In this day and age, it seems every artist needs a gimmick of sorts. Whether it’s based on image or a unique twist on their sound, each group needs to add some form of diversity to who they are and why they are “special.” Over time, though, one element that hasn’t changed in the rock genre is
Deep Sea Diver (Photo: Aya Sato)the relative rarity of the female lead singer.
Deep Sea Diver was once thought of as nothing more than a songwriting escape for the The Shins’ lead guitarist Jessica Dobson. But now, two releases later, the band has become one of the most pleasant surprises of the independent circuit.
DSD’s latest effort, ‘History Speaks,’ which was self-released on 02.24.12, features an addictive blend of guitar-driven rock and the indie-enthused melancholy that grabbed listeners’ attention when they first broke onto the scene.
The leading motivation for the original formation of Deep Sea Diver was for Dobson to explore her songwriting ability, and that’s exactly what she does on ‘History Speaks.’ Her musical ingenuity shines on tunes like “NWO” and “Keep it Moving,” two highlights on the nine-track album. Even though her music career has been extensive, Jessica’s songwriting has continued to mature since the group’s first release.
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Stream Deep Sea Diver’s “NWO”
[podcast]https://cleverock.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/nwo.mp3[/podcast]
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Deep Sea Diver made their first splash on the music scene in 2009 with their debut EP ‘New Caves,’ which consisted of Dobson along with Peter Mansen and John Raines. She would eventually marry Mansen, and after the release of ‘New Caves,’ the group hit the road on a national tour with Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band to support the disc. Since then, Dobson has been alternating between gigs with The Shins, with DSD, as well as a pair of efforts as a touring musician for Beck and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
‘History Speaks’ features Sean Walker of Delta Spirit on guitar and Stephen Hodges of Tom Waits on drums. Dobson & Co. have continued to find ways to improve their music, stretching their musical boundaries and adding more versatility to their rhythmic potential.
Stretching her musical diversity even a little further, Dobson will pull double duty this week as Deep Sea Diver will open a slate of shows for The Shins this week. They’ll be in Cleveland at the Masonic Auditorium this Friday (06.08.12).
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Deep Sea Diver will open for The Shins on Friday, June 8 at Cleveland’s Masonic Auditorium (presented by the Grog Shop). **Very limited tickets remain (as of June 4).** General admission floor (standing room only) and reserved box seating are both priced at $42. Reserved mezzanine seating is available for $35. Unassigned balcony seats are priced at $30. All tickets subject to additional service fees. Tix can be purchased in person at the Grog Shop, or online, HERE!
For information on Deep Sea Diver, including latest news and tour dates, log on to their official website, http://thedeepseadiver.com
