Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Nat Peterson of The Handsome Dudes

Photo by A. Vincent Scarano
Published May 22, 2025 
Interview by Meghan Killimade 

Tell us about The Handsome Dudes! How did you all come together, who are the members and what kind of music are you creating/performing?
It started as something to do during Covid.  Bobby (drums) has this fantastic practice space in the Dewart Building, known as The Ravenite, that was basically going to waste, so he, Josh (bass), and Mike (guitar) started playing together, and things just sort of grew from there.  The whole thing was pretty much Bobby's idea.  What we play is mostly hard rock/metal covers, with some Prog thrown in for good measure...though we are chipping away at some originals!

You guys have a show coming up Saturday at The Social in New London – how would you best describe your set/performance to someone that isn’t familiar and what can we expect Saturday?
We don't get up there and play the songs like a living jukebox - we PERFORM, and we rock the hell out.  We bring flair, energy, and swagger to what we're doing - it's like someone forgot to tell us, "Settle down, man - you're just a cover band."  We get up there and rip it up!  We've got two absolute shredders on guitar (Max & Mike) - I mean, these guys raise blisters.  Bobby's drumming's got the power, Josh's bass has got that swing, and the singer's a madman let off his leash.  Together, we deliver a potent, weapons-grade, face-melting ROCK.

Each of you have been in different local bands over the years – tell us about some of those bands and how those experiences influenced who you are today?
Bobby Crash (drums) is pretty much a local institution - Lo-Fi Radio Stars, Royale Brothers, Wolfghost, Burnouts From Outer Space, Mad Hatter, and countless others. Josh Candler (bass) has been in Capital Punishment, Sipp, Secret Service, Groove Clinic, Wayz & Means, and Lo-Fi Radio Stars. Max Kelly (guitar) been in Matzah Cigar, The Josi Davis Band, The Bright Midnight, Burnouts From Outer Space, Funkasville, and Fleet. Mike Desmond (guitar) has been in Wolfghost, Living Syndication, and Cold Shadow. Nat Peterson (vocals) has been in Brewzer, Obscurus, Reign of Zaius...and spent years watching the other guys in the Burnouts, Royale Brothers, and Wolfghost - never dreaming that he'd get to play with those guys!

How do you decide what songs you will play and ultimately end up in the set?
Trial by combat!  When that fails, we all make random suggestions at various times.  Sometimes, between songs at rehearsal, Mike or Max will start noodling away at some cover just for the fun of it, and we'll spontaneously jam on it, and we'll be like...damn, we need to work that into the set NOW.

Talk about how you guys learn new songs as a band and how a typical rehearsal goes?
It seems like a lot of it starts essentially as homework.  Everyone goes home and works on their part.  Then, of course, that organic magic happens when we start working things out in rehearsals - we add things, remove things, make the songs our own.

Photo by A. Vincent Scarano

What is your favorite song you guys perform and why? Most challenging song? Best crowd response?
Favorite - probably Highway Star.  Most challenging - probably the two RUSH covers we do.  Best crowd response?  Probably Highway Star or Crazy Train, though Burn In Hell by Twisted Sister brings the house down.  The Dio and Motorhead covers always go over well.

Do you guys have any pre-show routines that help get you psyched up for the show?
Bobby asserts that hauling his gigantic and complex drum set, piece by cumbersome piece,  to and from a venue is a valuable bonding experience that simultaneously energizes us and puts us in that "zen mode."

You guys just walked into The Telegraph or The Mystic Disc to flip through some vinyl –what section are you heading to first and what are you hoping to find?
Our tastes are actually all over the place - hard rock and metal are obvious, but Nat and Max would probably seek out some Steely Dan.  Bobby might grab some Duran Duran (if there was anything he didn't already own).  Mike and Josh also love the even heavier metal - heavier than the stuff we play!

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about The Handsome Dudes?
We absolutely BRING IT live.  We have a unique and very real chemistry - we play with skill, but also with grit, energy, and POWER!  Our shows aren't a by-the-numbers, "greatest hits" jukebox karaoke thing - our gigs are an experience!

What’s up next for you guys? More gigs? Any plans to try out some originals? Goals?
We're definitely looking to play more gigs and establish ourselves - we want to establish a "can't miss" reputation - a Handsome Dudes gig is an EVENT, and we want people to know it!


 
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Saturday May 24, 2025 @ The Social
208 Bank Street - New London
8-11pm / $10 / 21+
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