In 2013, pop punk sweethearts The Dollyrots reproduced. But their new baby didn’t slow them down: they just brought him on tour. Thus the title of their upcoming live CD/DVD, Family Vacation: Live in the Los Angeles.
Released on March 11, 2016, Family Vacation is a concert film with a companion live album that captures The Dollyrots on their 2015 summer tour with long-time roadmates Bowling For Soup. It’s 40 minutes of pure rock frenzy, harnessed by filmmaker Ian MacLeod and delivered as both a video/audio download and deluxe double disc set.
The term “family” not only describes singer/bassist Kelly Ogden, guitarist Luis Cabezas, and their baby River, but also the extended family of Dollyrots fans, who supported the creation of this live CD/DVD by crowdfunding it on PledgeMusic. Those who contributed to the project received the film and album weeks before the public street date, and were also privy to some special extras, including a bonus studio EP and exclusive memorabilia. As Kelly puts it, “There are a lot of fans who might never get out to a Dollyrots show in the flesh, so we did our best to bring the experience to them. The only things missing are the ringing ears and sweaty hugs…but other than that I think we nailed it!”
Since their formation 15 years ago, The Dollyrtos have played over a thousand shows and released five studio albums, but Family Vacation is their first ever official live record. After releasing material on both Lookout! Records and Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records, the band decided to go completely independent for their last few releases, and 2014’s Barefoot and Pregnant (released through the band’s own label, Arrested Youth Records) enjoyed a #7 debut on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart. They hope their fans will similarly embrace Family Vacation, which comes on the heels of multiple US tours in 2015 and a three-week tour of the United Kingdom with Bowling For Soup this past February.
Screaming, staying up all night, and vomiting everywhere: Family Vacation shows that punk rock and parenting aren’t so different after all. And it stands as proof that just because you grow up doesn’t mean you have to stop being awesome.
Feed Me Pet Me
The Dollyrots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're always kinda angry at me
Inside their paws
They hide the razors they wave slowly
They never pause
From giving me some sweet attention
On skin it gnaws
Ooohh, look at the face she's making
Ooohh, don't bother her she's waking
FEED ME, PET ME
FEED ME, PET ME
FEED ME, PET ME
MEOW
My pets with claws
They always tell me how to treat them
By treat I mean
The kind you give to praise their doings
They never pause
From giving me some sweet attention
On skin it gnaws
So much that now I never mention
Ooohh, look at the face she's making
Ooohh, don't bother her she's waking
FEED ME, PET ME
FEED ME, PET ME
FEED ME, PET ME
MEOW
The Dollyrots's song "Feed Me Pet Me" is a playful and witty take on the relationship between humans and their pets. The song revolves around the singer's pets with claws, who are always somewhat angry and demanding of their owner's attention. The lyrics describe the pets' behavior as they paw and scratch for attention, often using their sharp claws as a weapon. Despite this somewhat aggressive behavior, the pets crave affection and praise from their owner, who is all too willing to give in to their demands. The repeating refrain of "Feed Me, Pet Me" suggests the cat-like nature of the pets, who demand to be catered to and doted on by their human caretaker.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted ode to the pet-human relationship, highlighting the ways in which our pets can be both demanding and incredibly endearing. It also pokes fun at the idea that pets can often be seen as somewhat of a luxury item, demanding time, money, and energy from their owners.
Line by Line Meaning
My pets with claws
The animals I keep as pets have claws
They're always kinda angry at me
They seem to be somewhat upset with me all the time
Inside their paws
The razors that they use to scratch me are hidden in their paws
They hide the razors they wave slowly
They conceal the claws that they slowly move towards me
They never pause
They never stop giving me attention
From giving me some sweet attention
By scratching and biting me, they show me affection
On skin it gnaws
The act of biting and scratching my skin causes it to wear away
So much that now I never mention
It happens so frequently that I don't even talk about it anymore
Ooohh, look at the face she's making
Oh, see how my pet is reacting to me
Ooohh, don't bother her she's waking
Oh, don't disturb her while she is upset
FEED ME, PET ME
My pet wants food and attention
MEOW
The sound my pet makes when it wants my attention
Contributed by Reagan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.