New Jersey duo Dads has been dubbed as leading the “emo revival”  that seems to have the entire music world buzzing after the release of their latest EP, Pretty Good (6131 Records). Pretty Good finds the indie-rock leaning Dads exploring darker territory on the four-song effort. Earning praise everywhere from Pitchfork (“irrepressible spirit and ambition”) to NPR (“one of the bands I’m most excited about right now”) to the AV Club (“it strikes [a] balance of proficiency and punchiness”), it’s clear that Dads have captured the attention of wider audiences with just four tracks.

After releasing their debut full length, American Radass (This Is Important) in 2012, Dads embarked on a successful series of tours in 2013 with Pity Sex and The World Is…. The band are prepared to play to bigger audiences than ever before as they prepare to tour with Reggie and the Full Effect beginning January 16 in Philadelphia (dates below).  
Ghettoblaster recently caught up with John Bradley of Dads to discuss life on the road.  This is what he said about touring.
What kind of vehicle are you travelling in, and what are you doing to outfit it for maximum comfort?
We travel in a regular 12 passenger van, we recently upgraded to it from a mini van that we drove into the ground over and over again (sometimes quite literally).  So in creature comforts it is a step down but in space and room for activities it is a step up. As for now we have a megaphone that plays the Celine Dion Titanic song, as well as the bench seat will often double as a workout bench. When you’re only a two piece with a tour manager and sometimes a friend or two a 12-passenger goes very long way.
What is the planned playlist for your travels?
Scott will probably want to listen to Bright Eyes or Meneguar at some point, I have been hooked on the new Kevin Devine records and Carly, our tour manager, will at some point be blasting Crime in Stereo or Blacklisted.
Which of the cities that you’ll be visiting are you most excited about and why?
Excited to get back to the west coast, we’ve always had a great time there and I love those drives. We’re both excited for Michigan because that’s girlfriend land for both of us.  Chicago is always a treat because of the Chicago Diner.  A lot of these cities have been great to us and we’ve played 98 percent of them before so we’ll be seeing a lot of friends now.
Which of your destinations are you most anxious about?
Always anxious about going into Canada and not being allowed to or something going wrong or just not being able to use our phones to communicate. This tour we are playing Vancouver for the first time, but as anxious as I am about it I’m excited to finally play a show there. Beyond that probably just NYC because of how much of a pain it is to drive and park.
What are the top three essential, must-have items that you take on the road with you?
A tangible photo of someone/something that you’ll see when you’re back, a comfortable hoodie/sweater/flannel, a proper fitting pair of jeans.
What will you miss most about home while you are away?
My girlfriend’s dog and cat and her morning coffee.
Do you keep a diary during your travels? If so, is it public? Can we share it?
Not really, I used to want to, but then I got afraid someone would read it and take it the wrong way.
What is the craziest thing you’ve seen on the road during other tours?
I’m boring and a stickler for sightseeing so probably some mountains or something or the Pacific Ocean line in Big Sur or the sunrise during an overnight drive.
(Tour Dates:
01/16 Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary +
01/17 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar +
01/18 Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club +
01/19 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 +
01/21 Jacksonville, FL @ Roc Bar +
01/22 Orlando, FL @ The Social +
01/24 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio +
01/25 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada +
01/26 Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Bar-B-Q +
01/28 Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock Live +
01/29 San Diego, CA @ The Irenic +
01/30 Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite +
01/31 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room +
02/01 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill +
02/02 Portland, OR @ Branx +
02/04 Seattle, WA @ Vera Project +
02/06 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court +
02/07 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre +
02/08 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar +
02/09 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar +
02/11 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club +
02/12 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean +
02/13 Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom +
02/14 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop +
02/15 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar +
02/16 Syracuse, NY @ The Lost Horizon +
02/18 Hamden, CT @ The Space +
02/19 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall +
02/20 New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall +
02/22 Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes + 

+ w/ Reggie & The Full Effect)