Oh He Dead rocks a high-spirited Free at Noon set

When the disco ball lights up during a Free At Noon concert, you know it’s a good sign. This week, that happened during “Lightning Drunk,” a shimmering slice of electro dance energy from the buzzing D.C. band Oh He Dead.

Founded in 2019, and regulars on the festival circuit, Oh He Dead as amassed a lively discography blurring the lines between heartfelt Stax-style soul, rip roaring rock and roll, glorious pop, funk and more. Basically, if it moves you or makes you want to move, it’s music they play, and this week’s midday concert was a high-spirited showcase of Oh He Dead’s third album Ugly, released in August.

Comprised of charismatic vocalist CJ Johnson, guitarist Alex Salser, bassist John Daise, drummer Adam Ashforth, and keys player Piano Whitman, the band shows how they’re masters of dynamics, moving from the slow and low “Is It My Love,” a cup of soul with a simmering guitar solo by Salser, to the heart-racing, high-drama build of “Cover Me.” The short “John Song” and its companion “Artemis” brought us into the introspective zone again, and by “Strange Love” the room was clapping along on cue. These are (if the titles didn’t make it clear) songs about love, connection, and emotion, and that was felt all around the music hall during the band’s eight-song on-air performance. For an off-air encore, they covered Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” to the delight of the audience.

Oh He Dead’s tour for Ugly continues though the rest of 2024 and into 2025, and their next area date happens on Valentine’s Day at Arden Gild Hall in Delaware. Tickets and more information can be found at XPN’s Concert Calendar. Check out more photos from the Free at Noon show below.