"It’s so divine that you'll lose your mind / Might make you not know who to be / A lot of people that I love are acting funny and it- / It’s funny business to me..."
The guitar moves and overall aesthetic, vibe, joyful rock and roll of "Magic Fruit" by Grand Rapids psych-pop duo Deer Friends might just be the sonic cure for what is ailing you. I am a child of the 70's and the tightly wound sound that Seth Boles and Tommy Muldowney craft feels mined by late 60's and 70's rock. The track is from the pair's recently released eponymous album "Deer Friends", with all the songs reflecting their personal lives, good times and bad.
From Liner Notes (bracketed):
[Their songwriting takes you places, with rough instrumentation morphing over a steady beat. The lyrics pull from the band’s life, working in restaurants for cash and their basement, dubbed Rock Island Studios, for dream currency. They can be tongue in cheek at times like you might expect from The Kinks, a strong influence on their music.
“This body of work is near and dear to us and is basically our diary from the past year, in which a lot has happened,” Seth shares.
Having bonded musically when playing in a band called High Fiber, Seth and Tommy have developed a shorthand for working together. Their utilization of slide, guitar licks, and harmonies reveal their “bread and butter” roots in 60s and 70s artists. Deer Friends aim to bring past sounds into the present in ways that feel fresh and intuitive.]
From Liner Notes (bracketed):
[Their songwriting takes you places, with rough instrumentation morphing over a steady beat. The lyrics pull from the band’s life, working in restaurants for cash and their basement, dubbed Rock Island Studios, for dream currency. They can be tongue in cheek at times like you might expect from The Kinks, a strong influence on their music.
“This body of work is near and dear to us and is basically our diary from the past year, in which a lot has happened,” Seth shares.
Having bonded musically when playing in a band called High Fiber, Seth and Tommy have developed a shorthand for working together. Their utilization of slide, guitar licks, and harmonies reveal their “bread and butter” roots in 60s and 70s artists. Deer Friends aim to bring past sounds into the present in ways that feel fresh and intuitive.]
I love the Kinks. From this first glimpse into Deer Friends' album I thought of other iconic touchstones as well, like Badfinger, Steeler's Wheel, The Raspberries, The Guess Who, Faces or maybe an amalgam of all of them with the Kinks sprinkled on top.
Bole's and Muldowney's iteration of this sound feels direct and heartfelt. I appreciate the well balanced vocal sound that sits perfectly in the mix free from the hazy washed out sound that is so popular in indie music today. It is nice to hear every vocal. I also appreciate the vocal aesthetic, the character of their voices and the sense that this is modern music, not just revival rock that hammers on tropes of that time, they don't do that. This is just earnest songwriting.
You know it’s gonna sweep you off your feet
That magic fruit they told you not to eat
A lot of people that I love are missing out and now I got to say my piece
Be your mind, let it be yours, look inside, open the door
Don’t be wise, be kind
It just take you to make it true
your heart will lead you there
No guru see through me no guru see through you
No preacher’s gonna teach ya what you can do for you
That magic fruit they told you not to eat
A lot of people that I love are missing out and now I got to say my piece
Be your mind, let it be yours, look inside, open the door
Don’t be wise, be kind
It just take you to make it true
your heart will lead you there
No guru see through me no guru see through you
No preacher’s gonna teach ya what you can do for you
-Robb Donker Curtius
Hello: Anyone enjoying this read and American Pancake, end of year is always a more difficult time in terms of finances. If you can help out by contributing to our Go Fund Me below it would be super appreciated. Cheers Robb
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://deerfriends.bandcamp.com/track/magic-fruit
https://www.blenderheadmusic.com/epk/deer-friends/
Grand Rapids psych-pop duo Deer Friends are Seth Boles and Tommy Muldowney. The two weave infectious melodies with shaggy guitars, dusty synths, intricate bass lines, and crunchy drums. Most songs on their debut LP are under three minutes, leaving the listener wanting more.
Their songwriting takes you places, with rough instrumentation morphing over a steady beat. The lyrics pull from the band’s life, working in restaurants for cash and their basement, dubbed Rock Island Studios, for dream currency. They can be tongue in cheek at times like you might expect from The Kinks, a strong influence on their music.
“This body of work is near and dear to us and is basically our diary from the past year, in which a lot has happened,” Seth shares.
Having bonded musically when playing in a band called High Fiber, Seth and Tommy have developed a shorthand for working together. Their utilization of slide, guitar licks, and harmonies reveal their “bread and butter” roots in 60s and 70s artists. Deer Friends aim to bring past sounds into the present in ways that feel fresh and intuitive.
Deer Friends bring us fourteen tracks; each with their own character, but the debut full-length is a cohesive effort from start to finish. Expect Deer Friends on December 15, 2023.
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