Dieselhed

• Genre: Indie/Alternative
• Hometown: Arcata
• Dieselhed Website

About

Something of an alternative to Alt Country, Dieselhed's music isn't aimed at purists. While there's an unmistakable twang factor at work, especially in the aching harmonies of dual lead vocalists Zac Holtzman and Virgil Shaw, they don't strike the listener as cowboy-boot-wearing No Depression-ists in search of their long-lost roots. Tunes such as "Brown Dragon" or "Baby Song," for example, begin as innocent country rockers, only to derail in the form of a thrashing chorus or loopy saxophone interjection. And while their songs have a homey sing-along quality, their lyrics are filled with obscure references to inside jokes, regional humor, deadly M&Ms and the like. In terms of mood, the sleepy Elephant Rest Home (1999) has been their most consistent album, contrasting with the short-attention-span style-hopping of their earlier efforts. Time will tell if that record is a sign of "maturity" (shudder) or simply too much Nyquil, as they've yet to fully capture the scrappy charm of their superb live shows -- even if they have come pretty close.

- Will York