DEAP VALLY
Deap Vally | by Koury Angelo
Lots of things were happening six years ago. PureHoney was nearing its debut, Lena Dunham (cringe) was filming the first season of Girls, Obama was nearing the end of his first term, and Lindsay Troy was making the acquaintance of Julie Edwards in a Southern California crochet store. What happened next was Deap Vally, the likely codename for a government stem cell project combining the DNA of The White Stripes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Sleater Kinney–or the natural consequence of the resurgence of blues rock, alt punk and the explosion of post-feminist feminism in a digital world.
Whatever it is, it is the right time for a band like Deap Vally. From their first single “Gonna Make My Own Money” on, their work is musically, politically, philosophically both instinctual and informed and accompanied by well-appointed visuals. Bold, gritty videos invite us to riot grrl from our bedrooms or in the streets.
The band are currently touring Europe and the U.S.A promoting their second album Femijism, released almost a year ago in September with Nevado Records. Tracks like “Royal Jelly”, “Critic”, and “Teenage Queen” reflect the questions faced by women for time immemorial like existing in a world where you’re physical and mental states are open topics of discussion for random strangers even.
“Smile More”, is the musical answer to the common phenomenon of women being told to smile.. Troy bemoans the oppression of everyone trying to tell her what to do before telling the drunk guy at the bar that she’s just fine not smiling and that,
“I am not ashamed of my mental state/ And I am not ashamed of my body weight/And I am not ashamed of my rage/And I am not ashamed of my age/ And I am not ashamed of my sex life/Although I wish it were better/I am not ashamed I am no one’s wife/Although the idea does sound kind of nice”
While promoting Femijism, Deap Vally jump on the Rage and Rapture Tour for fourteen stops with rock icons Blondie and Garbage. Catch them August 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood. Doors open at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm. Tickets start at $50. Bonus: Visit their website for a selection of shareable band gifs.
~ Jessica Chesler
