PATRICK DENEAU

A small town boy making good— that’s Patrick Deneau’s story. Growing up in backwater Northern Michigan of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Deneau learned to love music while on road trips with his dad. His earliest influence was the Rolling Stones, and then, during his formative years, he was drawn to the energy and rebellion of the electric guitar.

Though he was attracted to the thought of making music a career, the more reliable gig of being a firefighter/emergency medical technician seemed to be the more responsible route. It was a way he could earn a consistent paycheck and help others, as his father did. For a time, his flood of musical creativity was replaced by drought until a string of disturbing calls at work drove him to the guitar again as a creative and emotional outlet. His passion was reignited, and so his recording career began.

Enter City Lines: Deneau and Jack Spivey on guitars, and Brandon Benson on bass. All three provide the rock-solid vocals for lyrics that lend the Midwest working-class honesty of life’s crossroads to the solid steady Chevy beat that gets people up and moving. The album Waiting on the Win weaves the diverse influences of each band member to create a musical palette of intricate sounds and messages.

Deneau’s songs range from up-tempo ’90s alternative rock which inspired “Many Hearts” to the intricate layers of subtle guitar, vocals and harmony heard in “For Heaven’s Sake” (exploring the concept of blood quantum count in Native American citizens). Not to be forgotten are the group’s gravelly vocals and guest artist

Asa Brosius’s outstanding steel touch that brings a little honkytonk to “Fortune Sold”. The lyrics, harmonies, twang and drive of this album do not disappoint.

A singer-songwriter not to be underestimated, Deneau is on this journey of life to make a difference at home and in his community with music. The path will have crossroads, but Deneau is sure to make the winning choice; keep an eye on this star rising.