Deal Casino debuts one-take junkyard recording of "Calidus" EP and music video

Asbury Park natives Deal Casino will release their newest EP, Calidus on December 8th, and I haven't been this excited for a record to drop in a long time. Calidus features a medley of three songs off of Deal Casino's debut self-titled EP, as well as an acoustic version of their song "Red Balloon." 

What makes this EP entirely unique and so unbelievably cool is that the Calidus medley was produced in a makeshift junkyard studio, and you can watch it come to life Friday. Calidus translates to "hot or fiery" from Latin, and I'd say that's a pretty accurate representation of the songs and style Deal Casino has chosen to exemplify through this EP. I've been lucky enough to see Deal Casino live in Philly, but this video takes my appreciation for the band to a whole new level. The amount of patience and planning and spur of the moment perfection that went into this one-take recording is actually amazing, and I hope listeners can appreciate the hard work. 

While this band is a mix of indie alternative and pop at its core, there are facets of their music that remind me of the intricate sounds of TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns), especially through the precipitous piano riffs and jumpy guitar. Their music has this sense of unprecedented urgency, and an overwhelming amount of emotion. It all comes through singer Joe P and his ability to seamlessly transition from soft falsetto to powerful shouty vocals.  

Deal Casino's self-titled EP definitely carries a heavier, edgier vibe than Calidus does, which gives me hope that there's a growing developmental style in the works. These guys are too talented and multi-faceted to stay confined to the limits of any genre. 

You can download and stream Calidus on December 8th, and Deal Casino will play Asbury Park’s Convention Hall on December 9th in support of the EP release.

Deal Casino live at Milkboy Philly, copyright Dylan Eddinger Photography