Deap Vally - Marriage Tour
Deap Vally at the Knitting Factory - March 10th, 2022
I don’t mind the huge concerts; some of the greatest performances I’ve been lucky enough to witness were enjoyed from the rafters of a stadium or the farthest corner of a festival field.That being said, distance from performance is often at least a factor in the mystical concert enjoyment equation - and the opportunity to catch a good band up close at an intimate venue is a uniquely invigorating experience.
With a capacity of just 325, Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory is unquestionably an intimate venue - and Deap Vally is unquestionably a good band.
The night began with a local outfit known as Fondude, a self-described Bar Mitzvah funk & “desserts inspired” band. A see-it-to-believe-it kind of mash up, and sadly we were unable to catch the set; though we enjoyed a few videos of them after the fact - certainly worth a listen for any fan of jam bands with a sense of humor.
Deap Vally formed in Los Angeles in 2011. In a contender for the most stereotypically “LA '' meet-up imaginable, Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards reputedly met at a crochet class in Silverlake… shortly thereafter they began jamming and the rest is history. Vally frequently sticks to touring around California and the West Coast (after all Lindsey and Julie are Moms with busy lives outside of their band) but don’t let the less aggressive touring practices lull you into underestimating their presence in the industry - they’ve opened on several major tours for iconic groups including Marilyn Manson, Peaches, Garbage, Blondie, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Muse. The two-piece band has recently opened up with several high profile collaborative efforts, not only with the myriad of guests who appeared on the recently released Marriage album, but also for the “Deap Lips” record they released with Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips in early 2020.
Lia Simone Braswell of Sextile fills in for Julie Edwards on Drums.
After kicking off the set with the title track of the American Cockroach EP, Lindsey called attention to the red headed drummer on stage, pointing out that this was not her usual musical partner Julie, but instead Lia Simone Braswell of the band Sextile. Lindsey quickly clarified Julie’s academic commitments (she’s in school studying criminology) had been the cause of her unavailability - before showering praise on both Julie’s affability and Lia’s ability to “hold down the fort” of sharing these songs with the fans on the tour. While Julie’s distinctively dynamic musical relationship with Lindsey is difficult to replicate, Lia fills in admirably with a unique but respectful spin on Julie’s work.
To the delight of the crowd, the band rolls through pleasers like “Gonna Make My Own Money” from their debut album Sistrionix and “Royal Jelly” from 2016’s Femijism. Lindsey’s confident guitar playing is the clear centerpiece of the show, not dissimilar from the approach & sound of Jack White’s dynamic with Meg in the White Stripes. Her familiar brown Fender Mustang has a distinctively vintage, almost analog-sounding tone that particularly shines when she figuratively (and occasionally literally) leans into fuzz-heavy, almost Sabbath-esque riffs.
Not only does the intimate venue grant an exceptional musical experience, but it also allows the band to be more casual. Easily able to chat with members of the crowd, the band accepts requests (“No shit we were gonna play that!” before diving into their breakthrough hit “Baby I Call Hell”), Lindsey shows off a pair of boots that she borrowed from Eagles of Death Metal’s bassist Jennie Vee, and they successfully acquire a pair of drinks from the bartender. Occurrences like these may be commonplace at rock shows, though the close proximity and imperfectnesses of the moments made that casual vibe feel more genuine than the sometimes seemingly scripted or predictable banter more commonplace in a larger venue.
Lindsey Troy performing with her Fender Mustang.
As the show continues into its back half, Vally leans heavily into material from 2021’s Marriage album. Lindsey alludes to the album’s forthright thematic commentary on relationships; referencing her and Julie’s marriages to their respective partners, the ups and downs of their songwriting “marriage” to each other, as well as reckoning with more dangerous relationships like public adoration of billionaires or the all too common accommodation of sexual predators. It’s satisfying to see the band pivot into new material that challenges the audience, all while never compromising their familiar sound and confident vibe. After sharing a heartfelt appreciation to the crowd for coming out, Vally ends the night with a fittingly titled “End of the World”.
Even without a founding member, the strength of Deap Vally shines through in their insightful songs and the genuine enthusiasm with which they deliver them. Next time you’re at your crochet class, don’t forget to take a look around - you never know what relationship might be awaiting you.
