Toronto trio The New Deal played to a packed German House in Rochester on May 28. With energetic local group Ocular Panther as the opener.
With clear influence from Dopapod and The Disco Biscuits, Ocular Panther brings good funk into driving livetronica that is not too heavy, and not too light. Colin Jones pulls double duty on keys and guitar, pairing well with guitarist Mike Pantano. A strong opener for the night, they’re a must see as they play New York State this fall.
While The New Deal continues to play fantastic livetronica shows, tonight and even their recent set at Summer Camp felt a little short of potential. With the addition of drummer Joel Stouffer joining bassist Dan Kurtz and founding member Jamie Shields. Stouffer keeps a strong beat, while Shields’ keys are tight as always, explorative and focused. All the while Kurtz’s bass drives the speed of the song. They let the crowd do their thing on the dance floor but didn’t engage them beyond buildups. Overall the nearly two-hour set was solid but felt dialed back from previous years.
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