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Deal Casino @ Bowery Electric NYC

By Kath Galasso on January 13, 2015

Over the past two months, the buzz surrounding New Jersey’s Deal Casino has grown into a low roar. In December, they won several honors at the Asbury Park Music Awards including: Top Pop/Rock Band, Top Live Performance, and Top Male Vocalist. Then last week, NJ.com named them one of 35 New Jersey Bands You Need to Hear in 2015. After spending the past year playing the Jersey shore/Philly circuit, Deal Casino made their New York City debut on a cold, winter night downtown at the Bowery Electric.

Opening the set with “Tomorrow,” a cut off their second EP, The Runaways, it is easy to see why Deal Casino has been working non-stop; the band is fierce. Not only do they rock it out, they do it with attitude and fearlessness. This night, much of the set list focused on their last two EPs, especially the newly released Heck. Listening to their progression from their first EP Cocaine Love, through The Runaways and now Heck, the songs and the band itself are constantly evolving. While love found and lost remains a pulsating theme, the stories told have become more complex and interesting.

“Fortyfive,” tells of an affair that has disaster written all over it. Up in front, Joe Parella worked the stage and the crowd, changing vocal styles and conveying passion and pain easily.The high energy of “Bang Bang Bang” with the addictive guitar riffs of Joe Cowell, pulled the crowd into the vortex, and it didn’t stop there.

“Hurricane” moved nicely into “Downtown,” with its loaded bass provided by Jon Rodney. “Downtown” set up the one-two knockout punch which would end the set. “The Runaways” easy start adds layers as it goes, before kicking into a full-out version of “Helter Skelter.” Drummer Mike Linardi hit the skins and the vocals, before giving way to each band member as they took a turn singing lead for a verse. A strong finish to a deep set.

Deal Casino is a working band, not four musicians playing together. Don’t expect long guitar or drum solos, just bang bang bang songs, catchy and explosive. And yeah, you do need to hear them in 2015.