Back to Live with Oh He Dead: A Triumphant Return to Union Stage
Date: June 26th, 2021
Venue: Union Stage
Washington, DC
What’s up everyone, it’s Derek here! I’m back again with another night of music in Washington, DC and this one is a bit special, special for many different reasons. First, to state the obvious, live music is back in full force! Second, this was the first show I’ve been to with a full live band in over a year. Third, it featured one of DC’s hottest bands, Oh He Dead and it was also super special because they sold that sh*t out!!!
Being back at Union Stage, in a room of screaming fans and insane energy, is something just a year ago we were terrified of, but the moment you’re safely back in that space it just feels like home and you walk away from the night with an adrenaline rush. That’s exactly what Oh Head Dead along with opener Cheakaity did for us. We may have gotten our vaccinations from the government and local pharmacies but on this night we got our dose of adrenaline, euphoria, and grooviness from these two DC powerhouses.
For those of you not from DC, allow me to introduce you. Oh He Dead began as a duo with founding members Andy Valenti and C.J. Johnson and later grew into a five piece band with John Daise on bass, Alex Salser on lead guitar and Adam Ashforth on drums. Their music, as NPR describes, is full of “infectiously groovy tunes” and that is definitely an accurate description of their songs. In my opinion though, the reason that this group is loved by everyone is because not only is their music amazing, but each of the members of the band are just incredible humans themselves. Especially when C.J. and Andy start improvising, their banter is hilarious. More on that later, for now “let’s put a pin in that.”
Kicking off this night of music was another DC native, Cheakaity (Cha-Keh-taye) an Artist/Producer-Writer whose sound blends rock and roll with gospel, blues, and soul. Along with him, he brought his full band, complete with DJ, keys, horns and more. To begin their set we were encouraged to go crazy as Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” filled the speakers and we certainly did. Instantly the party had started.
Throughout his set, we sang and danced to celebrate the release of his latest album ‘Grown Man’ from last year. It was a warm welcome back to experiences you only get at concerts, such as the whole audience waving their hands in the air as well as taking over of the dance floor as he split the audience down the middle and created an aisle for an impromptu soul train moment. However, the most memorable moment in his set for me at least was during a song titled “Keep Growing.” He explained how the last year had affected him personally and encouraged us all to never give up on ourselves as he was joined by Jordan from Texas as she sang the simple lyrics of “Keep Growing” while the audience held their phones up in the air and their lights illuminated the room. Something I had truly missed seeing.
Following a quick set change, the room had continued to fill. With all ages ready to see their favorite DC group, it was time to begin. The band walked out to thunderous applause as each member of the band was smiling from ear to ear. Instantly, as the music started, the unique, warm and raspy vocals of C.J. gave us all a hug welcoming us back. That and her yelling “welcome back!” haha. Shortly after Andy serenaded the ladies as he began to sing “Stay” which sparked the ladies in the audience to scream in excitement. Then we transitioned into a cult classic… a Blue Öyster Cult classic that is, with a cover of “Burnin’ for You.” Sorry No Doubt and Andy but, “It’s My Life” didn’t make the setlist cut this evening.
We then continued to jam out to some more songs from their self titled album ‘Oh He Dead’ such as “This Time Around” which following it the audience went nuts! The cheering and shouting went on for a bit. Andy then hilariously prompted the crowd to keep that energy and “bottle it up” as we would come back to it a little later in the set knowing the next song was going to be a bit of a tempo change. C.J. then began to set up the song we were about to hear and explained how she wrote it last year shortly after she learned she was pregnant. It’s a song that “explores the wide spectrum of emotions she experienced as a young, expectant mother” and in celebration of the newest member of Oh He Dead. Wallace!!! The song is a powerful one, brought to life by the raw and vulnerable vocals that only C.J. can bring. It also acts as their 2021 NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission and is titled “The Foreigner.”
Before the night ended we got a few more new and unreleased songs such as “Growing Old,” a song in celebration of pride month and written five years ago by Andy. Another allowed us to release all that energy we bottled up earlier, ironically named “Bottle it Up” as well as one dedicated to a dear friend of the band that was taken from this earth too soon. It’s very clear that you were loved and are missed by many Elmu.
Closing out the night we got some more hit songs from the band like “Show Me Love” and “Lonely Sometimes” as well as some sexy guitar solos from Alex that rocked the house. Those rock vibes kicked up a notch as strobe lights flashed and heads bobbed to “Don’t Wait Up.” Finally after a quick shoutout to all the venue staff, bartenders, and lighting and sound guys, they closed the night with a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.”
From your favorite Photographic Ginger, this was certainly a night of music in DC that I won’t soon forget and these are two bands you’ll definitely want to make sure remain on your radar. So what are you waiting for, go visit their website, add their songs to your music library, go buy some merch. Trust me you’ll want it because you’ll now forever be a fan of Oh He Dead and Cheakaity.
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
See the full gallery of the night here.
