The Dollheads are three siblings under twenty from Las Vegas with two UK tours under their belts, an EP, an album and new music on the horizon for 2025. They made their Rebellion debut this summer and have big dreams for the future. Bursting with talent and an unbreakable bond, these guys have a bright future ahead of them in the world of music. Aggy Gillon got the chance to chat to lead guitarist and vocalist Angela, Bassist Sam and Drummer Austin Avery about their journey so far.
How does it feel to be playing your first Rebellion?
Angela: We are super excited. It means a lot honestly. Especially that we are playing on ‘Loud Women Day’. I think it’s important to represent female fronted bands in the punk scene especially and give voices to women. I also think it’s amazing that we have got to go overseas and play a big festival. It means the world to me.
Have you played the UK before?
Sam: Yeah we toured the UK last year. We went to Bath, Northampton and London for Loud Women Fest.
How do you guys find the UK?
Sammy and Angela: It’s beautiful!
Angela: It also has really nice weather. We come from the desert basically where it’s forty something degrees. So we have a nice break from Vegas weather.
Can you tell us about your album you have out?
Angela: Yeah we have a full length album called ‘What Teenage Angst?’ and an EP called ‘Et Cetera’ that are available on all streaming platforms. We also have two singles out. We did our version of ‘99 Red Balloons’ and we just released a single called ‘See you In Hell’.
For those who haven’t heard you yet, how would you describe your sound and what you guys are about?
Angela: I think we are mostly a pop punk band. We’re trying to lean towards more melodic punk stuff because that’s the kind of goal we are aiming for. I personally write a lot about mental health. I believe in mental health awareness.
Sam: One song that I wrote called ‘She’s A Girl’ is about feminism and being a woman in this generation. Having people tell you who to be and what to do and basically saying no to all that.
So, it’s important for you to put across a message within your music as well then?
Angela: Yes. It’s part of the reason why we write music. We want to share the messages that we believe in with the people that like our music as well as describing the way we feel about it. Music has always been an outlet for us.
So when did you start The Dollheads?
Sam: We have been performing as The Dollheads for three years now but we have been a band for almost eight.
Obviously, not meaning this in a bad way, you all look very young! What age were you guys when you started?
Angela: I was ten. The original band name was called Ten And Under because I’m the oldest. I was like hey I’m ten years old and you guys are younger than me.
Austin, how long have you been playing drums?
Austin: Nine years, since I was five. I think it was like a year later we started the band.
That’s incredible! Did you guys grow up around a lot of music then?
Austin: Yeah in general we grew up around a lot of music and a lot of punk that our parents played.I also have an uncle in the Philippines who is a drummer and I was really inspired by him as well. One day my parents got me a drum kit for my birthday and I have been playing it since.
That’s awesome. Are there any drummers out there that inspire you the most?
Austin: Two drummers that inspire me the most are Taylor Hawkins and Travis Barker. I listened to them a lot growing up and they have always been a big part of how I play.
What about you Angela and Sam?
Angela: The bands I was first inspired by were Green Day and Blink 182. I always loved their sound. As I have become more of a performing musician I have drawn so much inspiration from local bands. Travelling around our country and being here and seeing all the live bands just makes me wanna be like them.
Sam: The bassists that probably got me into playing were Flea from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Mike Dirnt from Green Day. The band I feel inspires my writing most is Rancid. I just love the basslines and the flow of all of their songs. And like Angela said, just watching other bands perform whether it’s a smaller local band or a huge band I just feel more inspired to keep on doing what I’m doing.
Are you currently working on any new music or releases?
Angela: Yeah we are actually working on an album right now. This summer we have been working on recording the first seven songs on the album and we still got three more to go. So hopefully we will get that out in 2025.
Have you got any more UK shows after this or are you heading home?
Austin: This is our fifth show out of eight.
Sammy: This is our fifth stop on tour and in the next six days we have three more shows.
Angela: Yeah we’re off to Bath, Bristol and Woking then we fly home.
And get a well deserved rest! So what’s the dream for The Dollheads? How do you envision the future or what would you want to happen?
Angela: A dream of mine is to tour the whole world. That’s why playing overseas has made me really happy. My goal one day is to be able to do that in so many other countries and share my music with everybody.
Austin: I agree. Everyone’s dream since they were little for a musician is to tour the world. Like your five and you imagine it happening. The fact that there’s a chance that may happen in the future is just amazing. It’s definitely the goal.
Sam: I really want to make it big one day. Like they said, do a world tour. I really just want to get our voice and our songs out there to more people.
So, of course you are on a bit later today. How do you get yourself ready to go on stage?
Angela: *Laugh* I want to be honest, we dance a lot! Sam will also get her phone out and we will record a video of us dancing. Or just dance and sing for fun. It calms the nerves a lot.
Yeah, I bet it breaks the ice!
Sam: I love listening to music while i’m getting ready and doing my makeup. Sometimes just to just get hyped I’ll get up and dance around to just feel the energy.
So just to touch on the fact you are siblings and in a band together, were both of your parents quite musical?
Angela: Our Mum was, she plays guitar. That’s actually why I learned how to play guitar. I watched her playing from when I was four up until now. Sometimes she still plays and she taught me those first couple of chords that made me want to go into the world of music.
While you have been here at Rebellion is there anyone you have seen so far that you have really loved or are waiting to see?
Sammy: We just saw Playing Alice. They were amazing!
Austin: I really want to see Stiff Little Fingers. We saw them before at Punk Rock Bowling.
What would you like to say to your fans?
Angela: Thank you for all of your support. Keep supporting local musicians and smaller bands. Never give up on what you dream of doing because if you keep working at it and trying you will get there one day.
Sammy: If you have a dream keep working towards it and even if you get down just never give up.
Interview And Photos By Aggy Gillon