Deke Dickerson Courtesy photo |
For his latest album, Deke Dickerson In 3 Dimensions, Dickerson decided to connect his various old-school passions - '50s R&B, surf guitar, country twang, garage thrash, rockabilly swing, and early rock 'n' roll - in a coherent package, fashioning a song cycle with separate sections devoted to rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, and hillbilly music. He even enlisted seminal New Orleans
DEKE DICKERSON AND THE ECCO FONICS 8:30pm Thursday, August 21 $8 Casbeers 1719 Blanco 732-3511 |
Even with his dedication to his musical roots, and his formidable work ethic - an average of 250 gigs a year - what really sets this Missouri native apart from the pack is his sense of humor. Dickerson named his imprint Major Label Records, just so he could one day tell his kids he'd had a Major Label contract. And last Halloween, the follically challenged frontman induced his bandmates to don wigs and dress as glam rockers for a San Antonio club date.
Rock 'n' roll was never just about a particular sound. It was also about a psychically liberating willingness to make yourself look ridiculous from time to time. Dickerson gets it. He knows there's no point playing hedonistic raveups if you're going to be all somber about it. •