Swim Team in the Dessert: Dirty Heads are Drowning in Good Music
Alt hip hop, reggae fusion, ska, and acoustic: just a few of the different genres sometimes used to describe Dirty Heads, a long-haired group of miscreants whom many would consider the Sublime of the modern generation, and that’s saying something considering Sublime is still out there tearing it up on the road alongside singer Rome Ramirez. Currently the band is touring with support from indie pop group Jukebox and the Ghost as well as taking the group Just Loud out on their first funky tour across the U.S. The band is spending 2018 supporting the release of not one but two albums the year prior, Swim Team and Dessert. The tour made a stop at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works on 10/8/18, and our only regret is that we cannot follow them to EVERY stop.
Opening up the evening was Just Loud. Admittedly an unfamiliar name, by the end of the show it was one that definitely would not be forgotten any time soon. This band embodies funk, from Just Loud’s fantastic hair to the groovy bass lines that permeate their songs.
Up next were Jukebox and the Ghost. This power pop three-piece had a slightly more familiar flavor, combining keys, guitar, and fervent drumming to create a sound all their own. On top of intricately woven original songs, these guys blasted out an amazing rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” which had the whole crowd singing along, as one would anticipate of the classic.
Finally it was time for Dirty Heads to take the stage. With songs that mix hip hop’s hard-hitting truth of daily life along with the unifying nature of reggae, the band serenaded the crowd. For lighting, the band mostly exists in darkness, opting for multiple rotating lights along the front of the stage, a pair of magical bar lights at either side of the stage, and of course several LED palm trees for ambiance. This combination of lights leads to a ghostly appearance throughout the performance, mostly leaving the band silhouetted against the background.
After several top hits, the band pulled out a set of chairs and returned to their roots as an acoustic band, even busting out some classics for the long-time fans.
Finally, the band returned to finish out the evening with several more high-energy tunes that had the whole crowd bouncing and nodding heads in enjoyment.
With 17 stops left on this year’s tour, including stops at Buzzfest, Mayan Mayhem Tattoo and Arts Festival, Riptide Music Festival, and any number of other amazing venues along the way, these three bands are must-see acts. So break out your bongos and snag your tickets ASAP!
