Artist: The Tossers
Album: The Valley of The Shadow of Death
Label: Victory Records
Release Date: 10/04/2005
Written by AJ, VP of Altsounds.com
When I was 17, I left the comfort of my affluent parent’s home in Oklahoma and traded it in for the dirty streets of Chicago. I was in college, but really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Some friends and I had built a little radio station, and through it I had met a few music industry promoters. One of them suggested I try working for a label in Chicago, because they knew they were looking for someone to help out in the radio department. I took down the information, called the label and set up a meeting. I hopped a train downtown the next morning trying to find the offices of Victory Records. After finally finding the right address and going up their scary old elevator of death, I walked into what I assumed was the coolest office on the planet. I met with the people I was supposed to meet with, and they gave me the job. They told me I would start the next day and would be working with the radio people, calling college stations and trying to get them to play Victory’s music. I was elated and started the job with vigor, diving into my first campaigns, which included established Victory artists Earth Crisis and OS101. I eventually got to work Boysetsfire and Hatebreed and other hardcore artists I wasn’t really able to appreciate at the time, but was nevertheless excited to be working. After a while, it began to bother me that I wasn’t very passionate about the music I was pushing to stations. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the music, I just didn’t feel any real connection to those artists. To me, they were a CD and a speil…I didn’t know who they were or what they were about. I ended up receiving an invitation from another Chicago label (oddly enough right around the corner from Victory) called THICK Records. They asked me to come out to a show and check out one of their bands called The Tossers.
Going to shows was tricky for me. I wasn’t 21 and had a hard time getting into most clubs. It was around that time I mastered the art of bullshitting and appearing older than I was. Fortunately, I was able to get into Fireside without any problem. I spotted Billy Spunke of the Blue Meanies and had a brief star struck moment, but quickly composed myself as he walked over. He introduced himself unnecessarily. He told me to stay put and watch the show and then come find him in the bar. I did as I was told. The Tossers came out, filling the tiny stage, and kicked off their set with a song called The Crutch. The crowd went ****ing wild! The kids were dancing and singing along and shouting with fists in the air when the songs called for it. The energy was so intense I had to look down to make sure my feet were still on the floor. Their set flew by as my heart raced to the beat, my eyes glued to the stage. I had never heard nor seen ANYTHING like it before in my life. I mean, I have heard Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys and was even familiar with The Pogues, but something about this band struck a chord with me. There was something very real about it. It was tough and it was dirty and it was fun all wrapped together. The crowd pulsed on the verge of a riot and I was sure at any moment the cops would come storming in, breaking up the gig. That didn’t happen, but the set ended abruptly, leaving me with a feeling that could only be compared to pulling out too early.
I met with Billy in the bar after flirting my way past the bouncer. He smiled and asked me what I thought of the show. I was having a hard time finding words to explain how I felt, so I am sure I just smiled and said ‘it was really good’ or something equally as insignificant. “Well let’s go over and talk to them.” I looked toward the back of the bar and saw Tony, Dan and Bones talking to a few people. Billy tapped Dan on the shoulder and introduced me. I stuck out my hand for him to shake, and with a drunken smile he wrapped his arms around me and gave me a ‘super hug’ which is a normal hug with an extra squeeze. I then shook hands with Tony and Bones and told them I really enjoyed their set a lot. Bones then went to the bar and brought over a Guinness and handed it to me. Having never seen Guinness before in my life, I inspected the pint glass and then sniffed it, trying to get a hint of what I was getting myself into. They all looked at me and laughed, said ‘cheers’ and then began downing their drinks. In an attempt to be accepted by these people clearly cooler than myself, I began chugging and people started cheering. I only got about halfway through it before I thought my stomach was going to burst open, so I set it down, already a little tipsy. We stood around joking and talking for a while, and then I realized what time it was and told Billy I needed to head out and go back to campus. He walked me out and stood outside with me while I smoked a cigarette and he began talking. “The Tossers record just went to radio, ya know?” “Do you have anyone working it?” I asked him. “Well, we hired an indie, but we don’t have any radio people in the office.” I smiled, “Do you want one?” He scoffed, “What would it take to get you to leave Victory?” I flicked my cigarette into the street and replied “Just ask me.”
I started working for THICK the next day, simply so I could be involved with The Tossers album “Long Dim Road.” I knew Victory was a bigger label and had more to offer me in the long run, but there was no way I could turn down the opportunity to work for a band that hit me so hard. I was overwhelmed with the impulse to do what I loved, rather than what might be the ‘best decision,’ somehow inspired by the performance I experienced. I immediately jumped into the project, calling stations about The Tossers, and since THICK was such a small label (when I started there it was Zak, the founder, and Billy Spunke running everything) I was able to be involved in the other aspects of a label, outside radio promotion. I learned a lot quickly, anxious to help The Tossers as best I could in the hopes of impressing them.
I eventually left THICK to continue my pursuit of a big career in the music business, and The Tossers left THICK as well, oddly enough going around the corner to Victory Records, apparently wanting the same thing. 5 Years later, I’m working at Altsounds and they are releasing The Valley of The Shadow of Death on Victory Records, giving me the perfect opportunity to tell this little story. Despite the backing and resources of a label that has become enormous in the past 5 years, The Tossers new album is just as gritty and real as the release I fell in love with, Long Dim Road. With the sincerity and depth of traditional Irish Folk combined with the dirty punk rock of Chicago’s South Side, The Valley of The Shadow of Death epitomizes the Irish-punk genre.
Although it would be easy to write off The Tossers as producers of mindless barroom soundtracks, that is certainly not the case. Tony Duggins writes very profound and thought-provoking lyrics analyzing life around him and life within him. The Valley of The Shadow of Death is an incredibly reflective album, narrating Duggins’ emotional struggles with accepting who he is and what he has done with his life. After over 10 years of being in a band that has seen little success outside of their cult following, he begins to wonder if his parents were right all along when they discouraged him following his dream. Leaving home with all the arrogance and drive typical of a young rocker, he’s left with a desperate need to prove himself. As time goes on he falls into the Irishman’s self-fulfilling prophecy, feeling somehow destined for a life of drunken debauchery and poverty, even vowing the words “And when I’m leaving this world behind, I won’t bring another soul here to fall flat on their face, or leave this world unkind.”
His thoughts then turn to those who inspired him to pursue music in the first place, punk rock legend Dee Dee Ramone, Irish balladeer Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners, and Irish folk band, The Chieftans. Each with a song dedicated to them specifically either in tribute or comparison. ‘No Loot, No Booze, No Fun’ reads like prayer to Saint Dee Dee, asking for guidance and direction through his musical journey, fearing he will meet a similar untimely death as the band continues to struggle. ‘Drinking In The Day’ is a two part tribute to Ronnie Drew, with Drew reading a poem and The Tossers performing a song, both from previous Ronnie Drew releases. ‘Preab San Ol’ is a complex Irish/English song which draws heavily on The Chieftans inspiration, even lifting some tunes off their 7 album.
Despite being reinvigorated by getting back to his musical roots, Duggins seems to be unable to escape the overwhelming senses of guilt and loneliness mixed with anger. There are 3 songs very distinctly about death on this album, and they give the impression that they are all about the same death. I won’t even begin to try and analyze this, as it is seems to be none of my business. All I can really say is his reflections of this subject are both haunting and heartbreaking. No Tossers record would be complete without a stark political commentary, and it comes in full force through the song ‘Go Down Witch, Down,’ a clear criticism of the US Government’s stance on sexism, racism, war and money.
Disappointed parents, the pursuit of a lofty dream, loss, guilt and loneliness have all been themes in my own life and I would suspect in other people’s lives as well. To hear your most private thoughts and emotions realized in an energized compilation of powerful traditional Irish music combined with the passion and fury of punk rock is quite an experience, and completely fitting. It is that sort of real life echo that drew me to The Tossers in the first place, and what has kept me such a big fan all these years. They are the type of band you feel that connection with, whether or not they gave you your first Guinness. The excitement of their live show is fully captured on their recordings and Duggins gets deep inside you, volunteering to be the mouthpiece for those that have no voice. It’s absolutely brilliant.
The Tossers on Altsounds www.thetossers.com 
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The Tossers- The Valley of The Shadow of Death
