Seattle – The Fremont Abbey paid witness to a phenomenal show last week by local group Deep Sea Diver, who were celebrating the recent release of their new EP, Always Waiting. The first of two release shows (a second was added due to the lightning speed at which the first sold-out), this performance was filled with intimacy, emotion, stellar musicianship, and theatrics.
Fronted by Jessica Dobson, Deep Sea Diver is rounded out by Peter Mansen on drums, Garrett Gue on bass, and Elliot Jackson on keys, guitar, and backing vocals. Dobson is a fearless leader, no doubt due to years of touring with indie rock stalwarts such as Beck, The Shins, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Spoon, and Divine Fits. Her voice is versatile, ranging from angst-ridden belts to pure, beautiful ballads, while her guitar skills are ferociously capable. Her lyrics are introspective yet universal, and her compositions are textured and filled with unexpected instrumentations.
Always Waiting, the follow-up to Deep Sea Diver’s critically acclaimed 2012 debut album History Speaks, hints at how the band has developed. The production is incredible, the music itself is fresh and wrought with poppy elements to heavy indie rock to 80s synth, and the lyrics are more mature. Performing all four tracks off the EP, as well as several from History Speaks and new songs that will appear on the as-yet-untitled second LP (due out early 2015), Deep Sea Diver delivered an incredible performance that brought the audience to their feet with thunderous applause.
Arousing curiosity at the start of the show was a white bed sheet strung across the stage. The band took the stage, veiled by the sheet, as a light behind them projected their shadows onto the makeshift curtain. Dobson’s guitar-picking filled the room, and all focus was on the sound; the audience was listening intently just to the music, and the purpose of the bed sheet was fulfilled. At the song’s breakdown, having built to an incredibly lush, full bridge with all instruments coming in, the bed sheet was torn down, and the audience whooped for the invigorating show opening.
Dobson switched gears into “One By One,” creating layered “Ooh’s” with loops; however, due to some technical issues, she had to start over – charming the crowd as she owned up to the mistake. In the supportive environment though, the mishap didn’t faze anyone. The standout single off the new EP, “One By One,” is filled with heavy synth, captivating instrumental textures, and soaring vocals.
Next, they performed “Creature of Comfort” live for the first time, which will appear on the full-length. Introducing “NWO,” off History Speaks, Dobson dedicated the song “to Owen and Phineas,” two young boys in the audience, as it was their very first show. “NWO” was a standout, with bright, tropical keys, poppy vocals, and captivating rhythms.
Dobson’s interaction with the crowd, which apparently included many friends and family, created such a strong, positive environment – one of my favorite concert-going experiences. The audience loved her back, as her request for a whisky ginger was granted immediately, and shouts of “Thanks for playing!” and “You’re killing it!” were heard in between songs.
At intermission, a tall, cloaked, masked man took the stage. Bewildered looks between audience members were silenced as he opened a book and read in a booming, dramatic voice that the show was not yet over, but we could enjoy the many more musical stylings of Deep Sea Diver by heading upstairs to the Great Hall.
The audience rose, climbed the steps, and filled the abbey space, which was intimately lit with candles. Guitar picking then was heard, and Dobson theatrically descended stairs with her instrument and began singing. After the track, she asked, “Did my brother freak you guys out?” in regards to the cloaked, masked man, and the crowd laughed.
Dobson then took the synth and played Always Waiting’s “Juno Song,” a nice, deceivingly well-crafted tune. For the last number, she invited several friends up, and announced that Janelle Monae had been a big influence in the past year. “We’ll be serving up some R&B now,” she said, and launched into “Primetime,” off Monae’s 2013 Electric Lady. It was a beautiful cover, and the abbey’s space allowed for the vocals to permeate the room and resonate within each listener. At song’s end, the audience rose to their feet, thunderously applauding Deep Sea Diver, Dobson herself, and the evening’s incredible performance.
Caitlin Peterkin
With degrees in journalism and music, Caitlin’s written for Paste Magazine, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and MajoringinMusic.com. She loves cheese, laughing at GIFs of corgis, road trip sing-alongs, and connecting with people over good beer and good music.
Latest posts by Caitlin Peterkin (see all)
- 6 New Bands to Catch at Capitol Hill Block Party - July 21, 2016
- Israel Nash – Silver Season - October 7, 2015
- The Season of Israel Nash - October 1, 2015
