Watch the Deslondes Dodge TVs and Groupies in ‘Real Deal’ Video
Shot in just a day in their home base of New Orleans, the Deslondes’ brand new video for “The Real Deal” captures everything that’s cool about the buzzed-about country-folk band — excellent camaraderie among the five guys, an offbeat sense of humor and roots-influenced music that you can dance to.
Despite the comic antics of the video, the lyrics were inspired by an ugly breakup. As band member Riley Downing tells Rolling Stone Country, “I wrote that song because I had a lady friend and I went to fix my car to move her out of the city. Then she ran off with somebody else but didn’t tell me and was still trying to act like we were fine. It’s about getting the wool pulled over your eyes.”
In the opening scene, Downing is dodging old TVs being hurled by an angry ex. (Or maybe a soon-to-be ex.) Luckily, bandmate Sam Doores gets a call in the van — via tin can — to come rescue his buddy. From there, the plot unfolds with street magicians, baby-making musicians and more than a few laughs as the Deslondes — pronounced “Dez-Lons” — try to get to a gig. Working with director Joshua Shoemaker, the band filmed the live footage at Mag’s, a local bar that hosts the All-Star Covered Dish Country Jamboree.
Named for the street in New Orleans where Doores lives, the Deslondes are currently wrapping up a West Coast run prior to their first European tour in August. They released their self-titled debut album in June. By the way, today (July 14th) is Doores’ birthday — an occasion he shares with his hero, Woody Guthrie.
Asked if there’s one specific scene in the video that still cracks them up, Doores replies, “Yeah, Dan as the childhood magician. That’s my favorite. He stole the show.”