Dune Rats act the fool in raucous new video featuring K.Flay

With Dune Rats, every day is worth blowing off work for. The Australian pop-punk trio's sound presents a level of high-functioning mischief that's so full of color and momentum that one can't be angry at it even as it spraypaints a dick on their house. At the same time, there's a sense of real freedom and emotion to the band's new record Hurry Up And Wait that makes it a few ticks more philosophical than your usual party anthem record. This makes the record feel like the other side of the coin of the scathing introspection of a band like FIDLAR (whose Zac Carper produced their first album, The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit) -- still in touch with the ills of the world, but greeting them with a smile rather than a middle finger.

The band's new video, Stupid Is As Stupid Does, is a ludicrous celebration of this idea. The footage sees the band finding a convertible full of cash -- every stoner's eternal dream -- and employing both in the reasonable course of action: eating chili dogs and buying Pokemon hats down on the boardwalk. Along for the ride is alternative singer K.Flay, whose usual solemn tones are swept away by Dune Rats' rip-roaring optimism.

Before watching our exclusive premiere of the Stupid Is As Stupid Does video below, we spoke to Dune Rats about trying to catch their breath in the rat race of their daily lives.

What's been the biggest change you've experienced between Hurry Up And Wait and The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit?

We’re cool to take our time and not rush things. We try not to sweat the small stuff anymore.

Tell me about where the album title came from -- is that something you've felt since dropping The Kids...?

Being in a band there’s a lot of rushing around getting places, then a lot of sitting around waiting for things to happen. For example, we finished this album in 2009 and it’s only just being released :) It’s a play on not stressing too hard on the hurry and taking comfort in the wait.

You have some heavier moments on tracks like Crazy -- do you have a preference between the high-flying party vibe and the more muscular or emotional approach?

We like a mixed bag. Speaking of bags, they cost $350 in Australia so can’t wait to get back to the US… Seriously though, it’s always fun to try different approaches writing music as it often means not writing the same song twice. Crazy, came from being in LA, surrounded by excess and the madness that can foster.

How'd you guys hook up with K.Flay? Her music is overall a lot more melancholy than yours.

We’d known of K.Flay for a while through mutual friends Fidlar, and when we thought of collaborating with someone on this track, she was the first person that popped into our head. Really stoked with what she has done on the track. We met for the first time a couple of months ago when we shot the video and it just solidified the whole vibe of the song - bringing out the best and worst in each other and laughing it off at the end of the day.

If My Bong Could Talk stands out -- tell me about your bong. Does it have a name? How long have you two been together?

It’s a love/hate relationship that sees us constantly breaking up then always getting back together. BTW, its name is Mr. Bong.

You guys seem to be on a steady ascent -- what's something you wanna get under your belt? Is there a place you're dying to play, a musician to work with?

Big Lewis Capaldi fans.. so if you're reading this Lewis?? And.. always wanted to feel the Glastonbury mud deep in our cracks and survive two weekends of Coachella.

Watch our exclusive premiere of Dune Rats' Stupid Is As Stupid Does video below:

Dune Rats' Hurry Up And Wait comes out Friday, January 31, on Rise Records, and is available for preorder.

Catch the band at one of their upcoming North American dates this May:

May

05 @ Rickshaw in Vancouver, BC #
06 @ Gotham in Kelowna, BC #
07 @ Starlite in Edmonton, AB #
08 @ Dicken’s in Calgary, AB #
09 @ Lee’s Palace in Toronto, ON #
13 @ Black Cat in Washington, DC ^
14 @ Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ ^
15 @ Gramercy Theatre in New York, NY ^
16 @ The Sinclair in Boston, MA ^
17 @ Pouzza Fest in Montreal, QC
19 @ Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA +
21 @ The Echo in Los Angeles, CA +
22 @ Brick x Brick in San Diego, CA +

+ - w/ The Flatliners
# - Headline
^ - w/ Millencolin, A Wilhelm Scream