Alabama-bred Dexateens deliver country punk to Chelsea's

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By Chris Shearman

Often compared to The Rolling Stones, Tuscaloosa rock band the Dexateens will be making a stop in Baton Rouge to do a live show at Chelsea's on Saturday, Aug. 29. Joined by American Aquarium and The Last Chalaron, the Dexateens are passing through in support of their May release, Singlewide, which has enjoyed national success as an album that is quality from beginning to end.

Though the Dexateens can be described as Southern Rock, there are elements in their songs that set them apart from others in that genre: an eerie longing and truth that evokes a certain curiosity to hear the next song. Not to mention an ass-kicking rhythm that thumps even the fattest southern white boy into doing his own jig.

Tiger Weekly recently had the opportunity to cyber-chat with the Dexateens, and singer Elliott McPherson had some interesting tidbits to share about the origins of the band's name.

"When I was 19, I had this strange dream where I was lying on a bed in a room that looked like any other bedroom," recounted McPherson. "You know it had end tables, curtains, carpet, [and] all that, but it wasn't my bedroom. Then a woman came into the room and brought me one of those small cartons of milk - similar to the ones that you would get with school lunch when we were children. I asked her whose house I was in and she told me that I was not in a house, but on a gravity powered aircraft called a Dexatron. I never found out who she was. I remember her being a sort of motherly figure."

Perhaps it is this type of matter-of-fact abstraction that sets them apart. At the same time, they are a band following a dream.
"I'm not saying it was abduction. I'm sure it was just a dream, but anyway, after I had that dream, I knew I wanted to have a band called the Dexateens. We were a punk rock band when we first started. The name made a little more sense back then," McPherson elaborated.

Though the band seems happy riding the wave, they have like any group endured the process of lineup changes.

McPherson added, "This is a great lineup. This is the last lineup. I feel like every time that someone has left, or been fired, the band has ended up being a happier in the van and better on stage because of it. I would never keep going if I thought the product was weak in comparison to a previous version."

Though the band has built a following in Louisiana, the love of all things Southern is reciprocated by all band members.

"We all like hot food so it's cool," said McPherson. "We have a vegan in the band; he only eats nuts and berries, so he doesn't count. We really love Louisiana, except during football season."

"The Dexateens' live show is loud as hell, punk rock at times, country at times," he added. "It's sort of all over the place, but always on fire. We play with a lot of raw emotion and like to whoop ass."

Make sure to check out the Dexateens at Chelsea's on August 29 with American Aquarium and The Last Chalaron. For more information, visit www.dexateens.net.

Originally Published: Issue 813 - August 26, 2009

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