Deap Vally

After performing solo and in other Los Angeles acts, the duo of Lindsey Troy (vocals/guitar) and Julie Edwards (drums) formed in a crochet class in Silver Lake about five years ago. Deap Vally consistently draws comparisons to more household names, such as The White Stripes and Led Zeppelin, though one could easily argue that Troy and Edwards have already succeeded in blazing their own unique path.

Muddy guitar work slams against ’60s backbeats and defines the mainline running through Deap Vally’s stylistic prowess. Troy belts like the lovechild of Janis Joplin and Joan Jett while Edwards’ percussion chops reside in Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney) territory. Their contemporaries would be hard-pressed to mimic the rock n’ roll purity found in tracks like “Lies” and “Gonnawanna,” the latter featured on last month’s Femejism, the duo’s second record and first on a major label.

Deap Vally feels like a punch to the chest, grungy, but polished enough to avoid the quality police. It’s Americana punk at its finest, replete with distortion, howls and moments of pure chaotic bliss. (See the track “Royal Jelly.”) To truly summarize what Deap Vally represents, one must look no further than their numerous music videos. Beyond the breath of fresh musical air, what’s truly admirable about the duo is the detail of the band’s aesthetic. A cohesive game plan, intentional or not, is at work here, propelling the act beyond the level of just another noisy guitar/drums duo. Deap Vally has managed to embody the best parts of American rock music without feeling like a throwback. Mark our words, they will be massive. In the band’s short lifespan, Edwards and Troy have already landed opening slots with the likes of Wolfmother, Muse and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, a sign of more exposure to come for rock music’s best kept secret.

– Jameson Ketchum

*Deap Vally plays Oct. 21 at Roseland Theater. They will open for Death From Above 1979. Tickets here.