Rob’s Album of The Week: Quinn DeVeaux’s Leisure
Soul music has a way of touching upon feelings and emotions unlike any other style. It could be the lyrical delivery or the structure that can come off as bombastic while other times it can be heartfelt and mellow. Regardless of what it exactly is, it’s a special genre and I love the fact that it’s still going strong. A stellar example of this is Quinn DeVeaux, who is originally from Gary, Indiana but is currently based in the Bay Area city of Oakland. He has a knack for blending in notes of blues, funk and R&B into his sound, which is exemplified in his latest album Leisure that came out on July 5 via the Dayton, Kentucky based independent label SofaBurn Records.
The inclusion of those other genres happens within a distinct flow rather than being directly forced towards the senses. One song has a backwoods blues vibe while another is a bit funkier and more rhythmic. Then there are others that lean towards being ballads while showing DeVeaux’s vocal range. There’s a lot to offer as the tunes go along and there isn’t any filler either. Leisure has the ability to be cohesive while simultaneously supplying something different with each installment, which is an absolute rarity these days.
I always thought August was referred to as “The Dog Days of Summer”, but it looks like those days have arrived quicker than expected this year. It’s hot and humid where I am in Providence, and it seems to be at a new level than normal in the beginning of July. Needless to say, I’m not really looking forward to dealing with even hotter and uncomfortable temperatures over the next few weeks. I am looking forward to hitting up either a beach or a pool sometime soon though. Another thing I’m looking forward to is writing more about this album, so here are my top tracks:
“You Got Soul” is an example of one of those bluesy tunes and with the horns and keys really making it shine. Another example of the blues having a presence is “USA”, which is a perfect song for the summer and anyone who likes a bit of nostalgia in their life once in a while. It reminds me a lot of Buddy Guy for some reason, but I can’t quite figure out why. That heartfelt soul really comes through in “Give Love A Try”. I love the guitar chords and harmonies within it as well.
DeVeaux has a few shows coming up this summer with his next one being as part of the Ketch’em Alive concert series at Forest Service Park in Ketchum, Idaho on July 23. Other dates include SofaGives 2024 that’s being put on by SofaBurn Records at The Redmoor in Cincinnati on August 3, the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on August 29 and Acme Feed & Seed in Nashville on September 4. Something tells me that DeVeaux and his band are incredible to witness live, so make an effort to attend one of these shows if you’re in the vicinity. In the meantime, grab yourself a copy of Leisure. It’s an exciting take on soul music that pushes the artistic envelope.
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