Earlier this month, Fanning Dempsey National Park (Bernard Fanning of Powderfinger fame and Paul Dempsey from Something For Kate) released their highly anticipated debut album, The Deluge.
In May, the duo introduced their new project with the euphoric single Disconnect. A song that features Ron Dziubla‘s saxophone, huge drums, synths, and a gorgeous lead melody that showcases Fanning and Dempsey’s combined skillsets, the pair immediately indicated that the album wouldn’t resemble either of the singers’ full-time bands.
For the second taste of their debut album, the band shared the record’s title track, the melting pot of quirky, 80s-inspired electronic elements and rock and roll.
Fanning Dempsey National Park: ‘It Felt Like We Had Been A Band For A Decade’
Throughout the album, keyboards and bright, chirpy synthesizers accompany lyrics and soaring melodies that match their optimistic vibes. The Deluge is simultaneously a throwback, calling to modern production techniques and instruments while daringly looking to the future.
Before they’d even released the album, Fanning Dempsey National Park announced an Australian tour (which grew due to demand), and in the lead-up to said tour, the duo have discussed the songs they’re most looking forward to performing with The Music. You can check out their picks below.
BERNARD FANNING
I was driving on the highway recently and listening to Eyes Wide Open. It’s very high energy and unlike any other song I’ve been involved with before. I found myself going SIGNIFICANTLY over the speed limit. I had to turn it down and give myself a stern talking-to. I think this song is going to absolutely PUMP in the live environment.
It’s always a challenge to have the slower tempo/more atmospheric songs translate as well live, but I think King Of Nowhere is going to be a lot of fun. There’s so much width there, and it’ll also be fun to laugh at Matt while he’s playing a fretless bass.
Past Tomorrow is a song I constantly find myself whistling. There are more hooks than a tackle box in there. It is likely to be a bit more raucous and rowdy in concert.
PAUL DEMPSEY
I’m really looking forward to playing Dunning Kruger National Park. It starts off pretty mellow but gradually builds up to a pretty explosive musical wig-out that can go on for as long as we feel like it. So, that’ll definitely be a fun one to play with the awesome band we have for this tour.
I think Strangers will be really fun as well, as it’s driven by a really rigid sequenced bass line, and my guitar part is about the simplest thing I’ve ever played on a song, so I can just enjoy a couple of minutes of post-punk-pop-poncing-about.
I think Blood is going to be a pretty special moment as well.
And, of course, we’ve got a couple of exciting cover ideas and some other surprises from each others’ catalogues that are going to be heaps of fun to play around with.
Fanning Dempsey National Park are hitting the road this October and November. You can find tickets here.
FANNING DEMPSEY NATIONAL PARK
THE DELUGE 2024
Village Sounds, Secret Sounds Artist MGMT & Winterman & Goldstein Present
THE FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE – FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER – SOLD OUT
ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY – SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER
HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE – FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER
FORUM, MELBOURNE – SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER – SOLD OUT
FORUM, MELBOURNE – SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER – NEW SHOW
ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH – THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER – NEW SHOW
ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH – FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER – SOLD OUT
THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE – SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER – NEW SHOW
