On Monday, February 9th, rock band Deraps will stop in Pittsburgh for a show at The Crafthouse Stage & Grill. Doors open at 6 pm and first notes start at 7:30 pm.
The young rock duo includes namesake and guitar aficionado Jacob Deraps, alongside co-writer Josh Gallagher. This tour, named after their latest album release “Viva Rock n’ Roll,” is their first time touring in the United States. Deraps’ home is in Québec, Canada, and Gallagher was born in Perth, Australia. Despite being continents apart, the pair came together to create an inspired take on the sounds of ’70s rock, delighting fans of heavy hitters like Van Halen.
It was the music of Van Halen that contributed to Deraps’ interest in wanting to create music and learn to shred the guitar in the first place. During his childhood, he was surrounded by the musical influences of his parents. “My dad was a huge fan of ’70s and ’80s music and played the guitar and bass,” Deraps said. At four years old, he was gifted a drum kit. “I remember listening to System of a Down, Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots,” Derpas said. “But then I heard the guitar part in ‘Runnin’ With the Devil‘ by Van Halen and I was hooked. We sold my drum kit and I started learning the guitar at 12 years old.”
Over the years, not only has he excelled at mastering the guitar, but he has taken fans and music lovers on the journey with him. His popular YouTube channel is exactly the type of community building that the internet was made for. Each video is genuine and feels like you are hanging out with your friend who just really wants to talk and play guitar. His expertise is so vast that sometimes you forget that he started playing at only 13 years old. “I do covers but also get deeper into the gear and sound,” Deraps said. “It’s the geeky stuff that I love. I have a lot of fun and enjoy doing it for myself.”
Some of the videos are like watching a kid open gifts on their favorite holiday or birthday. Brands often send gear to Deraps for his feedback, and I’m sure to see them in the hands of someone who was made to play the guitar. In fact, some of his recently reviewed guitars will be making an appearance on this tour. “It’s not work for me,” Deraps said. “It’s like Christmas.” You’ll get to see brands like Charvel, Marshall, EVH and Jackson.
Because of his passion and talent, Deraps has opened for several big names including Tom Cochrane, Ann Wilson, Loverboy and Foreigner. Of the experience of opening for Foreigner in Toronto, Deraps said, “We opened for two bands that I love. The soundcheck was really short and we were doing all of our own sound, but it was a huge experience in a massive, huge venue. It went by quickly, but it was worth it.”
This “Viva Rock n’ Roll” album is their second release and hit #1 Rock Sales debut in Japan. It is like the classic stylized rock that was fueling the ’70s. I wonder if this type of sound is purely nostalgic or has staying power no matter the year. Do people still yearn for classic rock? Deraps thinks so. “People listen to it today. They are still looking for it, like in Greta Van Fleet. It’s the Guitar Hero stuff, the big riffs and solos. Young people are always discovering it,” Deraps said.
Despite any troubleshooting that is necessary for a young musician still starting out, such as needing to record in your apartment, the pair never let that slow them down from creating the music that gives so much to them. “We didn’t know if it would work, but it did. And now we can’t stop doing it,” Deraps said.
The cover art for the album is just as striking as the music it decorates. According to Deraps, the messaging is simple. “It is about freedom and for someone who thinks differently. It is us standing by rock n’ roll and doing what you love,” Deraps said. This is highlighted by two of the featured songs, “Viva Rock n’ Roll” and “Black Sheep Boogie.” For Deraps, the title track is “a banger and fun to play live,” but there are other gems to be found on the album, such as the nostalgic “Last Fall” and the intricate and heavy “Born To Die.”
Don’t miss this show, which promises to be fun and exciting in a time where we as a collective could use more of that. And don’t forget to follow Deraps on social media so you can stay up to date on all of their future musical endeavors.