Out of the cesspool of crime, grime, and art known as Baltimore come the spaced-out sonic experimentation of instrumental trio Deaf Scene. Since 2009 the band has consciously embraced walking the musical road-less-traveled. Along the way they have cultivated a dedicated following and a sound that is difficult to categorize, straddling a gray area between the progressive cacophonies of Tool, the ethereal soundscapes of Explosions in the Sky, and the sludgy twinge of Primus.
Dave Fullerton’s effects-laden guitar melodies cascade over thick layers of looped sounds while Eric Courtney’s intricate bass runs and Brett Schatz’s precise whirlwind of drumming give structure and groove to the chaos. What they are able to accomplish on stage as a three-piece band with no vocals often surprises listeners who haven’t ever seen Deaf Scene in concert. The band works together beautifully through seamless sets of original songs intersected by ambient samples and drones, crafting “A sound that you would never imagine could come from three dudes” (89.7FM, WTMD, 2012).
Since forming, the band has played hundreds of shows and festivals alongside a variety of national touring groups, toured extensively across the east coast and mid-west of the USA, and in 2010 released a five-song self-titled EP to positive reviews. In 2014, Deaf Scene is continuing their upward trend with the release of their first proper full-length LP, Three-Pound Universe, recorded and mixed by longtime friend, sound engineer and fellow Baltimorean, Matt Bittman (Mars Volta, Bosnian Rainbows).
The future of Deaf Scene is looking bright, so it’s no wonder that fans are catching onto the buzz already. “It absolutely blows my mind that these guys aren’t huge at this point,” declares Soundfuze Magazine in reaction to Deaf Scene’s 2013 Rootwire Music and Arts Festival performance, “They dropped some of the heaviest, spaciest, most original rock I’ve ever heard. There’s no doubt in my mind they’ll have some big things happening to them in the very near future.” (SoundFuze Magazine, 2013).
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