manage to take their master recordings, which comprise the bulk of Any Port in a Storm, with them. The band later added several new songs for the album’s Sept. 23 release.

“This was the best thing that could happen to us,” says Watson about the split. “We feel we know who we are now musically and know where we want to go. This gives us more control and independence. I like the spot we’re in, with the industry the way it is. It works well for us.”

The group, which went on a national tour with 311 and Matisyahu, has also played dates with Fishbone, Pepper, Slightly Stoopid and Kottonmouth Kings, among others. Their music was personally picked by star Matthew McConaughey to be in his upcoming film Surfer Dude, while tracks have also beenh been licensed for Tony Hawk’s Downhill Video game and the CBS show Shark. Dirty Heads have also been part of marketing campaigns for Etnies Jeans and Vestal Watches.

With their debut full-length about to hit the streets Sept. 23, Jared and his mates are ready to rock.

“There have definitely been a number of ups and downs, but we’re definitely fired up,” he says. “We want to get exposure for this album any way we can… radio, video, viral, Internet. We’re going to hit everything, and tour as much as we can. If we could be on the road all year long, we would.”