With jam bands rampant throughout the country, I could understand the apprehension towards listening to yet another one. However, The New Deal has an edge. This group of three guys out of Toronto, Canada has a unique distinction. Jamie Shields, Darren Shearer and Dan Kurtz were all front men of their own respective bands until they collectively decided to leave their own groups and create something entirely different, hence their name. None of them had a background in house or electronica, but according to Darren, “We wanted to leave everything behind and focus on playing new music.”

I had a chance to see them play at the Charleston Pour House last Tuesday evening. The intimate venue seemed perfect for the experience the band was aiming for. “Our goal is to connect with the audience in a way where we are all on the same ride trying to achieve the same thing. (We are) making music in real time in front of people to make them move,” said Darren before the show. It is safe to say that they were successful. Filled to capacity, the crowd moved wildly to the pop, upbeat sounds. Unlike many of the recent shows that I have been to, the demographic was limited to only those mainly in their twenties.

The sound of The New Deal also diverges from the norm. Where many electronic jam bands pursue psychedelic, surreal sounds, this group goes in a slightly different direction. The classic rock and hip-hop influences are prevalent and it’s clear that these guys came from backgrounds in varying genres. The result is a funky, happy sounding melody that makes you and everyone else in the room smile from ear to ear.

The New Deal hopes to continue traveling throughout the South in 2010. Click here for updates on their tour schedule. Also check out their new album “Live: Toronto 7.16.2009” just released on iTunes.

Photographed and written by Elliot Ross