Credit: Drew Goren

When the critically adored and fanatically loved Philadelphia band Kid Dynamite imploded in 2000, no-one could have foreseen it leading to three great bands, not to mention a classic band reforming. Now have Paint It Black, None More Black, a reformed Lifetime and the band you see here – The Loved Ones. Consisting of guitar/vocals Dave Hause (formerly The Curse, Paint It Black), bassist Michael “Spider” Cotterman (formerly Kid Dynamite) and Mike Sneeringer (formerly Trial By Fire)

The Loved Ones formed in late 2003 and a self-released demo followed in 2004 before a self-titled EP (on Jade Tree records) in 2005. The band recently released their debut full length “Keep Your Heart” on Fat Wreck Chords. Heavy touring with fellow east-coast bands such as the Bouncing Souls, The Explosion and with their new label owner’s band NOFX have seen their following swell. Music Towers spoke to Spider whilst on a break from the heavy touring schedule.

You’ve all come from a background in hardcore bands, how did you end up in a melodic punk rock band? Kid Dynamite was a pretty punky melodic hardcore band. All of my favorite hardcore bands, like Bad Brains and Minor Threat, are melodic. So are my favorite punk bands, like the Buzzcocks and Dillinger Four. We wanted the Loved Ones reflect that as well as our rock influences, like Ted Leo for example.

After the EP came out on Jade Tree, what made you decide to move to Fat Wreck for the debut full-length? Fat Wreck Chords is the best independent punk label that I know of. Our contract with Jade Tree was fulfilled when Fat offered to release our full-length, so we happily agreed.

We haven’t seen you in the UK or Europe yet, when can we expect to?
Hopefully soon. Believe me, I want to.

The first video from Keep Your Heart is a re-recorded survivor from the 2004 demo. The song is called “Jane” and it begins on the bands myspace profile page before proceeding to a show full of people texting each other. It has been featuring on the front page of myspace in recent weeks. The question is, how do you get away with testing the humour of the Rupert Murdoch owned website? We had a video concept that played with the idea of people who spend a lot of time on myspace. Fat Wreck contacted myspace to make sure they wouldn't sue us for copyright infringement. It turned out they really liked the idea and offered to feature the video. We were pretty psyched to be featured alongside Morrissey.