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The Splints

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Hometown	Woodbridge, VA
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Band Members	Lynn Dials - vocals/guitar Dez - vocals/bass Robert ... » more
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About the Artist

The Splints are a 3-piece Rock n' Roll band out of the Northern Virginia/Washington DC area with heavy punk rock roots and influences. We doubt they'll be mending any broken bones soon. More like shattering limbs left and right.

Lynn Dials, front-man...

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Stillborn

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Achievements

October 2008 Punk/Ska/Psychobilly

September 2008 Hard Rock Music Videos

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Press Coverage

Bone Saw by Bri Arnwine, Buzzbin magazine
Lynn Dials had a vision for rock music and it didn't just end in his mind. When he decided to pursue life as a rocker he formed his very own band, The Splints, and soon began working on writing music for the group. While Sexy bassist/vocalist Nikki Cave has been with The Splints since the beginning...the group has had more drummers than groupies..with 13 skin beaters used and abused. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Lynn and Nikki relocated for a short while to Memphis, Tennessee where they eventually signed to Lightning Rock Records and recorded their debut EP. Dude, this disc was recorded in only six hours! It has seven indie punk tracks that has Lynn and Nikki splitting vocal credits right down the middle. The guitar-bass-drum format used on the EP (with drumming performed by Helmut Ploderer) suits the catchy, hard hitting tunes with stand out tracks including "To The City", "In The Blood", and "Stillborn". While Lynn performs lead vocals on most of the songs and is largely responsible for the indie punk sound found thoughout the EP, Nikki brings a slightly harder and very sexy element to songs "All Day" and "Ain't It A Shame". Nikki's hot voice alone changes the dynamic of the group. The combination of two different types of vocalist within one group gives the trio wider appeal and has the ability to expose their music to a larger audience. And though the contributions of Lynn and Nikki is the greatest feature on the album, Helmut Ploderer on drums. Helmut ties all the pieces together so nicely that it is hard to imagine The Splints without him. Having moved back to the Washington, DC area, The Splints are now, in fact, without Helmut. The latest drummer to join the fray is Robert Cooper and he has managed to make himself at home within the group. Drummer problems aside, Lynn and Nikki are so strong a force together that they can take The Splints to the top by themselves if necesarry. But the ride should be much nicer now that they've found someone to share the ride with.

Rockazine Interview by Sondra Faye, Rockazine
Sondra Faye: What's it like recording inside the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee? Do you think Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson from TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society - GHOST HUNTERS television show) should be investigating for EVP's? Lynn Dials: It's amazing. You're standing there where Elvis recorded his first songs. And Johhny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis-the list goes on and on. I remember looking around when I was recording and feeling a little overwhelmed. Nikki Cave: It was great, they have so many old instruments there and big pictures of Elvis staring at you, They even have an "X" on the floor where he stood when he recorded songs. I definitely think TAPS should investigate, I felt someone watching me when I was going to the bathroom, But then again with Lynn around, I always have that feeling.(joking) Sondra Faye: A lot of bands ask rockazine.com for a resource on the internet where they can go to get new members enlisted in their bands. Since your band has had various drummer switching - what advice can you give? Lynn Dials: Well, we put out ads for drummers on a few different sites, but Myspace is the one where we got in contact with our last two drummers. Justin (Birmann) out in Memphis and now Robert Cooper here in DC. It's just really easy to put the word out and pretty much everyone has a Myspace. However, we got some good responses from www.musiciansforest.com. Nikki Cave: It always seems to take awhile and when we finally start to think no one will respond we get flooded with interest, Just be patient. Sondra Faye: Tell me about Director John Pickle, and your band winning Memphis Indie Film Fest Best Video? Also where can rockaziners see this video? Lynn Dials: John Pickle is a filmmaker out in Memphis. His most notable work, besides our video of course (joking) is this hilarious movie called" The Importance of Being Russell", which he created and starred in as the title character. Justin, our drummer in Memphis was also in the movie, which is ultimately how we hooked up with John. The 3rd annual Memphis Indie Film Festival was held in Oct last year and our video actually won for Best music video out of like 30 entries. We're pretty proud of it. We shot it at an amazing haunted house in Memphis called Nightshade Manor ( http://www.nightshademanor.com/ ). You can check out the video on youtube.com. But we recommend seeing it on our myspace player @ www.myspace.com/thesplints or just click here for "Stillborn" video on Brightcove.tv for a clearer, much better looking picture. Nikki Cave: Pickle is so great to work with. He's fun and it was in no way stressful, He shares a love for dead things with us. Sondra Faye: How important is it for The Splints to be associated with the PUNK genre? Lynn Dials: Interesting question. I mean, punk is definitely at the core of the band, it all stems from it. But, we have other influences and stuff thrown into the mixture. We basically take the punk "format", if that's what you want to call it, and we expand on it. I love old school punk, don't get me wrong, but it's been done over and over. And if you're in a band in 2008 sounding like 1978, more power to you. We're not about that though. We like to try and do something different with it. But, yes I do feel it's pretty important. There is absolutely room inside the wide genre of PUNK for the Splints! Nikki Cave: I think that it's important too. But, It's all in the the way you interpret music. We had a review sent to us recently of our EP and they said that our CD is in no way punk... And we didn't give a Fuck what he had to say, That's pretty punk rock. Sondra Faye: So Lynn, what was the first punk song you played and on what kind of guitar? Lynn Dials: Wow it's been forever ago. I don't really remember...but it was probably either "Beat on the brat" (Ramones) or " Hybrid moments" (Misfits). I know for a fact though, because I still have it, that it was on a black Stratocaster copy. It doesn't play well anymore, but I still have it. Sondra Faye: Nikki, how long have you been playing the bass? Nikki Cave: Well I've been playing for a few years now, at least two. Sondra Faye: Which bass guitar did you use to record with on the Splinte latest CD? Nikki Cave: When we recorded at Sun I think I used my black Ibanez for the most part. It's best for long periods of playing, it's really lightweight. We recorded for six hours, But we finished the EP in that time frame. Sondra Faye: How are you involved in the Memphis Rollar Derby? Nikki Cave: When we were in Memphis I was a skater for The PrissKilla Prezleys. I was in MRD (Memphis Roller Derby) for over two years. We put out a 2008 calendar and I'm Miss June. Everyone needs to pick one up, feel free to leave it on June all year long. (www.memphisrollerderby.com) I think that's why I'm such a happy person, I got to beat the shit out of other girls for years. Sondra Faye: Robert, what Drum Kit are you using and have you only always been playing in Punk Bands? Robert Cooper: Right now I'm playing with a custom D.W. kit. And no it hasn't always been punk bands I've played with. It's been anywhere from jazzy funk, to heavy hitting rock to hiphop to well... you get the picture. But punk has always been a staple. Sondra Faye: Thank you for the interview, and myself and the other staff rockaziners will try to get the word out about your future gigs! Nikki Cave: Thank You! Lynn Dials: We appreciate it. Band Web site: www.myspace.com/thesplints Band Members: Lynn Dials : Vocals, Guitar Nikki Cave : Vocals, Bass Robert Cooper : Drums Photos Courtesy of: Don Perry and Dan Ball Label: Lightning Rock Records interview posted January 24, 2008

The Splints EP Review by J. Sohn, Banned Promotions
The Splints area straight-up, solid rock n' roll band. Sure, they are a punk band, but these "punks" have built a strong and sturdy foundation on rock. Lynn Dials and Nikki Cave both have voices reminiscent to singers from the past, but their originality shine through and you can't just come out and say they sound like 'so and so' or 'you know who.' "Ain't It A Shame" is a nice bluesy jam with that extra special kick to it. "To The City" is one of the requested songs on my radio show over the past year and I am always happy to include it in a broadcast. The song has a nice, thick muddy sound combined with a sort of blase' attitude and sneaks into your memory bank without notice. All of a sudden you'll be standing in line at the store or doing something and catch yourself singing the tune to yourself. "Stillborn", makes me want to grab a seat at the bar and enjoy a nice, frosty brew. The best thing about this CD is there is no downtime; with every song offering its services to be your new favorite track. We owe a thank you to The Splints for offering a disc worth listening to over and over again, with out feeling the urge to hit the skip button.

Punk Globe Magazine interview by Kim Friederich, Punk Globe
Check out this highly addicting group. Coming to you out of Washington, DC The more you listen to their music, the more you want. Don't say I didn't warn you... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Punk Globe: How did the band form? Lynn Dials: A few years back I was just sort of writing songs and recording them and basically realized that this is what I wanna do,this is what the band can be. And then Nikki Cave came into the fold and a few drummers later we have Robert. That's the story in a nutshell. Nikki Cave: Yeah that was so long ago. I think at that point all I knew how to play was a few Weezer and Pixies songs. Punk Globe: "Love Letters and Broken Bones" was recorded by engineer Steve Albini (Pixies, PJ Harvey, Stooges, Nirvana fame). How did that come about? N.C: It was so unplanned, we were working on new songs and our label contacted us and asked if we wanted to go record with Steve Albini and we were like, are you serious? How could anyone turn that down. L.D: Clint Covey, the owner of our label Lightning Rock Records set it up. So, we headed up to Chicago to Steve's studio Electrical Audio, which is also where he lives so that was interesting. Robert Cooper: Yeah, it was awesome! I got to sleep in the main control room. It was like I was in some weird time machine. Dead silent with a million lights. Oh yeah, and used his shower and toilet! Punk Globe: Tell us about shooting your video with Memphis filmmaker John Pickle -- and where did you shoot it at? N.C: It was so much fun, there were severed heads hanging from the ceiling and a gutted pig. I remember Pickle called me after we shot and said, "Shit Nikki I just spilled an entire can of Coke on all the footage were gonna have to reshoot." and I was so OK with that because it was so much fun. When I found out he was joking I was slightly disappointed because I wanted to see Justin light his drums on fire again. L.D: Yeah, it was a lot of fun. We shot it at an actual haunted house. This guy who was involved in horror movies out in LA brought all his props and gear and stuff out to Memphis and set up shop. It's a really kick-ass haunted house, too. It's called Nightshade Manor. Punk Globe: Recording session at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. What was it like to work in such a famous studio? (Did you see Elvis?) N.C: It was such an amazing experience. It still has the original flooring and ceiling tiles. We were so used to being there already, we had friends who worked there. And funny enough they were my clients when I sold AFLAC. L.D: Yeah, we recorded our first EP there. I'll never forget it. To stand and record vocals in the exact same spot Elvis Presley did was pretty damn cool. They still have all the vintage gear in there too. Punk Globe: You recorded "Love Letters and Broken Bones" in about 6 hours. That's pretty impressive for modern day recording. When it's typical to sometimes take a month, at least -- and some take 15 years and 13 million dollars. How did you lay down the tracks so fast? R.C: Well, we started writing most of the songs about a month or so prior to recording. So, we were pretty well rehearsed going into it. And, Steve IS a magician. N.C: We are such firm believers that an album should sound as close to a live performance as possible. We all have such great chemistry together that it just totally flows. We did almost everything in two takes. Plus, Steve is so awesome we didn't want to suck in front of him. L.D.: Yeah, we just recorded everything live, overdubbed the vocals and then mixed and called it a day. Punk Globe: What's coming up for the SPLINTS this coming year? R.C: We plan on writing new material. And possibly releasing a full length. L.D: Yeah, and just playing as many shows as we can. Including road shows. In fact, we have a good chunk of road shows on our schedule now so people should definitely check it out and see if and when we might be coming to their area. Punk Globe: If you could work with anyone in music history, who would it be and why? L.D: Wow, that's a good question..and a tough one. I'd have to say Elvis, Pixies, Mike Patton, it would be fun to create something with that guy, he's a musical nutcase...and PJ Harvey because she's raw and just writes really damn good songs. R.C: Zeppelin, Sonic Youth, Pixies..all very creative musicians. N.C: Hands down - Elvis. Nick Cave is a damn close second. Punk Globe: Why the move back to Washington? D.C: And how were you received when you came back? L.D: Well, actually the germ of the band started out here, like writing songs, recording and a few attempts at forming a full band,which for whatever reasons just didn't pan out. But the band got its live debut and first following out in Memphis. So, when we came back to DC we sort of had to start over. But our first show in the DC area went very well and we've just been going ever since. Punk Globe: The logo design contest is it over, and was it successful? L.D: That was pretty funny. As far as people actually sending in designs yeah I guess it was a success.But we never really found anything that we were looking for. So, I suppose it's not over..if anyone wants to send in a design, feel free. N.C: My favorite was the stick people getting eaten by sharks and they had little thought bubbles that said "the Splints Rock" or something like that. Punk Globe: Where can people find out more about THE SPLINTS? LD. There's our website, www.thesplints.net where you can find tour dates, lyrics, etc. Our myspace page @ www.myspace.com/thesplints. Also check out www.lightningrockrecords.com. And thanks! See ya at the next show.

"Love Letters And Broken Bones" EP Review by Sharla Cartner, Punk Globe Mag
The Splints are a grunge punk rock trio from Washington DC. "Love Letters and Broken Bones" (EP) is their second release. The infamous Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Stooges, The Pixies and many others) worked with The Splints on recording "Love Letters and Broken Bones." The Splints influences include Sonic Youth, The Pixies and L7, which they successfully infuse into their own sound. The Splints music reminds me of many amazing 90's bands but what has me excited is the fact that they don't replicate these bands. The Splints have their own original sound and songs. Their music is like a punk, grunge, rock'n'roll aneurysm exploding in your brain and delivering electrifying shocks of orgasmic pleasure to your nervous system. Love Letters and Broken Bones" is loaded with distorted and screaming guitar riffs, contagious melodies and kickass solid drumming. The deep sexy female vocals along with the raspy male vocals grind out the infectious lyrics and unite in the chorus of the song, "Baby Took My Heart Out," adding yet another dimension to this kickass band. The song "Linoleum" is a fucktastic tune and probably my favourite track. "In a system that's run on lies." The tune, Mean," sends chills down my spine as Lynn Dials seems to channel the spirits of old and infuses them into his own vocals creating his own unique gritty vocals. "Prick" and "Red Hands" are moshin' tracks that explode raw energy and just well.......KICKASS! Check out The Splints and get your copy of "Love Letters and Broken Bones" the EP NOW! www.myspace.com/thesplints http://www.thesplints.net/

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