There’s something magical about musicians who don’t just play songs but reimagine them—dusting off the overlooked gems, polishing them with their own fingerprints, and handing them back to us as if they’ve always belonged in this form. That’s exactly what Jeff Symonds does with The Deep Dive Vol. 2, the second EP in his series of covers born from his long-running podcast, “50 Years of Music with 50-Year-Old White Guys.” If Volume One shone a light on Dylan deep cuts, this new collection jumps into the fertile years of 1967–1973, and the result is both nostalgic and strikingly fresh.
The standout moment of the EP comes with Sleeping Dog, Jeff’s electrified revival of Pete Townshend’s long-forgotten acoustic demo. Where Townshend left it in skeletal form, Jeff fleshes it out with muscle, heart, and a sly grin. The band arrangement kicks up dust, pulling the song into full stride with a playful nod to “Pinball Wizard” that will thrill Who devotees. What’s most impressive here isn’t just the energy but the tenderness—Jeff doesn’t drown the track in bravado; he lets the simple sweetness of its sentiment shine through, giving it the big-hearted treatment it never got back in 1970. You can hear his personal connection in every chord, and that intimacy transforms what could have been just a novelty cover into a loving act of reclamation.
Equally captivating is his reworking of The Kinks’ Two Sisters. In its original form, the track was charming but tangled in harpsichord flourishes that made it feel more like a relic than a living song. Jeff strips away the fussy ornaments and brings the core story—Ray Davies’ brilliant sketch of domestic tension and yearning—into sharper focus. What emerges is a track that feels contemporary yet true to its roots, a timeless little tale wrapped in crisp, earthy production. Jeff’s version is elegant, one that trusts the melody and words enough to carry themselves without unnecessary clutter. It’s the kind of reinterpretation that makes you wonder if this is how the song was always meant to sound.
But the heart of the record lies in the closing medley, where Jeff, joined by longtime collaborator Megan Slankard and multi-instrumentalist Gawain Matthews, tackles two songs from Richard and Linda Thompson’s I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. This is the moment where the project transcends “cover album” territory and becomes something intimate and communal. Megan’s lead vocal is achingly beautiful—full of warmth and ache—and when Jeff takes his turn, the two voices entwine like old friends trading secrets across the years. Meanwhile, Gawain’s string wizardry (electric, acoustic, mandolin, dobro—you name it) paints the soundscape with rich, glowing colors. Jeff himself admits that some of his proudest playing is tucked into this track, and it shows. The medley feels less like an homage and more like a quiet act of devotion, a love letter to the Thompsons’ timeless songwriting.
What makes The Deep Dive Vol. 2 special isn’t just the song choices, though they are inspired, or the performances, which are consistently excellent. It’s the spirit behind the project—the sense of curiosity, reverence, and joy that Jeff brings to each track. These are not casual covers knocked out for novelty’s sake; they are thoughtful reimaginings rooted in lived history. You can feel Jeff’s years of conversation, discovery, and obsession with music in the way he handles every lyric, every guitar lick, every harmony.
At just three tracks, the EP is brief, but it lingers. Like a favorite story told around a fire, it leaves you with both satisfaction and the urge to hear more. In a world crowded with tribute projects, Jeff Symonds has carved out something different—an exploration of musical history that feels personal, alive, and surprisingly vital.
The Deep Dive Vol. 2 isn’t just for completists or nostalgists. It’s for anyone who believes songs deserve second chances, for anyone who’s ever been floored by a half-forgotten tune suddenly blooming into life. Jeff has given these songs that chance—and in doing so, he’s given us a record that feels both lovingly familiar and entirely new.