The Deadmen are bringing Americana rock to the nation’s capital and are definitely a band to look out for this year. Despite their morbid name, The Deadmen are alive and kicking in the DC music scene and are here to stay.
The band is composed of three talented singer-songwriter-guitarists—Josh Read, Justin Jones, and Justin Hoben— and bassist John Hutchins. They each bring new elements to the style and writing of their music. Although they formed The Deadmen recently, they have been performing individually for more than a decade.
We interviewed Justin Jones last year to discuss his “I Can Feel It Tour 2013” and the upsurge in the popularity of rock ‘n’ roll. Jones puts a lot of value into creating quality rock, and it shows. He told us, “We played a show in Indianapolis a while ago and someone came up to me afterwards and said, ‘I just wanted to thank you for playing fucking rock and roll—no xylophones and whistles and melodicas and shit.’ And I love all that stuff, but you know what I’m talking about. I never really paid particular attention to the newest trending thing. When stuff gets a little too derivative, it just starts to sound like watered-down whatever it’s trying to rip off. To me, it’s just never as good as the real thing.’
Likewise, The Deadmen don’t care about the bells and whistles; they’re interested in performing raw, good ol’ rock and roll. The band began with Josh Read and Justin Jones, along with two other band members. After touring for the first time, the band fell apart. Despite their attempt to form a band being unsuccessful, Read and Jones decided to revive the band, adding two new musicians, who quickly connected. Together, they were able to join forces for a unique sound.
Since then, they have been praised by the DC area’s top tastemakers and across several prominent national publications and blogs. These guys are going places. Gregory Goodin of My Old Kentucky Blog described The Deadmen as “a refreshing change of pace in a world where songwriting and substance has become second fiddle to flash and aesthetics.”
Although they don’t tour often, their shows in the DMV area have garnered new and bigger crowds each time they play. The band last played the 9:30 Club as openers for Frank Turner , who was quickly won over by their fantastic performance and has been wearing their t-shirt onstage during his most recent tour.
This is the first time they’ll be headlining. Vandaveer and Tomas Pagan Motta are opening. Don’t miss it.
We’ll be giving away a pair of tickets to see The Deadmen at the 9:30 Club, AND we’re giving away their recently released 7” single “Crystal.” To win, leave a comment below telling us your favorite band with a morbid name. Mine would have to be Death Cab For Cutie.
A winner will be chosen on Wednesday, August 6. Tickets are still available for purchase.
