Perfection, signed Dirty Heads

Perfection, signed Dirty Heads, is an article that I have hesitated to write. Dirty Heads is not the typical band that we usually cover with the Bad Crew. But after wrapping my head around it, I thought to myself: why not!

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So, who are they?

Dirty Heads is a reggae rock American band hailing from Huntington Beach, in California. The band started in 1996, with Jared « Dirty J » Watson and the singer/guitar player Dustin « Duddy B » Bushnell in Orange county, California. Jared Watson is one of the singers, and Dustin Bushnell also plays guitar while singing. The two of them met in their first year of high school, and started to create songs influenced by hip-hop, reggae and punk.

Their first album, Any Port in a Storm, was released in September 23, 2008. Their most recent album, Midnight Control, was released in August 22, 2022. They have been related to bands such as Sublime with Rome, 311 and Pepper, and have toured with bands such as Unwritten Law.

The style

The Dirty Heads have a distinctive musical style, combining multiple genres, creating a unique sound. Here is a few features about their musical style: When merging their influences, the Dirty Heads created an eclectic sound, obvious and unique in the contemporary musical scene. First, reggae rock.

Their music is highly influenced by reggae, with impeded rythms and heavy bass lines. The rock brings different energy and dynamic, often with electric guitars and classic rock grooves.

Then, there is hip-hop. Their first songs feature hip hop characteristics, with steady drum rythms, samples and rap. Jared « Dirty J » Watson brings a strong hip-hop influence through his lyrics and his flow.

And probably the reason why I have decided to write this article, punk rock. At their beginning, the Dirty Heads were influenced by punk rock. You can hear it through the fast rythms and a rebellious attitude in some of their songs.

Alternative rock can also be heard. The band integrates rock alternative sounds, which allows them to reach a broader audience but also experiment through different sounds and production styles.

Finally, their strong ska influence. Inspired by California’s ska scene, you can also hear the rythms and wind instruments, specific to this music genre.

But in my opinion, what differentiates them the most from every other music scene, is undoubtedly the fusion and experimentation that they use masterfully. The Dirty Heads are known for their will to experiment and merge different music styles. This allows them to stay on top of the game, innovate, and attract a diverse audience.

The show

I did not know this band up until last year, when my partner made me discover them. Definetly his most favorite band from the past years, their catchy sound quickly made me want to go through their discography. As far as I know, they never performed in Québec. As soon as I saw a date in Niagara Falls, I thought to myself that this was a perfect scenario: I got to see an awesome band and view the famous waterfalls.

To be honest, you had to be a bit nuts to drive for 7 hours and go through 3 hours of trafic from hell in Toronto just to see an hour and a half concert. On top of it it was July 4th Holiday, there was people everywhere and the roads were crowded. But still, it was worth it. People had told me that the venue itself, OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, was an amazing place and it got me curious.

I’m starting to have a fair list of venues I went to, and I love to discover and compare them. And the acoustic from this venue turned to be of a remarkable quality, as I have rarely visited. This venue probably has the sound capacity equivalent to the rooms at Place des arts, or close enough. Aside from this, Niagara Falls is a souless city where everything is to expensive. The waterfalls are beautiful, but if you’re not excited by it, don’t go.

My appreciation

At last, 8:15pm and the show started. Your typical stage is set with the drums at the back, bass and guitars each side, and finally the lead vocals center front, but not for this band. There was a second stage, elevated, where all the musicians were at the same level and had the same presence. The two frontmen, Jared and Dustin, were on the regular stage with a strong presence and boy did they have energy like I’ve rarely seen before. The sound is amazingly good, they’re happy to be there, and the crowd too.

Right from the first notes, the band captivated the audience with their boundless energy and their unique sound. The Dirty Heads went from one song to another with impressive ease, and highlights of the evening included energetic performances during their biggest hits, as well as more recent songs which were received with equal enthusiasm. They have masterfully demonstrated their talent and their ability to make a room vibrate, without any doubt. Their energy, musicality and interaction with the audience made this evening a memorable one for everyone. A performance that met my expectations and even beyond. So if you are a music lover like me or a fan of this musical style, you absolutely must see this band once.

General appreciation : 5 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

List of my favorites songs they performed

My Sweet Summer

That’s All I Need

Life’s Been Good

Lay Me Down

Day by Day

Burn Slow

Bum Bum

Rescue Me

Island Glow

Oxygen

Sloth’s Revenge

Vacation

Redaction : Claudia Bo

Translation: Jessica Peach