Hearing a truly eclectic band is always a breath of fresh air for me. I spend a lot of my time sifting through bands who, though talented, find it hard to deviate from time-tested genres. So my ears perked when I heard my roommate listening to Da Di Da one day. I asked what genre they were, and the best description she could give was, “a kind of jazz-rock with a lot of storytelling.”
I walked to my room to download Da Di Da’s EP, and I soon realized just how right she was.
Currently based in Austin, Texas, Da Di Da came together when Don Denham made his first album with fellow musicians Reo Casey and Taylor Browne in 2010. The past two years have been kind to these three men. Their explosive stage performances, musical ability, and creative lyrics have earned them a devoted fan base throughout North and Central Texas.
Far from anything run of the mill, Da Di Da’s first album, entitled The Crowbar Seperation, is dangerously original. The album should be listened to as a whole story, with the songs acting as the chapters. The album centers on a man named A. Gentleman who is unlucky enough to survive a zombie apocalypse. Each song describes a different aspect of Mr. Gentleman’s post-apocalyptic life. He must fend off reanimated corpses, search for shelter, and prevent himself from going insane. Such is life among the walking dead.
Da Di Da’s sound is a patchwork of genres. Their music sets the tempo, so to speak, of A. Gentlman’s struggle to survive. The guitar and soaring vocals kick in when he must run for his life; however, the mood becomes somber and bluesy when night descends and Mr. Gentleman is alone with his grim thoughts. The Crowbar Separation is an emotional tour de force, sweeping the listener through fear, anger, hope, desperation and dread.
You can download The Crowbar Separation through Da Di Da’s website for free. Click HERE to get it through their Facebook page. Keep an eye out for their new full-length album dropping this Summer.
(Photos courtesy of Da Di Da.)
###
Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of the Austinot Music Podcast? Send Austinot Dusty a quick note by clicking HERE. He’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
I love Dadida! My friend Don has a great voice! What an imaginative way to write an album, too!
It really is. Jazz and storytelling go so well together. Thanks for telling me to listen to them.