The songs I sometimes didn’t like when I was young are the songs I love now. I called my father one night to tell him I now understood Van Morrison; all the while Tribe Called Quest, Cake and Elvis Costello were rattling along with the laughter of the people I knew back then; talking excitedly, I thanked my Dad.
Being inspired and being willing to change are intrinsically dependent on one another it would seem, especially if you’re going to keep space for art and music. Music is always on the move.
When I was 16 I watched my Dad get through his divorce, by starting a band. I realised I would be a happier person my whole life if I never let music slip my grateful grasp. Music heals, and we’ve been hurting. Hamilton has 1000s of stories on every block. I am Steve Deeps and I am intent on telling those stories in whatever way comes to me.
In the Aftermath of Last Night is a Canadiana concept album set in Steeltown that kicks some serious bottom while tugging at heartstrings throughout its nine rock-solid tracks.
There is palpable pain in some of De Piante’s lyrics, yet the songs are set loose to fly by the quartet backing him up.
The Stonesy riffing in Run and the Tom Petty/Heartbreakers-esque Come On Back keep the motors running well.
Jeff Monk – The Winnipeg Free Press (Link to full article.)
It’s Deeps’ style that might initially ingratiate him with an
audience but Deeps has found his own voice nestled
somewhere betwixt Gram Parsons, Van Morrison and John
Mellencamp on a collection of songs that exudes some
heart and soul as well as style.
Deeps is writing deeply personal folk songs basically
retelling a lot of the events of his time in Hamilton.
Musically, the single's video has a pop rock vibe like an
Arkells single with a grittier vocal but other tracks mine
more of an Americana vibe conjuring up Van Morrison on
“Empty Handed” but his style can veer more into country
folk rock “When Push Comes To Shove” to roots rock mined
from The Band “Come On Back”, funkier soul with “Thunder
and Rain” or even country balladeering in a Tom Waits vibe
like the album closer “Fumes and Flames”.
Ric Taylor – The View
“Deeps’ writing has a strong hometown narrative with songs about rusting in Steeltown, rock ‘n rolling to pay the bills, and small city romance, all delivered with attitude-filled vocals and punctuated by southern gospel guitar, searing keyboards, and upbeat drums. “It’s the sound of Hamilton, and it’s evolved from the band playing together in nearly every bar and venue in town,” said Deeps, who plans to rock Mariposa with “serious alt-country soul.””