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Local artists to release albums Friday

Randall+Dempsey+of+Desert+Beats+plays+the+guitar+during+a+show+at+the+Flycatcher+bar.+Dempsey+performed+a+solo+for+this+show.
Courtesy Josh Wallace

Randall Dempsey of Desert Beats plays the guitar during a show at the Flycatcher bar. Dempsey performed a solo for this show.

Start off the semester with some new music from a few of Tucson’s local bands. 

On Jan.13 at The Flycatcher, there will be a 21-and-over album release show featuring The Desert Beats, Lydian Osman and Golden Boots.

The Golden Boots recently released their album H.A.L.T. in November 2016. Their Facebook page describes their sound as a “warpedand fractured mixture of psychedelic rock, folk and country, combining stylistic modes as bizarre and varied as the lyrical meanderings.”

There’s a little bit of every kind of style on the album, from the more rock-style song “Virginia” to the upbeat big-band instrumental “Foggy Mountain Psychological Breakdown” to the tropical-sounding, catchy “Monster Kiss.”

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Lydian Osman will also perform his blues-influenced style of rock.

The Desert Beats, a local rock band, will be releasing its self-titled debut album. Singer and songwriter Randall Dempsey  calls the band’s sound garage rock but says it depends on who’s playing.

This isn’t your typical rock band. Dempsey writes and sings the songs, but he works with different musicians that play drums, guitar and occasionally keyboard. Sometimes he even performs solo. 

The album Desert Beats features three different groupings of musicians, two that played four songs each and another that played two songs. 

Each group has its own style, which can be heard in the album.The main sound is the same, but there are some noticeable differences. Some songs feature a keyboard and some are more guitar heavy than others. 

“For the next album, I want to have a more cohesive sound,” Dempsey said. 

Dempsey’s favorite song from the album is called “Rumble.”

He said it’s an old song that he is really happy to get out there. 

The rest of the album is an average rock album, not as aggressive as heavy metal, but not as dance driven as a pop or electronic album. Something about it just sounds like the desert.

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A lot of the Desert Beats’ music has been influenced by the desert itself. Dempsey, a desert native, said it has shaped his music. 

“I’m from Phoenix, so the desert is really what influences me the most,” Dempsey said. “I moved to Tucson a year and a half ago, and it’s one of the coolest places I’ve ever been.”

Two of the bands, The Desert Beats and Golden Boots, are releasing their albums through a local record company, Baby Tooth. 

Don’t expect to see CDs at the album release party; Baby Tooth is a cassette tape label. 

People can purchase the album online from Bandcamp in digital formats, but the label’s main focus is cassette tapes. 

Dempsey says he chose Baby Tooth because they were local. 

“The main thing is supporting a local record label,” he said. “We talked about doing vinyl or CDs, but it wasn’t as cost-effective.”

Dempsey said that going through a record label has certain benefits. 

“With a label, you get a little more help with promotion than you would by doing a self-release,” he said. “It’s cool because you get to meet more bands as well, and you become label brothers and label sisters.”

He said he likes to let the audience listen and critique the music on their own. 

Dempsey is also a singer for the band Cobra Family Picnic, which will be releasing their next album this spring. 

To see the Desert Beats and other local bands for yourself, head to Fourth Avenue this Friday night. 


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