Robert Cavuoto at Metal Rules recently caught up with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen to discuss his blues-based band Delta Deep, featuring Robert DeLeo (bassist for Stone Temple Pilots), in addition to Debbi Blackwell-Cook (back-up vocalist for such artists as Michael Buble and Gregory Hines) and Forrest Robinson (drummer for India.Arie, Joe Sample & The Crusaders, TLC). Following is an excerpt from the interview.

Q: Def Leppard has a tremendous visual aspect live and Delta Deep is working the blues in the clubs without videos screens, spectacle lighting, and pyro – tell me about what it’s like going from one setting to the other?

Collen: "Something really interesting happened to me in December when we were on our arena tour with Def Leppard in England. It was us and Whitesnake and the shows were selling out. The last two gigs were at Wembley and Sheffield arenas which hold like 12,000 people. The next night Debbi and I played a little club in London to 150 people. What I thought strange about it was that it didn’t feel strange at all! I went from the lights, the visuals, and 12,000 screaming people to the club. It was great. I used the same guitar which was another strange thing. It all still worked as an expression of me and I really enjoyed that process. So that is why it didn’t seem weird and really enjoyable."

Q: I speak with many artists like yourself and always have to ask if it is more frightening to step out on stage at a monster outdoor festival to 100,000 people or play an intimate club?

Collen: "For me it’s not scary at all. As soon as I walk on stage I get this amazing confidence. It’s almost like another person. You hear Alice Cooper talking about Alice in the third person, it’s almost like that. Being in the club is a lot more personal. People can see you more directly. At these festivals and venues they are looking at the spectacle rather than you. The focus changes compared to when you are in a club, when you are listening to the music. When you’re seeing a big show you are actually becoming part of the show. It’s a big difference, and I can see why people get a bit nervous as the focus is on the show vs the performers."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Delta Deep are set to continue their 2016 Sugar Shack Tour with a run up the East Coast this spring.

Beginning on March 28th in Washington, DC the quartet will hit Philly, Asbury Park, Northampton, MA before heading into NYC, Boston and finishing up with a spot at Daryl’s House, the venue owned by Hall & Oates’ Darryl Hall. The east coast leg of the Sugar Shack tour ends on April 8th in Bay Shore, NY with more dates to be announced shortly.

Delta Deep will be touring in support of their soon to be released live album, featuring songs recorded during the inaugural January Sugar Shack west coast run. The January run featured sold-out shows with fans and critics’ alike raving about the bands live show.

Collen initially started Delta Deep in 2012 after jamming over the course of a year with friend and relative, Debbi Blackwell-Cook. What started as a casual pairing singing Motown and classic blues staples quickly became a quartet who share a love for soul, funk and the blues when they added STP’s DeLeo and drummer Forrest Robinson.

Tour dates:

March
28 - Howard Theatre - Washington, DC
29 - Ortlieb’s Lounge - Philadelphia, PA
30 - Wonder Bar - Asbury Park, NJ
31 - Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA

April
3 - BB Kings - New York, NY
5 - Cavern Club at Hard Rock Café - Boston, MA
6 - Daryl’s House - Pawling, NY
8 - YMCA Boulton Center - Bay Shore, NY