[Text by Nick Carr] Mix equal parts Americana, Northern Soul, and down and dirty rock ‘n’ roll. Turn up the reverb and coat the whole thing with a sheen of contemporary edge that is difficult to place, but impossible to ignore. You’re beginning to get a sense of dynamic San Diego band Delta Spirit, who will be stopping in Ithaca as part of their national tour.
Americana has been enjoying a resurgence in recent years. Evidenced by country music’s dominance on the pop charts, the bluegrass and old-time revival, independent music’s adoption of the folk aesthetic, and a return to traditional production techniques, there has never been a better time to learn a couple chords on the banjo.
This insidious seepage of twangy reverb, harmonicas and full-throated choruses is fully evidenced in Delta Spirit’s debut album Ode to Sunshine. However, despite being self-produced in a cabin in the San Diego hills, Ode to Sunshine is not afraid to put a little bit of polish and pop into the neo-Americana mix.
Despite their commanding vocal presence, capable instrumentation and soulful execution, it is this ear for melody that truly sets Delta Spirit above the morass of like-minded acts.
Fronted by one-time busker Matt Vasquez, Delta Spirit’s vocals are characterized by a quixotic tension between barely contained passion and discrete control. Citing such diverse influences as Ennio Morricone, Harry Nilsson, and homeless friend “Outlaw,” Vasquez’s performances reflect this diversity with dynamic shifts in tone and timbre. His impassioned vocals are framed by Sean Walker’s twangy guitar and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich’s efforts on everything from keyboards to trashcans.
These melodies are given a soulful backbone by Jon Jameson on bass and Brandon Young on drums, both of whom combine uncompromising rhythm with creative expression. This lamentably rare combination of technical skill and sheer creativity is one of the main factors pushing Delta Spirit to the forefront of the genre.
After touring with contemporaries Cold War Kids and Dr. Dog, as well as being slated to play with neo-Traditionalist icon M. Ward, Delta Spirit seems poised to cross the gap that separates a popular regional band and a national creative entity on the merits of widespread critical acclaim.
When asked how this critical acclaim has affected the band, bassist Jon Jameson responds, “If it had happened early on, we may have been thrown for a loop and done something maybe we shouldn’t have. But right now we’re trying focus on the day-to-day of touring, writing new songs, and not Googling ourselves every day.”
However, it is just such grassroots efforts that have propelled this band, which depends on word-of-mouth (digital and otherwise) to bring people out to their first national headlining tour. Jameson comments on this phenomenon, saying, “At first it was scary, but people kept showing up. We’ve been touring for a while with other bands, and I guess people told their friends.” This combination of a grassroots fan base and kudos from industry rags places Delta Spirit firmly in the vanguard of current American independent music.
Joining Delta Spirit will be Stillwater, Oklahoma band Other Lives. Other Lives approaches traditional American music from a different angle, creating stark musical landscapes and broad orchestral scenes.
Other Lives brings to mind an empty prairie and homesickness for a warm bed. Eschewing the soul and rock ‘n’ roll influences of Delta Spirit for the more melancholic influences of Appalachian folk and the early blues, Other Lives similarly infuses their influences with a modern sensibility.
This Wednesday, Feb. 18, Dan Smalls Presents Delta Spirit live at Castaways. Other Lives will open. Doors at 8pm, show starts at 9pm. $10 cover.