Creating a follow up to a breakout record is never easy, but after the success of 2020’s Flower of Devotion, indie-rockers Dehd were up for the challenge. With Fat Possum Records by their side, the Chicago trio were able to recruit Grammy-winning mixing engineer Craig Silvey and mastering engineer Heba Kadry for their latest effort Blue Skies. But aside from the production upgrades, very little changed with the band’s sound and songwriting, and that’s a good thing. Blue Skies is proof that Dehd has mastered the art of garage rock. The album doubles down on their signature sound, blending elements of ’60s surfer rock and girl groups with a punk-rock pace and hooky lyrics. The optimistic message makes for the perfect summertime record in a time when the world needs it most.

Watch Dehd perform “Window,” “Stars” and “Bad Love” from Blue Skies live at WNXP’s Sonic Cathedral.