Check out the new video from Alberta & The Dead Eyes, “Lil Bird,” out November 12 on their new record, You Said Something.
If you ask the members of Alberta & The Dead Eyes about their new record, they will all say the same thing: “It’s different, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.” Dave Boone’s work as Alberta has spanned many years and artistic iterations. When he first gathered the Dead Eyes crew, which consisted of Erik Washington on drums and Bhuti Bhuti on bass at the time, the trio cut their teeth on the road and then recorded an entire project during the pandemic, mostly collaborating virtually between Detroit and New Orleans.
For their newest project, You Said Something, out November 12, the band has added Ashlan Ounanian to the crew, bringing lap steel and additional percussion to the group’s ever-evolving sound. Boone’s songwriting prowess is evident, as are his efforts to relinquish creative control over the end product, resulting in tracks that bear a resemblance to his previous work while allowing the work of his bandmates to flourish.
Washington’s drum parts lend both steadiness and excitement to the music, Ounanian’s lap steel flutters between atmospheric and blues grit, while Bhuti’s unique approach to bass is a welcome wildcard. The vocal contributions from both Washington and Bhuti add depth and complexity to the melodic content of the songs, and overall You Said Something is a reason to notice one of the most promising acts out of New Orleans.
The old-school grittiness of “Lil Bird” hooks you right away. There’s a wistful confidence throughout, from the shuffling drums to the whistle flourishes to the playful lyrics of…”Who’s to blame? Not me, not you, who cares? What’s new?”
“It’s as if I wrote my own version of Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins” says Boone. “And then created a cliff notes version.”
