Desoto Reds are back with a new album and Baltic Kiss show this weekend
Get ready to rock! Eastbay indie band Desoto Reds is back with a brand new album and all the melodic, psychedelic fun that goes with it.
“Put Me to Bed without My Head,” Desoto Reds’ latest offering, is the much-anticipated follow-up to the pandemic product, “Cordless Phone,” which will be released on August 17 and celebrated with a record release party at the Baltic Kiss in Point Richmond.
Desoto Reds have multiple albums to their credit and even cracked the CMJ Top 200 once in the 90s. Reformed in 2021, the band features Alex Sterling (guitar/vocals), Jeremiah Johnson (drums), Scott Yowell (lap steel and keyboards), and Dan Lieberman (bass).
The Reds are tough to categorize. Put into words, the band is an eclectic juxtaposition in the mould of the Pixies, and maybe the Beatles, but with a smattering of Guided By Voices or possibly Fugazi added to the mix. At least, this is an easy conclusion to come to after listening to “Cordless Phone.”
On their website, Desoto Reds describe themselves as “Psychic Hippie Pop,” leaving the reader to ponder precisely what that means. They explain their sound this way: “We’re too rocking to be jangle pop, too melodic to be prog rock, too angular for classic rock, and not young enough to be emo.”
Did you get all that? If not, don’t worry. Just listen.
The new album's first single, “Put Me To Bed Without My Head,” illustrates that the band stays pretty true to its sound and indie roots while experimenting and adding a few other textures. You may still hear the Pixies, but a lot more is happening than just that.
The album opens gently with the light and lyrical “Monograph,” lulling the listener into a comfortable grove that extends through the following two songs. When the needle settles into the vinyl on the fourth track, “Cleverly Masking a Grim Disease,” one can almost feel the mosh pit suddenly forming around them, answering the question: but do they rock?
Yes, they do.
Along with thoughtful, melodic lyrics, the Reds boast a hard-working rhythm, providing a rock-solid foundation for Sterling’s delicate fretboard work to layer on. The band also has an unusual secret weapon: an expertly played vintage lap steel that meanders through the compositions, creating a somewhat ethereal feel albeit with an edgy twang, reminding the listener that this isn’t just your average indie outfit.
Bassist Dan Lieberman says the relationship between himself and drummer Jerimiah Johnson is the reason for the foundational strength of the band's rhythm section.
“I think one reason that Jeremiah and I lock in well is that we’ve each played each other’s part in a band,” Lieberman said. “Jeremiah also plays some bass and guitar; long ago, I played drums in a college band. I think that mutual understanding helps.”
Lieberman said this is most obvious when the band is starting to work on new material.
“We’re playing through it for the first time, and immediately we can lock in on something decent as the rhythm section. Of course, we need to tighten it up and re-work it over time, but even those immediate, improvisational takes tend to be pretty good,” Lieberman.
Despite the band’s recent success, including an admirably full gig calendar, chief songwriter Sterling still seems slightly shocked by his band’s popularity.
“I’m doing the best songwriting of my life over age 50. This surprised me,” Sterling said.
While Sterling, whose day job is teaching English, may not have been prepared for midlife rock’ n’ roll stardom, he clearly enjoys the writing process and hopes the audience picks up on the band's humor.
“I’m a husband, dad, community college professor, and, I thought, retired indie rock musician. But here we are!” Sterling said. “I think I am usually perceived as a serious person, but for me, writing lyrics is hilarious. To sing a word, a phrase, a clause, a sentence, it is very funny. I hope people hear the songs as playful.”
The album’s production is clean and professional; you won’t find autotune on any of Red’s songs. Sterling’s 18-year-old son, Adlai, mixed the album, producing a quality sound while allowing the band’s quirkiness to shine through, and hence avoiding an overly polished product–the ultimate indie band no-no.
Sterling speaks proudly of his son, “Adlai has been releasing music online under the name AddieSteri since he was 12.”
With the new record coming out and planned live shows to support it, Sterling quickly acknowledges his colleague’s contributions to the band’s success.
“I really want to thank the band. Jeremiah is a natural rocker and dear friend for over 20 years,” Sterling said. “Dan writes these great bass lines, and I’m always asking him to turn it up in practice. Scott, who used to lead his own band, Xray Jelly, has a unique sound on his grandfather’s 1938 Gibson lap steel.”
Desoto Reds are skillful musicians who don’t take themselves too seriously. They allow their humor and fun to take center stage, bringing the audience on a voyage into their imaginative, musical world.
Check out the Desoto Reds at https://desotoredsmusic.com/
DESOTO REDS - RECORD RELEASE PARTY @ Baltic Kiss
Saturday, August 17, 2024, 8:00 PM 11:55 PM
Desoto Reds
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