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thedeadamericans

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Hometown	Eugene, OR
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Band Members	Kyra Kelly (vocals, teen appeal, high heels, harmless ... » more
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Upcoming Shows	None

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About the Artist

The Dead Americans are a touring five-piece rock n' roll powerhouse based out of Eugene, Oregon. Featuring dual lead male/female vocals, they've developed their own X meets the Dandy Warhols/ Jefferson Airplane meets Nirvana alt. rock/post punk style....

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Cryin' Sunshine

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The Boy Who Shot Out the Sun

Press Coverage

The Dead Americans by Agate Hall Show
The Dead Americans are playing Big Brother-Big Sister to some young college bands tonight for what promises to be a wildly good time for anyone who wears comfortable shoes and is willing to use them. By garage band standards, the Dead Americans are veterans, playing steadily around town and attracting new fans everywhere they go. That includes undying loyalty and passionate promotion from one former KWVA-FM host, Mr. Random, Eugene’s unofficial mayor of live rock. The Dead Americans are a five-piece “rock ’n’ roll powerhouse with hella rad musicians and a mega-hot chick singer that can kick your (behind),” the group’s bio says. --Serena Markstrom

The Dead Americans, Alive On Stage by
The band's name is provocative, and the music is too, but not everything about the Dead Americans is as politically charged. Zak Johnson started the band four years ago while living out in the country, working on an organic farm and raising his young daughter. "The people I worked with were DJs and it really broadened my perspective and my enjoyment of music," Johnson said. "I started to listen to all this indie rock and all this obscure stuff and it really made me want to write songs and be in a band. When the war in Iraq started, Johnson felt inspired to action. "I had a radio and was listening to all the stuff going on about the war starting and it fueled me to want to create something remarkable and beautiful. Johnson had plenty of musical experience behind him, having played in Abacadubi, Olem Alves Band, West Coast Rhythm Kings and the UO Gospel Ensemble. But it took awhile before he found the solid line-up he has today. With production help from Eleven Eyes drummer Steve Weems, the band is celebrating the release of their debut CD, The Boy Who Shot Out the Sun. Self-produced and totally self-funded, the album took about a year and a half to record. "I'm really pleased with how it turned out," Johnson said. "It was a lot of hard work, and it's nice to have something to show for all your efforts. Johnson's grandparents owned a roller rink, and he inherited stacks of early rock and soul 45s. "I was playing them on my Fisher-Price record player … and just rocking out as a kid. I've always liked the classic sound, but I've also always liked the cutting edge attitude of indie rock. I would say our sound is like Jefferson Airplane, Pavement and Fugazi's lovechild. It's a lot of fun! BY VANESSA SALVIA

Stage Presence by GRRRLZ Rock showcase
When Cindy Ingram began booking bands, she wanted to use her position to promote female musicianship in Eugene. "It's very symbolic for a woman to be on stage," she says. "It takes a lot of courage. The Dead Americans GRRRLZ Rock started off as a modest plan: get a line-up of bands featuring women in rock and book them monthly at the Wetlands. But once Ingram floated her idea, she was blown away by the ensuing buzz. "Within a matter of three weeks I had five venues and 20 sponsors. People were calling saying basically 'Can I give you money?' Ingram began putting out feelers to a variety of acts; the response was so enthusiastic she found herself with more than 35 performers to fill five venues on five nights. "We actually had some big regional names that wanted to be a part of it, but the dates didn't work out. It has been a great lesson for me; it pays to ask. Just go out there and do it. It has been very encouraging and validating. With a lineup including big local names like Deb Cleveland Band, The Ovulators and Norma Fraser, Ingram knew GRRRLZ Rock had drawing power, but she wanted to make sure the bill reflected a diversity of female artists. Little Girl Big Spoon, Mary Ferris and The Subterranian Blackjacks are examples of teen or preteen musicians at the beginning of their careers. "There is a real generational element to these shows," Ingram says. Kyra Kelly of The Dead Americans says she was honored to be included in the line-up. The rock band's music often delves into personal struggles for individuality. Kelly feels GRRRLZ Rock fits perfectly with the Dead Americans' belief that society needs role models who choose to go against the grain. We live in a warrior culture," Kelly says. "Men and women compete with each other. Women compete with each other. It is nice to be coming together as a community within a spirit of cooperation. Ingram agrees. "It really feels like this idea is connecting the women, creating this budding music 'scene,'" she says. The experience has inspired Ingram to coordinate with other female booking agents to put on an outdoor women's music festival this summer. "If this GRRRLZ Rock thing is any indication of how supported it will be, I have no doubt we can pull it off. BY ADRIENNE VAN DER WELK

God Bless the Freaks by DAs on the scene in '08
Eugene's own Dead Americans, those rock 'em, sock 'em (if by "'em" you mean "the man") rollers who grind, scream and harmonize with every ounce of their anti-establishment beings, all the while mesmerizing with their eye-popping stage show. Come see society reflected through the eyes of two very different but highly stylized artistic entities. Miss Derringer and The Dead Americans play at 10 pm Wednesday, Feb. 6, at Luckey's. 21+ show. $3-$5. — Adrienne van der Valk

The Boy Who Shot Out the Sun by DAs Register Guard Review
The Boy Who Shot Out the Sun The Dead Americans (Self-produced, recorded by Brad Erichsen at Harmony Studios in Eugene) Fans of the rock, punk and psychedelic Dead Americans had been waiting for a debut release from them since at least 2003, when the band had its first gig. The five-piece band started in 2002, but its excellent debut release didn't come out until mid-July of this year. Zak Johnson and Kyra Kelly's voices complement each other nicely, especially in the song "Destroyer," but it's a shame there's not more of Kelly here. She handles the lead deftly in "Born to Burn" and "Life in Disguise. Johnson said for the group's next album, Kelly's voice will be featured more. That's good. A band bio says the Dead Americans have been compared to Jefferson Airplane, Cave Dogs and the Dandy Warhols. But they are starting to get better known around Eugene as their own entity - and they're starting to come out of their shell a bit. The Boy Who Shot Out the Sun" is largely a political album, dealing with national politics and power corruption. It stays fast-paced, with aggressive drums and guitar and strong lyrical content. Johnson wrote most of the 11 songs found here, but he said the reason the band is successful is the collaboration that each member is committed to. It feels like I've known them forever and I think that shows on stage when we get together," said Johnson, 28, who's also in the West Coast Rhythm Kings. Before the Dead Americans, Johnson tried to get other projects off the ground, but nothing jelled. He said things started to really come together for them when Kelly joined the band. Now that they're on a roll, all members have agreed to reinvest all the money they make playing gigs back into the band. They already are working on a follow-up album. I think the music is really good, but people will become a fan because of the arrangements," said Johnson, who sometimes comes up with lyrics and melodies in his dreams. "You just really have to have fun and be really into what you are doing and support other people." --Serena Markstrom

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Stage Specs

Technical Requirements

The DAs require a stage large enough to accommodate a five-piece rock band and at least two 110-volt outlets. For a nominal fee, they can bring their own PA and sound tech. In-house stage lighting is preferred, but can be provided by the band as well at an additional cost.

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thedeadamericans

About the Artist

Music

Press Coverage

Stage Specs

Technical Requirements

Technical Requirements