Now that Owl City has been taken over by 13-year-olds in hoodies and the promise of fame and stardom (for shame!), it’s time to look for the next blossoming one-man synth-pop project who sharpened his synthesizer and laptop skills deep within his parents basement.And for that we look to the fine city of Detroit, where behind the glistening mask of Deastro (pronounced like the infamous villain from GI Joe, “Destro”) is a 22-year-old electronic-pop wunderkind named Randolph Chabot. Deastro hits Great Scott tonight, alongside the UK’s Max Tundra and Hotline’s local pick for big things in 2010, Mystery Roar (featuring members of everyone, really, including the Information, Cassette, the Bon Savants, Westward Trail and others Supergroup!).
While the comparisons to Owl City are easy based on both their origins, Deastro separates himself by avoiding saccharine-pop overdoses in favor of meaty, New Orderian hooks and sweaty trance melodies.
Like Owl City, Deastro recorded his first few albums in his parents’ basement, but did so without the subliminal Christian shoeshine, and the results are sweeping synth-driven anthems that range from shy-wink dream-pop to pulsating modern electro inspired dance music. It’s a synthesized dream that should be on people's radar, and we're psyched to find Deastro making his Boston debut (as far as we know, maybe he played a basement in JP last year, whatever) tonight in Allston.
For a proper Deastro intro, Hotline recommends the fiery dance track “Toxic Crusaders” and tennis-shoe stomper "The Shaded Forests." Here are some vids, press deets and full tour dates from Tell All Your Friends listed below.
PRESSER: Randolph Chabot has been making albums since he was 12 years old -- now, at 22, the Detroit-based musician known as Deastro is ready for his close-up. "Vermillion Plaza" the second single from Deastro's upcoming full-length debut Moondagger, miniaturizes the album's best assets and shoots them out of a cannon. Plucky synth arpeggios, end-of-the-world choruses, joyously careening melody lines--it's all there, squashed into a life-affirming three minutes and 50 seconds. When Chabot pleads for contact, singing, "Would you be my son / 'cause all of mine have died?," it's less a cry of self-pity than an exhilarating salute to the power of human connection.
Recently, Chicago-based photographer/videographer James P. Morse -- a longtime friend and collaborator of Ghostly's -- followed Chabot around Detroit for a day and edited the footage into "Ghostly Presents: Deastro," a video profile whose warm, colorful aesthetic matches Chabot's energy and positivity to a T. Chabot putters around his Detroit home, visits his favorite bookstore, gushes about Isaac Asimov and Simone de Beauvoir, and plays a sweaty, packed show with his band. It's a loving portrait of an artist who stays true to his beliefs, staying passionate, engaged, and creative in all of his endeavors.
Deastro's full-band debut, Moondagger, arrived on June 23, on Ghostly International.
US Tour Dates
11.05 Chicago @ Schubas - Max Tundra HL
11.07 Detroit @ Magic Stick - Deastro HL
11.08 Toronto @ The Drake - Max Tundra HL
11.09 Montreal @ Lambi - Deastro HL
11.10 Boston @ Great Scott - Max Tundra HL
11.11 New York @ Mercury Lounge - Deastro HL
11.12 Washington DC @ DC9 - Max Tundra HL
11.13 Baltimore @ Metro Gallery - Deastro HL
11.14 Philadelphia @ Kung Fu Necktie - Max Tundra HL
11.16 Atlanta @ Drunken Unicorn - Deastro HL
11.18 Austin @ Mohawk - Max Tundra HL
11.19 Dallas @ The Cavern - Free Energy HL
11.20 Kansas CIty @ Czar Bar - Max Tundra HL
11.21 Denver @ Larimer Lounge - Deastro HL
11.22 Salt Lake City @ Urban Lounge - Max Tundra HL
11.24 LA @ Echo - Deastro HL
11.25 San Francisco @ Bottom of the HIll - Max Tundra HL
11.27 Portland @ Doug Fir - Deastro HL
11.28 Seattle @ Nectar - Max Tundra HL
11.29 Vancouver @ Media Club - Deastro HL
Dance it up.
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