Dead Flowers

The Dead Flowers are rolling. Their live performances these days are mighty and intense, gritty, straight-edged rock with heavy country undertones and a healthy nod to Texas blues, and they’re just getting started.

Something wild and indescribable happens when the Dead Flowers are onstage, and For You, their fan- funded (via Kickstarter), self-produced debut album, is a remarkable capturing of their tough, intensely satisfying live performances that serves up a polished, stand-alone listening experience all its own.

Solid contributions from every Dead Flowers member were deftly recorded and mixed by Jeffrey Charles Saenz at his Modern Electric Sound Recorders with enough finesse to produce a captivating record, and enough staying out of the way to avoid any studio-induced decoration that might have muddied the power and synergistic triumph of their individual performances. Very few overdubs and no instruments on the record that you don’t see onstage, were conscientious choices that reveal the sophisticated musicianship and rousing, nuanced arrangements dependably delivered in their live shows.

Dead Flowers’ seasoned players were assembled by lead singer and guitarist Corey Howe, who writes deceptively raw and gripping songs that slip on comfortably like the return of well-loved and long-lost friends. With a rare combination of humility, heart, and swagger Howe firmly holds center while, with a seasoned performer’s know-how, generously leaving each of his compadres room to contribute inspired complements.

The album title For You reflects Dead Flowers’ gratitude to their fans and an earnest attempt to deliver something both they and the band can be proud of for decades to come. Their debut signals the arrival of an outfit destined to make them favored sons of the Lone Star state.