by Amanda Beland

Dan Webb and the Spiders is a four-piece rock/punk group. They’ve been playing with different iterations of members since 2009.

Front man and namesake Dan Webb answered a few questions for Spiral Bound about the band’s history and what’s next.

When and why did you start playing music?

I started playing music when I was in 7th or 8th grade. I did it because it appealed to me more than sports and it was slightly cooler than reading comics, (at the time). My first instrument was bass in a band called PROD (PunkRockOverDose) and the first songs I remember learning were Waiting Room by Fugazi, Hawaii by the Queers and D7 by the Wipers, (but we knew it because Nirvana covered it).

Were you involved in other projects before the Spiders?

I sang and wrote songs in a hardcore-punk-kinda band called the Opposed in college. Afterward, when I first moved to Boston, I was in a post-hardcore band called inblackandwhite that I feel still holds up quite well. I also played drums in a band called The Cold Beat that eventually became Nonpareils.

When did Dan Webb and the Spiders start and how has the lineup changed since the project began?

I made the first record all by my lonesome just for kicks and then I recruited Chris Amaral, Dan Wallace and Matt Kenney to bring the songs to life for a live show. We maintained that lineup for a couple years and through the next two LP’s and the first couple tours to Europe. Marc Valois (Blinders) joined the band after Wallace left for parts unknown. We were fortunate to be able to bring Stephen Benson into the fold to play drums when Matt moved out of the picture. Finally, when a wrist injury sidelined Valois for a good chunk of time, Sean McAllister stepped in and has been playing the bass for us ever since. Mike Vera also filled in on bass for a tour before Sean’s time with us.

What’s your discography and how has the band’s sound evolved and changed over time?

LP’s / Compilations

    2009 – S/T – Self-Released

    2010 – Oh Sure – Self-Released

    2011 – Much Obliged – Gunner Records

    2012 – Oh Sure Redux – Gunner Records

    2014 – Now It Can Be Told (Compilation) – Self-Released

    2014 – Einekleineakustischmuzik – Self-Released

    2015 – Perfect Problem – Gunner Records

(Perfect Problem tracks recorded with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, Elio DeLuca at the Soul Shop and Marc Valois at Starlab Studios.)

EP’s / Splits

    2012 – Beach Party Split 7″ – Self-Released

    2013 – Irish Handcuffs Split 7″ – Flix Records

    2013 – Gunner Records Singles Club – Gunner Records

    2016 – Modern Saints Split 7″ – Gunner Records (upcoming)

The sound of the material has changed a lot based on who has contributed to making it. The early records are characterized by a quick and dirty nonchalance. We often would record and mix entire 12 song LP’s over three or four days. After Much Obliged we started to break the recording sessions into smaller sessions and releases and would only tackle two or three songs in as many days. We also became more in control of our actual sound. Especially now, we are very dialed in and use a wide range of pedals to create a vaster sonic landscape. In the old days, we would just get a good sound in a few minutes before hitting record and just use that for the duration of the record. Now we practice changing tones as much as we do chords. So the newest stuff has a lot more depth and dynamics to it. I am really happy with how we’ve grown and what the band has recently coalesced into, although some critics prefer the older material.

Touring seems to be a big thing with the band, can you talk about where you’ve been over the years?

We’ve been very fortunate to work with Gunner Records out of Bremen, Germany. They have put out many records for us and have had us over to Europe five times with a sixth trip set for March of 2016. We’ve played Berlin, Zurich, London, Antwerp, Vienna and every small German town there is. Our annual trip over there is what we work towards as a band. In the states we struggle to draw anyone, but over there we do much better. Plus tiny bands on our level are treated with care over there, so touring is much more comfortable than it is here in the states. Inside the US, we’ve only done one tour and have played a sporadic show here or there outside of Massachusetts. For instance, we have played Chicago a couple times and even made it out to Portland, Oregon once.

What’s next for the band? Are you recording any new songs?

We are planning a split 7″ with a great band from Germany called Modern Saints. That split is timed to be released when we return to Germany for a 17 date tour in March 2016. Half of the tour will have Modern Saints as support and the other half will feature our dear friends, Irish Handcuffs. We also have another eight songs already recorded that we may release on our own as an EP. We are always working on new material as well and hope to get another batch of songs recorded when we get back from tour. We find it’s best to stay busy because bands, like all things, are super fragile. The period of time where all four of us run in tandem could be well shorter than we realize, so best to make the most of the time we have.