Fours guys, two mandolins, a cello, a banjo, and rough riding vocals are the only ingredients in The Dead South’s bluegrass folk ensemble. Meant to be a somewhat satirical take on the bluegrass genre, the band still maintains a vision of accuracy and authenticity to the form. Formed after members Nate Hills and Danny Kenyon’s ended their grunge band, The Dead South has a unique implementation of slight punk with bluegrass, creating their own unique spin on bluegrass that actually advances the genre, instead of just creating a parody. Their lyrics feature a dark side of frontier life, with the usual debauchery and violence it takes to live a harsh life. The band performs in white button up shirts, black slacks, and wide brimmed hats for an eloquent hillbilly look.
The band formed in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in 2012, playing at local venues. In 2013, they created their first EP, The Ocean Went and We Were to Blame, successfully capturing the stopping bluegrass sound. Their first full length album, Good Company, was actually produced by a German record label, which led to The Dead South, touring all over Europe. Good Company features their well known song In Hell I’ll be in Good Company, which garnered them a lot of attention. Their second and third full length albums, Illusion and Doubt (2016) and Sugar & Joy (2019) exemplify the band’s ability to tell a story through their music.
If you’re looking for a hoedown of a good time, your best bet is to see The Dead South live!
The Dead South
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Doors: 6:30PM
General Admission: $25
The House of Blues
329 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60654
More information here
Purchase tickets here