Gene Deer Band

Eastside New Year’s Eve
by Jeff Napier

Gene Deer
Zanies Too
Sunday, Dec. 31

Zanies Too has been a rock and roll oasis on Indianapolis’ Eastside for almost 20 years now. If you live near the area, chances are you’ve shown up at Zanies. With the always delectable Mickey bartending, good ol’ E.J. standing at the door and owners Charlie and Barb Kerher sitting at the bar, Zanies Too feels like home — the closest thing to an Eastside rock and roll hillbilly Cheers, where everybody knows your name (and your health problems and your romantic history and your drinking habits).

So, what better way to bring in 2007 than with a smoking hot New Year’s Eve gig by Indy’s premier blues-rock guitar-slinger Gene Deer? For years, Deer held down a steady Sunday and Tuesday residency at Zanies Too, consistently drawing crowds with his good-time mix of covers, originals and blues standards. After a three-year absence, he gave the packed house a New Year’s Eve homecoming performance that demonstrated why he might just be the tightest, most entertaining “blooze”-rock practitioner in the city.

Sporting a band that included the tasteful keyboard work of Brett Donovan, the incredibly soulful and groovy bass of Henry Conely (who used to be chief of the United States Navy Band) and the tight, yet unrestrained drumming of longtime cohort Keith Yount, Deer pulled out all the stops. Running through a mixed bag of originals like “Just Shoulda Laid Off’a the Booze” and “Too Far Gone,” in addition to covers ranging from Van Morrison to Jimi Hendrix, the band kept the crowd happy.

It was shortly before midnight when Deer dropped an unexpected bomb on the place, unleashing a savage version of The Bob Seger System classic “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man.” The Eastsiders lost their minds, jamming the dance floor and, as Deer and his band rocked 2006 away, the smiles were wide, the beer flowed and the bar family was happy to be together. - Nuvo Newsweekly

“Soul Tender” casts local talent Gene Deer as a well-schooled guitarist, gritty vocalist, and seasoned Blues man whose talent goes beyond the rock/blues stuff he’s excelled at for years in his blues club act.”
Joe Konz - Indianapolis Star

- Indianapolis Star

Roots/Rock: Catching up with Gene Deer

Posted by Rob Nichols on Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 7:02 AM
For nine straight years, from 1995-2003, Gene Deer was voted the Best Local Blues Band by readers of NUVO. He's still gigging across Indiana and has a new deal with a local production company. He has plans for a pair of new records, with Paul Mahern producing. Not one to spend a lot of time talking about himself and his local legend status in Indianapolis, we did get Deer to share a bit about his upcoming plans.
NUVO: What's new that we should know?
GENE DEER: I have just signed with Daddy Real entertainment, a high profile production company. I am going to release two CD's through them and Paul Mahern will be producing. He also produced my first CD Soul Tender. Looking forward to all that for sure.

NUVO: What shows coming the rest of the summer that you are looking forward to?
GD: We will headline the Bean Blossom Blues Fest this year on August 26th, and at my solo shows I have been having a very talented fiddle player name Allison Ervine play with me. I would like to say thanks to all who have shown interest in me and or my music. The people of Indy have given me the blessing of music in my life and nothing is taken for granted. I thank God every day for my family, my friends and loved ones and all of the awesome fans that have given me so much love and joy.

NUVO: How's life on the road?
GD: I'm not too concerned with going out on the road much since gas hit the fan a few years back. Instead, it is plenty of gigs close to home. Indianapolis and Indiana have always been very good to me. I have always given my all back every time I play to try and keep up my end of the deal.

NUVO: What have you been listening to recently? Any music that excites you?
GD: Wolfmother. - Nuvo Newsweekly