Short Bio
Get fired. Get divorced. Make a record. That wasn’t how Hamilton singer songwriter Deeps planned it, but that’s how he found the freedom to pursue music full time, sacrificing the comforts of family and a living wage to get real. “Some truth came out of hitting the bottom”, says Deeps, the stage name of Steve De Piante. His first full length solo record, “In The Aftermath of Last Night”.
The album pays tribute to his Americana roots, with a heavy addition of barroom pop rock. Like Springsteen, a strong hometown narrative runs through Deeps’ writing. Songs about rusting in Steeltown, rock n’ rolling to pay the bills and small city romance, delivered with attitude-filled vocals, and punctuated by southern gospel guitar, searing organ and upbeat drums.
Deeps set out on a cross-country solo tour on VIA Rail to celebrate Canada 150 in 2017, and he took the full band show to highlighted performances Mariposa Music Festival, The Lynn River Music and Arts Fest, The Cover of View Magazine, a Sold Out CD Release performance, a residency at Toronto's esteemed Cameron House, and garnering international press attention. Whether it’s an energetic festival show for thousands, or an intimate house concert for twenty, the audience can expect a passionate and deeply authentic storytelling experience.
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.””