Dead Set Red, a hard rock band from Houston, Texas, recently released a new song called “Into The Fire”. It’s an awesome track with lots of interesting musical elements and great vocals. It’s also a song with a theme that a lot of people can identify with.
I have an interesting story about how I found Dead Set Red. Their singer, Adrian Arce, filmed and edited a music video for one of my favorite bands, Awaken The Giant, back in 2022. When I interviewed Adrian to get his thoughts on the video, he told me about his band and I listened to their music. I thought it was awesome. I love how various connections in the music world lead me to discovering so many bands. It’s one of my favorite things about being involved in the industry.
Dead Set Red includes Adrian Arce (lead vocals; video content and graphic art); Chubbs Malone (drums; engineer; video content and graphic art); Stan West, Jr. (lead/rhythm guitar); Robb Mars (bass and vocals); and Josh Pierce (lead/rhythm guitar and vocals).
Adrian Arce was kind enough to share some stories with me about Dead Set Red (DSR) and their music. Former members of Five Eyes Wide Chubbs and Stan started DSR in 2017. Adrian had submitted an audition for the previous band, and got invited to be part of the new project, Dead Set Red. The band has been through multiple lineup changes, but Adrian feels like they have a solid lineup now.
In 2020 DSR played a show at Pub 529 with a band called This Side Of Fate. As they were performing, Stan, Chubbs, and Adrian migrated to the stage because of their, as Adrian puts it, “bad-ass guitarist”, Josh Pierce. They didn’t know at the time that later he would become an obvious choice to join DSR. When the band Josh was with dissolved, Adrian was scrolling and saw a video of him wearing a Dead Set Red t-shirt, just, as Adrian says, “noodling around on his guitar”. Later, he filmed a cover of one of the DSR songs and posted it as a tribute to the band. Soon after that, Adrian got a message from Chubbs and the rest, as they say, is history. Josh has been a member of Dead Set Red for about three years now.
Adrian shares that Robb Mars has also been a friend and great guy to have on the bill. They met around 2010, give or take. Robb had filled in on bass in Adrian’s previous band. He had a lengthy run with To Whom It May, and as well as GoodJobUnderground and Glass Intrepid. Earlier this year, Adrian asked Robb if he could fill in on bass for an important show. Adrian says, “He did his homework and knocked that first practice out of the park. We have never sounded better on stage.”
Adrian wrote the lyrics and melodies for “Into The Fire”. Josh wrote the basic arrangement with Chubbs and Stan provided the other half of the song atmosphere, bringing the track to a whole new level.
Regarding the general song-writing process for Dead Set Red music, Adrian shares with me that the band really has nothing set in stone. Some of the band members will write and record at home and send in riffs. They’ll meet up at Chubbs’ studio and the first person to jump in will lay out an arrangement or a riff. Then they all get into it and start contributing. No one individual has one set role. Adrian feels that being flexible and keeping all doors open with the song-writing process allows for different ideas to come into play, which makes Dead Set Red music awesome.
Chubbs Malone has been an engineer for years, so the band always pre-produces their own music with him. Adrian says Chubbs has gotten better and better over time, and each production sounds bigger than the last. Chubbs produced and engineered “Into The Fire”, and it was mastered by James Hoover.
Dead Set Red is influenced by Sevendust and Shinedown, which I can definitely hear, along with vibes of Breaking Benjamin. DSR music is high energy with complex guitar riffs along with bass and drums that combine in perfect rhythm. Adrian’s voice is unique and has an incredible range which brings out whatever emotions he’s trying to portray in the songs. “Into The Fire” is no exception. It’s got great melodies and a catchy beat and Adrian’s vocals bring it to life. In an interesting twist, there is an intricate guitar solo near the end of the song which closes it out on an electric note.
There is a great live performance video of “Into The Fire” that was shot at BFE Rock Club in Houston for the 94.5 The Buzz Bring On The Buzzfest competition.
Adrian gave me some insight regarding the meaning behind Dead Set Red’s songs. The band’s five-song EP released in 2020, A Reason To Burn, was themed around handling your deepest depressions and coping with losses. The band’s 2022 single “Crash And Burn” is about perseverance. “Into The Fire” is about moving on from a toxic and potentially dangerous situation.
The next song on the horizon is “Will Of The Gods”. Adrian says it is probably the most relevant subject they have ever covered. The “Gods” are a reference to the people in power who care only about money and controlling everything.
I want to include here a video of a live performance Dead Set Red did August 31st at R&R Studio. The facility is Houston’s first online live performance venue. The band put on a great performance during the live stream, and I became an even bigger fan. I highly recommened you follow R&R Studio on Facebook and YouTube.
Dead Set Red has a show coming up Saturday, October 28th at Winters Bar in Pasadena, Texas. It will be a Halloween Bash Featuring Green Jelly hosted by Sam E. Bone and Khris Harding. Tickets for this 18-and-over event are $15 presale and $20 at the door.
You can find Dead Set Red on Facebook, Instagram, LinkTree, and YouTube. Also check out the band’s Spotify link below.
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