Before singer-songwriter Moses Sumney released his outstanding debut, he wrote a profile on the Dustbowl Revival in LA Weekly. “I didn't know he sang [at the time],” said Zach Lupetin, the guy who gathered the eight members of Dustbowl Revival into the motley crew it is now. “We did a show later with him — he has an amazing voice,” he added.

Juxtaposed against their rootsy, salt-of-the-earth, old-timey music, it seems odd that the members of the Dustbowl Revival rub elbows with all kinds of celebrities. Their fourth album is titled With A Lampshade On, and it’s named after a track directed by Kyle Newacheck—the creator of Comedy Central's show Workaholics. Dick Van Dyke and his wife Arlene starred in the video for the song "Never Had To Go."  Sure, this is Los Angeles, so constant brushes with fame are to be expected. But it’s just as likely that the band’s infectious style of folk-pop-jazz-Americana transcends age, genres, trends and social strata.

With A Lampshade On, recorded live from concerts at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and The Troubadour in Los Angeles, showcase just how warm and real the band feel in a live setting. Lupetin talks to Myspace about the band’s origins, how they’ve never been to New Orleans and how they still need a jazz flutist in the band.

Hometown: I was born in Evanston, Illinois, right outside Chicago.

Homebase: I moved out to LA in 2007 and have stayed by the beach, mostly in Venice.

 I’ve heard that the Dustbowl Revival is more of a collective than a band. How did you all meet?

I didn't know a whole lot of folks in LA when I moved here and put up a Craigslist ad that drew in some awesome players in the roots and jazz community — total luck. It's a close-knit group that came together through word of mouth after that.

Why are you called Dustbowl Revival?

I've always been a big Steinbeck fan. Something about a handful of us rolling out from the Midwest to California trying to make something of ourselves...

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Really depends what I'm listening to at the moment — but the group is a whacky synthesis of the New Orleans brass and funk tradition and bluegrass string bands. The Preservation Hall Jazz band and Del McCoury band teamed up and that was inspiring.

Does living in Venice beach influence your music?

I think there is a circus element being down there — anything goes and all cultures kind of collide on the boardwalk.

Your most recent album — your fourth — is called With A Lampshade On. What does it mean?

It's named after the song that we started doing as the big closer on our shows — it kind of means to just let loose and let the chips fall.

What's your songwriting process like with so many members? Who writes the lyrics and songs?

I write most of the lyrics and the basis of the tunes — the horns and strings then collaborate to create the meat of the song. Sometimes we will find old-school traditional tunes and twist them around.

How did you get Dick Van Dyke and his wife to star in your video for "Never Had To Go" — shot in their home, no less?

Dick and his wife Arlene met us a few years ago and have been following along — we asked them almost as a joke and they were totally game. Such a cool dude.

Who else would you love to collaborate with?

Would love to do a show with Old Crow Medicine Show. Would love to meet Bob Dylan and pick his brain!

What do you all do for fun?

Eating on the road can be an adventure. You caught me right after a big lobster roll by the beach in New Hampshire. Hiking can be awesome if we have time.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

A really sweet little girl wrote us a letter in Winnipeg last week and said she'd like to be in the band when she grows up.

What's one thing you'd like people to know about you guys?

We've never been to New Orleans — and someone should bring us down there!

Are there other instruments you'd want a bandmate to play in Dustbowl Revival?

Would love some more jazz flute. Just saying.