Deep Sea Diver wowed a local crowd when they performed in Bend in February. The Seattle band returns Thursday for an outdoor set at Munch & Music.

One of the best local concerts of 2022 so far happened on a mild Wednesday night in early February, when Seattle rock band Deep Sea Diver absolutely nuked (in a good way) several dozen folks at Volcanic Theatre Pub.

On their recordings, Deep Sea Diver is a rock-solid band, capable of cranking out songs that pack both plenty of hooks and plenty of punch. This isn’t wimpy indie-pop, nor is it clunky, overly serious rock ‘n’ roll. It’s catchy, crunchy pop-rock that practically leaps from the speakers, thanks in large part to Jessica Dobson’s impassioned vocals and guitar heroism. (There’s a reason she played in The Shins and Beck’s band before focusing on her own music.)

On Thursday, Deep Sea Diver will return to town to play a free Munch & Music show in Drake Park. If you have a daughter (or daughters), bring ‘em down to watch Dobson work. And bring your sons and everyone else you know, too.

Deep Sea Diver, with Les Gold: Free, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Drive, Bend, munchandmusic.com.