CHICAGO | Deeper, a band out of Chicago, just wrapped their world tour; stretching all the way from the moody PNW playing in intimate and grungy venues like Mississippi Studios, trucking back to their home turf performing at Thalia Hall and finishing out in Denmark, playing against the cozy backdrop at Bumann and Sohn.
I don’t know about you, but there are concerts that are burned into my brain. Moments where I’m totally consumed by the sound and the present, listening and looking. The presence, release and total concentration that Deeper brought to the space was hypnotic. Since I started listening to Deeper, the post-punk attitude, layered with their catchy hooks totally drew me in. If you’re into The Cure, Television, Horsegirl or any of the above, add Deeper to the playlist. Listening to their music feels like a nod of approval from your cool, older cousin.
Thalia hall, an old opera house turned music venue, has hosted some of the most monumental artists of our generation to date. I remember the first time I went, it was to see Phil Elverum and the architecture of the venue transported and elevated the already cathartic experience. The arches, curves and bends of the decoration seem to become characters in the show; encouraging and adorning the performers. In the late October air, this ornate and spooky building seemed to seamlessly match the late fall bogginess.
The crowd was sparse to begin with, which may have had to do with the fact that there were two openers and I had made the executive decision to get there right as doors opened. The air was heavy, waiting for the show to start, but people seemed to be taking their time settling in, grabbing drinks, getting merch and guessing what songs would be played. As more people filtered in, it reflected how diverse Deeper’s audience really is. Shoegaze hipsters drinking IPA’s, cool alt teens, punky kids with Manic-Panic dyed hair and pretty nonchalant millennials — all flocked to the soundscape escape.
Careful!, Deeper’s latest album is a celebration for all post-punk and new wave lovers out there — while still crafting catchy pop hooks for any occasion. Need a car song? A walking to work song? A flappy kitchen dance song? Full bodied and pumping with rhythm, this album feels like an excuse to dance and wallow at the same time, (Grief-dance… is that a thing?). Deeper has created a sound universal enough for any age — dad approved and loved by teens — anyone who wants to dwell on the existential ooze of it all and rock out are queuing Careful!
Deeper, which originally consisted of singer and guitarist Nic Gohl, guitarist Mike Clawson, bassist, guitarist and synth-man Drew McBride and drummer Shiraz Bhatti, were longtime highschool friends who bonded over their love of different post-punk and new wave bands. They’ve said groups like Devo, Television and Wire lay at the core of their friendship and musical influences. Since the inception of the band, Clawson has passed away and Kevin Fairbairn was brought on to play bass. It’s clear that the love for creating raw sounds and just trying to emanate some sort-of sonically enticing noise rings true for their discography. Much of the new album was produced during the pandemic and they’ve said that since being kept inside, a lot of the process looked like just messing around and seeing what noises stick.
Starting off their set with “Build a Bridge,” the first song off Careful!, synthy and full of energy, it filled the space and sent them into the rest of their set with a strong push. There was never a moment of static, or hesitation as they seemed to move seamlessly on stage; leaning on each other and operating singularly. It’s always humbling to see a band be able to remain present, while still maintaining their center and effortlessly delivering amazing live performances.
Following up with songs off their 2020 album Autopain, like “This Heat” were crowd pleasers for any loyal fans of the band. Interweaving shorter, interludes “Heat Lamp” and “Pilsen,” synth-extraordinaire Drew McBride lulled us all into a psychedelic haze. Keeping up the pace with songs like “Airplane Air” and “Glare,” the onstage verve seemed to cast a spell on the audience. All of us suspended gawking at the band and bouncing along to the music.
I left the set feeling the glow of noise still on me, still stuck in the music. Grateful and shiny, I couldn’t help but feel frozen in the aftermath of their set. The frenzy of people leaving was filled with murmurs of admiration and amazement. One guy summed it up better than I’m able to: “Holy shit.”
All photos by Bella Parkinson