The New Deal is Coming Back to New York; Throwing Down Two Nights at BK Bowl

For the past twenty-five years, music genres have been split up and fused together time and time again. Some quickly fell by the wayside while others grew into organic cornerstones of the music scene. Jamtronica is one of the genres that stuck. There are a few bands that were key pioneers in the creation of jamtronica. The New Deal is one of them, a power trio that legitimately originated and innovated the genre. On May 29th and 30th, the livetronica three-piece from Toronto will be throwing down back-to-back dance parties at Brooklyn Bowl.  Anybody who loves improvisational dance music should definitely get tickets to these shows. Although their original drummer Darren Shearer left the band, Jamie Shields and Dan Kurtz weren’t ready to end everything they had worked so hard for. After a brief hiatus, they announced that they’d return with a new drummer, their friend, Joel Stouffer.

 Since the early 2000s the New Deal has been a staple in the American Jam scene. Over the years, the band has made appearances at numerous festivals across the country. Camp Bisco, Electric Forest, Summercamp, All Good; the list goes on and on. The New Deal has played some legendary sets at Camp Bisco especially. They have performed next to the likes of the Disco Biscuits, Lotus, STS9 and Umphreys McGee. Gaining fans from most every band they’ve played with over the years and nothing has changed. This year, they have already played along side all four bands at Dominican Holidaze.  If you’re not a big fan of jambands and prefer to see DJs spin electronic, the New Deal will satisfy your taste as well.  They are guaranteed to cross genres as much as any DJ; From Deep House and Trance to Break-beat and Drum & Bass. Weaving in and out of both familiar and foreign territory, pushing the boundaries with dynamics and precision.

the New Deal @ Camp Bisco X 2011

 It’s not easy to replace a founding member of a trio, especially when all three musicians can read each other on stage. Nobody can deny the fact that drummer Darren Shearer was a pillar of the New Deal. The sound and style that he contributed to the band was unmistakable. Although it’s not easy to replace an original drummer, it has been done. The Disco Biscuits and Lotus have both been forced to replace their original drummers. A bands original sound may slightly change but if it’s meant to be, they’ll lock into new rhythms and grooves eventually. These upcoming shows at Brooklyn Bowl will be interesting without a doubt. The last time the New Deal played in New York City was at Terminal 5, co-headlining with Conspirator. It’s going to be really cool to see them headlining such an intimate NYC venue this time around. Horizon Wireless, who’s opening on the 29th, had this to say about the pair of shows,  “If you’ve ever wanted to see one of the bands that pioneered livetronica, come. If you want to see them throw down for a crowd half the size of what it would be at any other venue in New York; all while bowling, eating Blue Ribbon fried chicken and drinking some tasty brews… then this is where you’ll be that night. If that’s not enough… We’re also playing, so see you there.”

the New Deal @ Terminal 5 2014

 I’m personally eager to see if they have grown as a band since the last time I saw them in September. They have played a solid amount of shows since then so I’m confident that they’ve stepped it up.  Plus, they've always loved playing in New York. Like Dan Kurtz said when I interviewed him in September, “New York kind of feels like where the New Deal was born”. I asked him “Like a home away from home?” and he said, “Yeah, you could say that”. Historically, the band has delivered some of the best shows of their career in New York City. When they started touring in the U.S., New York became a main destination. Wetlands Preserve in Manhattan quickly turned into a favorite venue as they continuously packed the room, show after show. The New Deal will be extremely comfortable on stage at Brooklyn Bowl; I think they'll feel right at home. Whether you’ve seen them or you haven’t, you should really go to these shows. If you can’t be at both, get to one night at least. Regardless if you like jambands or DJs, you will definitely have a good time. The New Deal might put on a show that you’ll never forget. You'll never know if you don't go.

                                                the New Deal @ Wetlands Preserve 2000