The Party After is a midwestern alt rock trio that has been known to be described as “dystopian party rock.” These three gentlemen, Jared William Gottberg, Tony Bates, and Derek Talburt, have been playing music together for well over a decade, and after being robbed on tour, issued legal documents by a past member for a band name, and being taken advantage of by “manager” types in the industry, these guys have earned their name through sweat, blood, and tears. They released their first single in 2019, and since then have released several more singles, eventually being followed up by this latest release titled Dopamine Machine.
With their debut album, Dopamine Machine, out now, we took some time to hear from The Party After. Read below to learn more about The Party After, the story behind Dopamine Machine, and what’s to come.
Hi The Party After! Let’s start with how did the band get its name?
After being through so many trials and tribulations under past names, our best friend and one of the band’s biggest supports, Ryan Adle offered up the name as a statement of this branding being the party we’ve all been waiting for.
What city are you all from, and where are you all based now?
All three of us are based in Omaha, Nebraska. Jared spent his childhood in Pennsylvania while Derek’s childhood was spent in Missouri. They both ended up graduating together from Gretna, NE while Tony was a Papillion, NE graduate.
When and how did the band form?
Derek and Jared began playing music together in high school, and then Tony joined them in 2013. After being robbed, sued, and taken for granted, we finally had our final branding and band name in 2018.
How would you all describe your band’s sound to readers who may not be familiar with you all?
We embody rock in several ways. From hard rock to progressive rock moments to alternative, the group’s lyrical content has also had us branded ‘dystopian party rock’ in some familiar circles.
Who are some of your group’s main musical influences?
The three of us all bring different palates to the table. Jared comes from a mixture of classical, blues, and metal, with his favorite group being Pink Floyd, while Tony brings a wild love for 311, Ghost, and more. Derek’s affinity for bands like Bullet For My Valentine to his love of hip hop music help formulate the big and bold drum sound that we strive for as well.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your band’s music career so far?
We all would likely say that our experience recording Dopamine Machine is probably our most memorable moment, as we took a jaunt down to Mexico City, MX to do the record. Other than that, I think we can all agree that we’re most proud of our resilience and never stopping even in the face of so many disasters in our history.
What would you all say are the greatest lessons that you’ve all learned so far?
Perseverance is pivotal to making things work out. Do NOT give up on your dreams…and hold your best friends tightly and in high regard.
Now onto your release, Dopamine Machine. What inspired this album?
This record is over a decade’s worth of angst, disappointments, and ultimately, moments of absolutely decimating the veil that holds all the glamour of rock, fame and the lifestyle. It’s a cautionary tale of chasing fame, living too hard and too fast, and succumbing to the impossibilities that follow a music career.
What is the overall theme of Dopamine Machine?
Be careful what you wish for. Even dreams have dark sides to them.
What was the creative process like when making Dopamine Machine?
We stretched the process over a decade, thanks to all of the bumps in the road, but the biggest move that we made was to leave behind familiarity and comfort to be able to block out the noise of our lives. We spent a week in a different country to be able to best complete the album’s recording process without distractions…and if we say so ourselves…it worked, haha.
How long did it take to complete Dopamine Machine?
Some of the songs were begun as early as 2010, so we had been collecting bits and pieces for a long time. But, the process itself only took about a week and a half. First, Jared laid down all the scratch tracks on day one, and by day four, all of the drums and bass were complete. Tony and Derek flew back on Christmas Eve after only five days of work, and then Jared stayed behind to finish the guitars and vocals over the next week or so. He actually stayed behind for a month to complete a solo album as well (due out next year).
Is there a specific song on Dopamine Machine that speaks to you the most? If so, what is it called, and what is it about?
‘Celebrating Nothing’ is one for the musicians. It speaks on the grind and how it can wear you down, but finding a reason night after night to celebrate in each new town. Sometimes, celebrating nothing with nobody is all we have to keep us going.
What message or messages do you hope fans take away from Dopamine Machine and your trio’s music in general?
Chase the heck out of your dreams, but be wary that it comes with a MESS of downsides and hardships. Though, if you persist and persevere, you very well might end up right where you hoped to be.
What’s next for you all? Are you all working on any upcoming projects, or do you all have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
We will be headlining Fecht Fest in Kearney, NE on September 19th, and we have already begun writing our sophomore album.
Where can we follow you all on social media?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/partyafterband
Instagram: @rockthepartyafter
You can also find us on your favorite streaming platforms.
Before you all go, let’s ask something off topic. What is your guys’ favorite food?
Derek actually does food reviews, so we get to enjoy lots of different cuisines. If you find his channel, Fooligan Eats, we’ve even got a band food review up on his page. We all generally love tons of different foods, but all three of us have a thing for seafood. Especially crab!
Thank you all for the great interview; wish you all much continued success!
