popwreckoning

Hailing from Russellville, AR—Deas Vail inks a deal with Mono vs Stereo, with one full length and two EP’s already under their belt, the band gets set to release their sophomore full length album Birds & Cages at all digital outlets and available for purchase at all tour dates on October 27 with non-stop touring well into 2010. Currently you can find the band on the road with Mae and look for the band to kick into 2010 in high gear as they hit the road with Owl City on January 21.

“I have been all about Deas Vail for years, so when we came across the opportunity to sign them, it just made sense. I know this band has so many great songs still to come, and I am so excited about being able work with them. I believe they will really set a precedent for the kind of music that we will put out at Mono Vs Stereo, and I couldn’t think of a better first release for our new label. I am convinced that anyone who takes time to listen will agree that this band is special”– Matt Hoopes, Mono vs Stereo Head of A&R and Relient K guitarist.

The band formed a few years ago while its members were students at Arkansas Tech in the Midwestern hamlet of Russellville, AR. While at school, Wes Blaylock began writing songs he initially envisioned as solo works but as his affinity for the indie-rock scene grew, Deas Vail was born.

Mixing a unique blend of indie-rock with Wes Blaylock’s distinctive upper register range and falsetto joined by the unfailingly sharp and frenetic guitar work of Andy Moore, then add in the hauntingly melodic sounds from keyboardist Laura Blaylock and the driving and cunning rhythm section of drummer Kelsey Harelson and bassist Justin Froning you get the original sound that only Deas Vail creates.

“When we started, it was something we wanted to do because we enjoy music,” Blaylock said. “We write songs because we love songs. They make us happy or explain an experience. That’s why I grab hold of these songs and love them. It’s something we really care about.”

Deas Vail’s Birds & Cages is the second release from the newly revived record label, Mono vs. Stereo, a partnership between Gotee Records and Relient K.

Tour Dates:
With Mae
Oct. 23 – The Record Bar / Kansas City, MO
Oct. 24 – Triple Rock Social Club / Minneapolis, MN
Oct. 26 – Aquarium / Fargo, ND
Oct. 27 – Off Broadway / St. Louis, MO
Oct. 28 – Reggie’s /  Chicago, IL
Oct. 29 – Southgate House / Newport, KY
Oct. 30 – Musica / Akron, OH
Oct. 31 – Mixtape / Grand Rapids, MI
Nov. 1 – Skully’s / Columbus, OH
Nov. 3 North Star Bar / Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 4 North Star Bar / Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 5 Middle East / Boston, MA
Nov. 6 The Fillmore / New York, NY
Nov. 7 School of Rock / S. Hackensack, NJ
Nov. 8 Black Cat / Washington, DC

With Owl City
Jan. 21 – Beaumont Club / Kansas City, MO
Jan. 22 – Diamond Ballroom / Oklahoma City, OK
Jan. 23 – The Pageant / St Louis, MO
Jan. 24 – Egyptian Room / Minneapolis, MN
Jan. 26 – Majestic Theater / Madison, WI
Jan. 27 – 20th Century Theater / Cincinnati, OH
Jan.  28 – Newport Music Hall / Columbus, OH
Feb. 29 – Rector / Towson, MD
Feb. 30 – Norva / Norfolk, VA
Feb. 1 – Music Farm / Charleston, SC
Feb. 2 – Freebird Live / Jacksonville, FL
Feb. 3 – State Theater / St Petersburg, FL
Feb. 4 – Culture Room / Ft Lauderdale, FL
Feb. 5 – House Of Blues / Orlando, FL
Feb. 6 – The Melting Pot / Athens, GA
Feb. 8 – WorkPlay Theater / Birmingham, AL
Feb. 9 – Varsity Theater / Baton Rouge, LA
Feb. 10 – Revolution Music Room / Little Rock, AR

Deas Vail: website | myspace

The band’s on the evening’s bill may not be ridiculously large rock bands that fill amphitheatres or obscure lo-fi basement rockers that hipsters buy ironic tees from. But none of that stuff mattered to the bands nor their fans packed into the Beaumont Club. The people there weren’t there because the radio or Urban Outfitters told them they had to be there. Everyone was there because they genuinely loved these bands and that feeling made this one of the best concerts I’ve been to in a long time.

Three-piece Barcelona started things off with a set that dropped several jaws. Beautiful harmonies laced with rolling piano riffs and a great drum beat made this band the surprise ace in the hole. They had a sound that was in between Coldplay and Keane, but without the huffy lack of vocal control that Chris Martin sometimes experiences and without the cheesiness that Keane is prone too (remember that song about a crystal ball? ugh). I recall seeing Barcelona awhile back at an acoustic set and finding them decent, but unmemorable. However, since then they have really solidified and after their fantastic final number, “Come Back When You Can,” I think they did a good job making sure that everyone would still remember them long after that performance.

Copeland was next and the Florida group continued the piano-based rock awesomeness. Singer Aaron Marsh opened the set on guitar, but seemed much more at ease when he moved to the piano and it made a great difference in the quality of the performance. The tension in his shoulders disappeared as he wrapped his legs around the piano bench and rocked back and forth for a few numbers. This helped loosen him up enough that when he came back to guitar. In fact, when he returned to guitar for a few numbers, on a song ironically called “Careful Now,” he had thrown caution to the wind so much so that he broke a string.

This turned out to be a really good thing because while tuning a new guitar, Marsh did something special to fill the silence.

“Questions, concerns, comments? Let’s do birthdays. Who has a birthday now? You? This will be a special birthday song,” said Marsh and then he began a beautiful acapella birthday song, “Light the candles. It is the special light inside you everywhere you go.”

It was a great set with a good mix of songs (yes, they did play “Brightest”). There were some impatient people in the crowd that I don’t think connected to the moodier sound of Copeland, while waiting for the bubbly headliners. I, on the otherhand, only regretted that the set was over so quickly.

Finally it came time for headliners Relient K. They must have some of the most loyal fans that I’ve encountered and I am proud to say I am one of them. Heck, they were my first concert ever.

Tonight’s performance could not have come at a better time for me. I had a rough week, but Relient K never fails to make me smile and I’m sure everybody at the show would agree. I mean, how can you not smile when a band pays tribute to “The Office” or covers songs like “Under the Sea” or “The Subway Commercial“? And while, they have their goofy moments, Relient K counters with some very heavy moments, too such as encore song “Curl Up and Die”

Lead singer Matt Thiessen did say he wasn’t feeling well, so he did cut out a few times on the vocals, but the other band members and the audience singing every single word did a fine job filling in the gaps.

Relient K had many special treats in their set aside from the many covers. The arrangement was shaken up for “Must Have Done Something Right” and my favorite surprise was when Copeland’s Aaron Marsh returned to sing “Let It All Out,” one the most beautiful and passionate numbers of the night.

The band just released a new album about a week prior to this show, but they still played a lot of their old songs. After already playing 18 songs, the band returned for a three song encore: “Curl Up and Die,” “There Was No Thief” and “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been.”

They didn’t play some staples such as “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t have asked for a better set of songs…although, I was in my khaki pants.

Band info:
Barcelona: myspace
Copeland: website | myspace | You Are My Sunshine review | interview with: Aaron Marsh | @ slowdown
Relient K: website | myspace | interview with: Matt Thiessen | @ granada