THE WINERY DOGS - vocalist/guitarist Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON), drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER), and bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG) - are currently out pushing their new self-titled debut. Portnoy is featured in a new interview with Prog-Sphere.com; an excerpt is available below:

Portnoy: “We all have cleared our schedule for the rest of this year to focus on The Winery Dogs, and we plan on doing the same next year. We plan on riding this cycle — and this band — as far as we could take it. And we all view this as a full-time band; this is not a side project. Me, personally, I have things in the pipeline that were already in the pipeline that are coming out — FLYING COLORS, PSMS, a TRANSATLANTIC album — but other than those, they’ll come out, this is the band. I view this as my new home. And the way I was in Dream Theater, that was my home and I did other little things when I could, I view the situation here the same… I mean, the other things that I do - Transatlantic, Flying Colors - those are side projects. ADRENALINE MOB, we gave it our best shot, but this, right from the get-go, it just feels great within the band. The internal chemistry is amazing, and also the external reaction has been just off the charts, unanimously supportive and positive. So it’s just a great, great feeling, and I really do feel like this is my new home.”

Go to this location for the complete interview.

The Winery Dogs performed on August 3rd at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City. Fan-filmed video can be viewed below:

The Winery Dogs have added five more shows to their upcoming US tour. See the updated itinerary below:

August

8 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's

October

3 - Agoura Hills CA - The Canyon
4 - Las Vegas, NV - Vamp'd
5 - San Diego, CA - Ramona Mainstage
6 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
8 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
9 - San Francisco, CA - Yoshi’s
10 - Portland, OR - Star Theater
11 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
14 - Denver, CO - Soiled Dove
17 - Milwaukee, WI - Potawatomi Casino
19 - Effingham, IL - Effingham Performing Center

The Winery Dogs released their self-titled debut album on July 23rd via Loud & Proud Records. It exploded onto Billboard's Top Rock Chart at #5, and also opened on the Top 200 Albums chart at #27.