Theory of a Deadman has played the New York State Fair three times; this was my second time seeing them here, the first time in 2019.
Theory of a Deadman knows how to turn heartache into catchy, often humorous breakup songs. Their talent and songwriting skills make their albums enjoyable from start to finish, without any tracks you’d want to skip. Their consistency and quality remind me of fellow Canadian rockers Three Days Grace, who also deliver albums full of great songs with no filler. Do you have a favorite album or song from either band?
Their clever lyrics and playful style set them apart. Frank Zappa, Joe Walsh, and Warren Zevon are fantastic comparisons—they all have that unique ability to blend humor with music in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Theory of a Deadman Show
I got to the stage around 6:45 PM, securing my spot early as I’ve learned from past attendance that this smaller seating area fills up quickly. Mostly set up for lawn chair seating.
As the show drew near, the interpreter there to sign the concert appeared and began signing to the soundtrack of songs playing before the show. For some reason, I found this very entertaining. The thought of some of the upcoming song lyrics being signed made me laugh and feel very inquisitive. Here he is, doing Sweet Caroline.
Theory came out promptly at 8 PM, opening with “Dinosaur”, the title track from their latest album, one of three songs they played from the latest, “Two of Us (Stuck)” and “Ambulance” being the others.
My first enjoyment with the signing came at “Bitch Came Back” (Clip) (Signed Clip).
Setlist
From there on, it was a string of their hits (really what we want for a concert experience), mostly from the Scars and Souveniers, Truth Is…, and Gasoline albums with a stop at the piano for “Wicked Game” (a Chris Isaak cover).
Seeing that most of the crowd was seemingly unfamiliar with the songs or singing along at all was a bit of a surprise to me.
In fact, when they covered Garth Brook’s “Friends in Low Places” and announced that Garth was here to sing it right, the crowd seemed annoyed to find out it was a joke. They did get to watch me sing along however, a treat for sure.
They ended the show with “Hate My Life,” (signing highlight), before returning with the encore of “RX (Medicate)” and “Bad Girlfriend”.
“Bad Girlfriend” being the ultimate signing highlight. Watch til the end of the 30-second clip.
One thing I have noticed from this and previous shows is that the songs are slightly slower, and Tyler’s voice is flatter than on the album’s production. It takes a bit to get used to, but having seen them four or five times, it obviously hasn’t been a problem for me.
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