About The Understate Men

Currently

The Understate Men are Dif and jd decker. Our latest release is an EP called Renegade King. Whatever these four songs may be to you, it is the best definition of "Understate Men Music" yet. Definitely Americana. A mix of acoustic and electric sounds. Guitars, mandolin, banjo, upright bass. Why did it take so long? Because there is so much else to do. Recording a Gourds Tribute that never saw the light of day. A soul band called The Ness. Dif's singer-songwriter adventure as Diftong. Don't worry. We'll keep on plodding!

So, what about these four new songs? Renegade King is a tribute to the mysterious music and ways of Captain Beefheart. Diet Coke & Silicone is a reaction to the shallowness of the lowland people around the turn of the century. Big Dipper tells about lost time that could have been spent feeling happy. And Thunderhead Mountain is a melting pot with dreams about going to America, Crazy Horse, Blue Highways and the Ziolkowski's building a monument.

History

Dif and jd decker hung out together in nineties bands. They started The Understate Men in '95 or '96 (can't remember) with jd decker on the electric and Dif on the acoustic guitar. They had a bunch of Dif's songs and sat in their own small, ragged and smoky doghouse that was converted to something vaguely resembling a studio. On the side they played in the legendary Neil Young Tribute "The Kicking Mule", slapping the eardrums of audiences with loud electric rock. They were Rocking in the Free World, sort of. They never could choose between playing loud electric rock or acoustic folk music. Hence the diversity of their first two albums: "The Understate Men (2002)" and "Propaganda (2003)". jd decker was an entire band on his own on the first cd and for Propaganda they were joined by Deadpan Dirk on drums and Pyedog Pete on harmonica, dobro and banjo. However, Pete is far away dealing with his own music and Dirk disappeared under mysterious circumstances. So right now there are just two Understate Men.