Saturday night’s show at The Oriental Theater (known colloquially as The O) brought a perfectly paired bill of opener Gustaf and headliner Dehd for a show packed with weirdness and wonder.
Gustaf’s sound and presence were a true representation of the gritty art sound coming out of New York, specifically Brooklyn, right now. Their set exemplified the range of their discography with melodic and upbeat songs in addition to others that were more challenging and experimental. Their sound possessed qualities that reminded me of Okay Kaya and Laurie Anderson with a gritty punk edge that culminated to an all together intriguing experience.
Lead vocalist Lydia Gammill added an element of drama to their performance with theatrical hand gestures and drawn out facial expressions that only added to the wackiness and compulsion. Gustaf seamlessly converted those in the audience who weren’t fans before, into dedicated followers and only further impressed those who were already fans to begin with.
On the other hand, most of the audience were fans of Dehd to begin with, as it typically goes with headlining acts. Still, their down to earth stage presence and emotive songs drew their fans even closer and made for a show that warmed hearts. The band opened their set with “Windows” off of their 2023 album Blue Skies. An uplifting and inviting song, it made for the perfect opener that immersed the crowd from the jump.
They followed with “Loner” and “Moonlight” off of their 2020 album Flower of Devotion, with songs “Letter” and “Flood” off of the album making it to the stage later in the night. They also played a handful of songs off of their latest album Poetry, including “Don’t Look Down,” “Light On,” “Necklace,” “Mood Ring,” and “Hard Love.” They played fan favorites “Bad Love” and “Lucky” as well, being sure to deliver on their most popular tracks, which produced a communal feeling amongst the crowd, as everyone was singing and cheering along.
Their setlist was truly a mishmash of songs—in the best way possible. During their set vocalist and bassist Emily Kempf said herself that before tour the band picks a handful of all their songs and rolls with those for their setlist. Regardless of how much thought was put into the songs they chose to play, the band achieved a perfect balance of tracks off of various albums that showcased their efforts and evolution through the past nine years of making music together.
The band’s stage presence was also proof that with time comes a chemistry between bandmates, that in Dehd’s case, makes the show that much more enjoyable to be at. Each member showed up fully authentically, opting to jump around on stage with a lime green guitar (as in guitarist Jason Balls’ case) or standing in the background holding it down as the heartbeat of each song (as in drummer Eric McGrady’s case). It didn’t feel like the band was putting on any kind of show, because they didn’t have to. Showing up just as they are, with their vulnerable yet addictively catchy songs, was all any fan could ask for.
The band ended their set with “Dog Days” as a cherry on top of an already satisfying night then stripped down to Balla on drums, McGrady on bass and Kempf with her voice alone, taking center stage for the song “Alien.” And of course, after all was said and done, the band remained their gracious selves as they walked off the stage and into the crowd to chat with their fans.
Dehd
Gustaf
Photos by Ivy Owens
