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Elephantmen remember their way to Denver
By Cassie Hood
hoodc@mscd.edu

Photo courtesy of nastylittleman.com We are not married, nor are we siblings. deadboy and the Elephantmen are Tessie Brunet and Dax Riggs.

Rock duos are taking over the world. From The White Stripes, who have hijacked mainstream rock music, to The Dresden Dolls, who have conquered the punk and cabaret scenes, bands are proving less is more. Keeping with fashion, deadboy and the Elephantmen have invaded the folk-rock spotlight.

In 2000 Dax Riggs, ex-member of Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion, found himself alone and without a band. Both of his previous endeavors had been doomed to shortcomings, so he decided to start a solo project. That was how deadboy began, but four years later, he found singer/drummer Tessie Brunet, and the group was forged.

Named after the movie The Elephant Man, which gave Riggs nightmares, the band uses morose imagery to entice its audience. Riggs’ voice, which once captivated metal fans, now feels calmer and more visceral. Brunet’s voice is just as haunting, while her drumming fills any holes left by Riggs’ guitar.

Since the debut of their album We Are Night Sky this past February, they have been compared relentlessly to The White Stripes. However, they are not a clone of Jack White’s controversial brainchild.
Some songs sound like they were recorded off of a vinyl record, while others sound like they are fresh from the production studio. The variety is a refreshing change from the overpowering studio effects other duets have used.

“Stop, I’m Already Dead” is a notable favorite from the album. The poignant, guitar-driven beginning features both Riggs and Brunet singing. The drums hit on the off beats of Riggs’ grinding axe and add to his mix of falsetto howls and scratchy, gruff vocals.

In performance, the members of deadboy don’t stray from their album personas. They are straight-faced and serious, with nary a smile to be seen, and yet hypnotizing. For their current tour they have summoned the help of bassist Alex Bergeron, another ex-member of Agents of Oblivion. There are rumors Bergeron might become a permanent fixture on the deadboy stage, which seems like the place to be.