DEADSY
Commencement
Dreamworks Records/SKG

  Of techno-metal band Deadsy, KORN's Jonathan Davis says, "They are what the future of music should be." Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit directed their video, "The Key To Gramercy Park." In return, Deadsy frontman P. Exeter Blue (formerly known as Elijah Blue Allman, son of Cher and Greg Allman) remarked in a Transworld Stance interview, "Our association with them in no way, shape or form endorses that scene. It's nothing really of substance. It's just an embarrassment and will change in two seconds to be something else horrific." Cool. Maybe that explains why I dig their record Commencement so much despite the fact that they're endorsed by KORN and Limp Bizkit. Deadsy are truly doing their own thing. I can even get past the high concept "manifesto," the cheesy make-up and the "pillars" that each member's alter-ego represents. I choose to ignore their "theosophy." This allows me to focus on the music underneath all the (hopefully) tongue-in-cheek schtick. Deadsy's got the crunch of new metal, but they've actually got songs to go with it. How strange! There's a hint of southern boogie under "The Key To Gramercy Park" that appeals to me when mixed with the Gary Numan monotone vocals and single note synthesizer lines. Anyone that can successfully mix 1982 Synsonics drum sounds with heavier than God guitars and Philip Glass arpeggios deserves a little praise. On "Seagulls (The Macroprosopus)" they even remind me of when I first heard Yaz's Upstairs At Eric's. Aside from singer/guitarist Blue, the band is rounded out by Dr. Nner on keyboards, Creature on bass and Carlton Megalodon on synth guitar. Certain music purists may be horrified that Deadsy has the chutzpah to faithfully cover RUSH's "Tom Sawyer," but I boldly declare that Deadsy pulls it off (at least on record). I'm thrilled with any band that simultaneously reminds me of The Cars',  Nine Inch Nails, Bauhaus, Mr. Mister, Yaz and Black Sabbath. If their show doesn't get bogged down in theatrics and pseudo-academia, expect something that can break through to the big time AND be interesting. Does anyone remember a time when adventurous and popular could co-exist within the same band and (on the rarest of occasions) even within the same song? Deadsy does. P. Exeter Blue told Interview Magazine that their live sound is "like being swallowed by a wave or the curvature of the Earth. You can feel the gravity of what we're doing." Um...yeah, okay. Whatever. Just check it out for yourself.

(Chris McKay/concertshots.com)

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