The Dexateens - New South Rising!

It’s been a while, as I’ve been on hiatus cheating Death, quite successfully I might add. But that’s another story for another day.

Today I’d like to sing the praises of my current favorite band, the Dexateens, who call Tuscaloosa, Alabama home. I’ve known about the Dexateens for several years, having been  enlightened by my good friend Terrell Benton. Terrell has worked in the record biz longer than I have and is a man of infinite knowledge and impeccable taste. No less than Patterson Hood, primary songwriter and guiding light of the amazing Drive-By Truckers spent his tutelage under Mr. Benton, working at the Record Bar in Florence, AL.

Terrell told me I HAD to hear this “new” band from Alabama, who had actually formed in 1998 in Tuscaloosa. Having rarely steered me wrong, I took his advice to heart and went and picked  up a  copy of the Dexateens self-titled 2004 release and was promptly blown away. The lead-off track, “Cardboard Hearts” hit me like the Replacements and the Georgia Satellites were in a car wreck.  All Music Guide describe’s the Dexateens as “a gale-force fusion of punk and hard rock fueled by massive doses of guitar firepower”. The band employs three lead guitarists, creating a wall of sonic chaos to brilliant effect.

I was immediately hooked and each subsequent release revealed more varied and tuneful writing and playing, always squarely grounded in the southern rock tradition, but fueled by a punk-ish energy. “Red Dust Rising” and  “Hardwire Healing” are both wall-to-wall winners, reflecting their southern influences but with that hard edge that makes each record uniquely the Dexateens. Their newest release “Singlewide” strays from previous efforts, as they abandoned the usual sonic maelstrom for a more acoustic and reflective style. Despite the departure, “Singlewide” is no less engaging, and a welcome addition to the catalog, revealing a band that is sure of itself and confidently approaching the peak of their considerable powers.

I finally caught the band live this past Memorial Day weekend in Lexington, KY after missing numerous appearances in Nashville for various reasons. My bad. Just don’t expect the laid-back vibe of “Singlewide” at a live gig, as the ‘teens bring it full-on with a power and intensity matched by few. I grinned from ear-to-ear the entire set.

Someone in the crowd shouted “Freebird”, and the band promptly obliged, destroying the Skynyrd warhorse, and I mean that in the best way possible!

Having survived several personnel changes over the years, the current line-up consists of founding member and mainstay Elliott McPherson (guitar, vocals) Lee Bains III (guitar, vocals), Brad Armstrong (guitar, vocalsl) Matt Patton (amazing bass) and Brian Gosdin (drums).

The band says they just started taking things seriously about a year ago, but you damn sure can’t tell it. Good news for us, because these guys are the real deal. After thirty years of running record stores, I tend to be a jaded, cynical old bastard, and am rarely moved to wave the flag like I have been by the Dexateens.

The best news, aside from being alive to write this article, is the Dexateens will be  appearing at Tidball’s on Sept. 24th with Mona. To miss them is your loss. Tidball’s has been doing some nice things lately, bringing in touring acts like the Dexateens and the Whigs, so come on out, support live music, and hear the best band you’ve never heard.

Roll ‘Tide!

Jeffrey Sweeney is the General Manager of FYE; a local musicologist and pop culture guru.