Simplicity has always been key to some of the best things in life and some of the best music. However, classifying The Dead Exs as a simple Blues band in no way describes them or their curious career spike. The pair of rouge Bluesmen managed to pack a hard chopping edge with mo-town beats throughout the entire Dead Exs debut album, “Resurrection.” Its far from the simple 12 bar Blues, being recycled by similar indie two-piece Blues bands. – Johnny Rocco – www.theboweryboys.net
Listen closely and you will hear, The Dead Exs aren’t just a back to basics blues revival. With David Pattillo’s gritty wails and garage punk delta slide and Wylie Wirth’s thunderous finesse of an old Ludwig kit there is immediately a sense that these guys do something fresh and new. To anyone’s ears the two would appear to be a full band, but look up on stage and there they are, just a duo fronted by Pattillo looking like a frenetic Neil Young going from the subtle to the extreme, and howlin’ all the way. The Dead Exs walk the line of mayhem and control that keeps u riveted, knowing that at any minute they could just rip the roof off the joint.
Playing shows with rock stalwarts like The Del Fuegos, Texas legend Ray Wylie Hubbard and female revivalists Lez Zeppelin, their songs have appeared on internet blogs and mixtapes, risen to the tops of twitter music charts and attracted invitations to perform for rock fashion icons like John Varvatos and Andy Hilfiger. They have swaggered on stage at the Mumford & Sons established Communion concert series in Brooklyn and been the featured artist in a global broadcast by rock legend BP Fallon. Even rock god Alice Cooper gave them a spin and a shout on his syndicated radio show. The fans of the Deli Magazine voted them NYC Artist of The Month. Snowboard, surf and even a punk rock fishing show have added their music to episodes and trailers. You can even have your own Dead Exs Radio on Pandora.
Although Pattillo is a producer with a credit list from Robert Plant to the The Hold Steady, and The Black Crowes to Ray LaMontagne his love for the vintage raw recordings of Howlin’ Wolf and the garage rock of The Sonics inspired him to go back to his roots. He connected with venerate drum master Wylie Wirth who had been touring in Europe and the US with acclaimed blues artist Will Scott, and the Warner Bros act Sweet Lizard Illtet among others. A midnight jam ensued and The Dead Exs was born.
With their 2011 debut record Resurrection currently available at all outlets and Relovolution coming in fall 2012, The Dead Exs bring their rock & roll message to the people. Its a positive boost of motivational blues, and a plain spoken take on American working class woes. Its a heap of love trouble, an irreverent social commentary, and a handful of fight songs for the 99%. Mix equal parts inspiration, perspiration and a shared cultural evolution and you’ve got a Relovolution. Just put your hands in the air, howl at the moon, jump for the stars, and shake that thing.
