Boys to Men

Finding inspiration in the morning-after regrets of one party too many, Deep Cuts’ jazz-flecked indie rock comes of age.

Daniel Ortiz
1_CityBookDeepcutsEdit_DOrtizPhoto_071918

The secret sauce of Slip off in the Dark, local band Deep Cuts’ new five-song EP, just might be alcohol. Or, rather, a hangover. “It’s kind of the aftermath of it all,” says bassist Dylan Villarreal, 24, of the album. “Like the really bad next day.”


Two years in the making, Slip arrives after Villarreal and lead vocalist Chase Harris, 29, spent years engrained in Houston nightlife. While they remain mum on specifics — “That’s gotta go off the record,” Villarreal says coyly — they speak openly about the urgency behind their recent decision to part ways as roommates in their Heights house, as a means of putting the brakes on their partying. “It melted down so fast,” says Harris, a slightly guarded deep thinker with platinum locks. “We had to draw the line.” They channeled their experiences into an album that captures that fuzzy hangover mix of regret and self-reflection.

Take “Better,” a wistful track that explores the fallacy of alcohol as escapism, or the musically complex “What Are We Celebrating,” which forces the narrator to confront his reckless behavior. Dreamy arrangements inject levity into these themes: Think ’80s pop, but with a mellow undercurrent much like Harris and Villarreal’s personalities. (They’re not sold on the “chill wave” description often applied to their music; they prefer “indie pop.”) Their influences are wide, from Sade to jazz fusion, and they’ve been known to cover Drake’s “Just Hold On” at live shows.

On Slip, they add a few new elements to their repertoire, such as the flourishes of salsa on “True to You,” and the use of drum machines instead of acoustic drums. The latter allowed the band to record the entire album in Harris’ bedroom (later mixed at SugarHill Recording Studio), and gives Slip a more lived-in, communal vibe, says Harris.

A native Houstonian, Harris is a thoughtful musician who learned to read and play music in marching band. He started Deep Cuts several years back with a rotation of other musicians, including venerable local sax player Josiah Hall as of late. Harris has led the band through the local festival circuit (Summer Fest, Day for Night, SXSW). But with Slip, Deep Cuts has a firmer identity, one to which Harris and Villarreal’s relationship is central.

They met just three years ago when Villarreal joined the band, and were soon inseparable. Villarreal brings a carefree energy to the duo and a sarcastic sense of humor. They riff off each other and share a deep affinity for Neon Indian and its lead singer Alan Palomo, whom they recently met (“To meet people like that and they’re nice to us, that’s mind-blowing,” says Harris).

It makes sense, then, that the guys are eager to move the band — and their lives — forward. They’re saving up money to relocate to New York, where their manager lives. This month, the band will play a series of concerts there, and record their first music video. And the next Deep Cuts album is already top of mind. “It’s going to be a lot more mature,” Harris promises. The day after a hangover typically is.

AT TOP: Deep Cuts’ Josiah Hall, Chase Harris and Dylan Villarreal

Art+Culture
‘Culture of Service and Accountability’ Supports Mission of Orion EMS

Gerard O’Brien, President/CEO & Founder, and Sumi Patel, Vice President

HOW DID YOU get where you are today? The EMS industry, quite literally, never stops. Our staff and units are called to serve our community every hour of every day; there are no weekends, holidays, or “days off.” Obviously, the demands of EMS are not for the faint of heart, and we have established a culture of service and accountability that is different than nearly every other organization. Our leadership team sets this culture by exhibiting their passion for this industry daily. Their tireless dedication makes a better experience for our staff when they come to work and for our patients and clients when they call on us to transport their loved ones.

Keep ReadingShow less

David Adickes and Bun B

SOME OF THE CITY'S most influential VIPs gathered at Steak 48 in River Oaks District for the annual toast to CityBook’s “Leaders & Legends,” a recurring franchise for the publication whose past honorees have including a Tony and Grammy winner, a Nobel laureate, a member of Congress, an Olympic medalist, multiple billionaire business moguls, TV stars, artists and scientists of every sort, and the city’s most glamorous and generous socialites.

Keep ReadingShow less
Parties

Cocody

DECEMBER IS BLOWING in with new restaurants, exciting new digs for long-time favorites, and more imports joining our city. Here’s where to pull up a chair!

Keep ReadingShow less
Food