Dragondeer

On June 11, 2019 Color Red will release a digital 45 by Dragondeer, one of Colorado’s fastest rising acts that have turned heads across the country with a distinctive blend of psych-blues and soul. The release coincides with Dragondeer’s active summer schedule including key festival plays at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, DE, Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI, and Electric Forest in Rothbury, MI.

“Mirage Á Trois” and “Max Patch” find the group exploring new sonic territories with the help of Jordan Linit on guitar (Analog Son) and Jeff Franca on percussion (Thievery Corporation). “Mirage Á Trois” takes late-night downtempo disco flavors reminiscent of Portugal the Man and Gorillaz and tells the tale of inner-conflict between the proverbial “me, myself, and I.” “Max Patch” is a smoky-mountain funk tune that tips its hat to a carefree, moonshine-drinking jam session that transpired in a cabin at the highest point in the Appalachian Mountains. Both tracks represent the collaborative nature of Color Red and the community within the Colorado music scene.

On expanding their sound, Dragondeer’s Eric Halborg details the decision to partner with Color Red on these brand new tracks:
“Dragondeer has been naturally adding shades of old school funk to the swampy blues and soul that's been our forte. Going into the Color Red sessions, we consciously allowed ourselves to go into new sonic territories. The tracks were inspired by the classic sounds of Stax Records and The Meters catalog coupled with the indie dance floor sensibilities of Gorillaz and Portugal The Man. The Color Red studio provided the perfect space and vibe to explore and be creative musically all while being captured to analog tape and produced by Sunsquabi's Josh Fairman. We love the fact that Color Red encourages collaboration between artists. Both of these new Dragondeer tracks include special guests. Percussion from Jeff Franca of Thievery Corporation gave us the extra motor and shake the tracks needed, while the guitar work of Jordan Linit of Analog Son delivered the perfect 70s guitar driven funk that we had envisioned.”

Dragondeer has shared the stage with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Shakey Graves, and Drive By Truckers and has performed at Telluride Blues & Brews, Grandoozy Music Festival, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, and more to name a handful of accolades. The digital 45 on Color Red comes ahead of a series of singles the band will release throughout the summer of 2019 culminating in a full-length release at the end of the year.

Track Description:

“Mirage Á Trois” presents a daring merger between downtempo disco and Southern funk. Dragondeer’s insightful play on words draws attention to the relationship between the proverbial me, myself, and I. “Call it paranoia or delusion...it's a cautionary tale of getting past the tricks your mind can play on you,” vocalist Eric Halborg explains. Casey Sidwell’s bass line, Carl Sorensen’s drum pocket and Thievery Corporation's Jeff Franca's tasteful percussion represent initial stability. Guitar exchanges between Cole Rudy and Analog Son guitarist Jordan Linit spiral into energy that lends itself into spinning thoughts and hazy daydreams. Halborg and Linit heighten the hallucinatory tale through wistful solos as the song ramps up then fades out mirroring an illusion rather than a crash and burn.
“Max Patch” is Dragondeer’s token of appreciation to the highest open field on the Appalachian trail. The smokey mountain funk tune was written when the group had a few days off on tour and stayed in a rural cabin on the North Carolina/Tennessee border. The song lyrics speak to the easy vibes reminiscent of a moonshine drinking jam session between close family and friends situated above the cloud line at the cabin. The carefree groove presents equal parts soul and rock and roll, just as the lyrics call out—think one part Meters, one part Allman Brothers stirred up with a twist of funky guitar from Jordan Linit (Analog Son) and poised conga grooves lent by Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation). Dragondeer dove into expansive sonic territories during their Color Red session that embodies the collaborative vision of both the label and the Colorado music scene within itself.


"Dragondeer hit the stage with their thick blues rock sound. Reminiscent of early Led Zeppelin, The Black Keys, and electric Taj Mahal, the quartet stunned the audience with their hybrid of Mississippi Delta blues and 1960s psychedelic rock. Lead vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player Eric Halborg led the band with a rare ferocity, his deep growl and swampy harmonica blending perfectly with Cole Rudy’s raw pedal steel playing. Shocking many in attendance and quickly catapulting onto the Denver scene, Dragondeer is a growing force to be reckoned with." - Live For Live Music

"Nestled somewhere between the quicksilver psychedelia of the '60s and bone-thumpin' blues from Mississippi's yesteryear, these Colorado cats have crafted a sound that is equal parts cosmic and grooving"
- Break Thru Radio