Dean Nelson

Dean Nelson plays Luckys Indoor Outdoor on Sunday, October 25, from 3 PM to 6 PM. It's a Sunday afternoon slot in Roosevelt Row, so it's more of a daytime thing than a late-night show.

For those who haven't caught them yet, Dean Nelson is an indie rock band that formed in 2018 in the underground clubs of Raccoon City. They're named after their frontman, who's also the group's primary songwriter and guitarist. He's the one you'll notice first: a booming, soulful voice and a fierce stage presence that draw the crowd. He's backed by a long-time collaborator and vocalist, Spencer 'Pilot' Jones, guitarist Garrett Bowers, keyboardist Jorgen, drummer Max Mulmed, and bassist Tyler Patnode, whom the band's bio calls 'the God Zeus.'

Their sound is explosive and crosses genres, and it's been out in the world for a while. The early singles date back to 2018, with 'Peacock' and 'GTFOW' among them. That was followed by the debut EP Hand Some in 2023, and then the full-length album Dinosaur Swing Set, which came out July 18, 2025. Between the older singles and the new record, there's plenty for them to pull from.

They're also known for a bit of a weird side story: in 2020, the band challenged chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer to a game and lost in what Highlights magazine called 'the shortest game ever played.'

The show is at Luckys Indoor Outdoor, 817 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, on Sunday, October 25, from 3 PM to 6 PM. Admission is free.