Dehd is stopping in DC on their ambitious world tour with their fourth album, Blue Skies. Co-lead singers Emily Kempf and Jason Balla are supported on drums by Eric McGrady in this three-piece indie rock group from Chicago. 

Covid was not enough to stop the group from developing their Cali-style surf rock laced with Beach-House-like lyricism while record Blue Skies. With moody tones that swing from melancholy to love and back to heartbreak, the dynamic sound of Dehd stands out. Kempf’s post-punk, 80s-inspired voice is punctuated by yelps and exclamations that meld with Balla’s anchoring voice to create a sound larger than either one of them alone.

It is hard to ignore Dehd’s sincerity. When the band formed, a relationship between co-singers and writers Emily Kempf and Jason Balla did too. When the relationship ended, the band kept making music. The dynamic between the two on the album still has evidence of what once was. With much of their songwriting being autobiographical, by the time Blue Skies was recorded, the group was practiced in capturing tension and joy with a genuine sound.

Dehd is playing the Black Cat on October 23rd at 9:00 with tickets available for $20. The opener is called Number One Popstar, the brainchild of Kate Hollowell, a Lady Gaga and Sasami collaborator. Self-proclaimed “comedy act turned concert,” Number One Popstar, relies heavily on visuals and is bound to be a show to remember. The Black Cat strongly encourages masking and offers ticket refunds for missing a show due to Covid.