The Dead Licks – With A Bottle Of Whatever You’re Having
Dead Licks are a four-piece alt-rock band now based out of Chicago, who release their new single ‘with a bottle of whatever your having’ on March 11th. The single is taken from their second album ‘In Disguise’, which is due for release May this year.
The first thing that struck me when playing the track was, what I felt at least, a distinct Britishness to their sound. There’s an upbeat indie feel to their music, a distinct ‘we’re northern’ band sound. It reminded me of a sort of more mature Courteeners, with just a hint or a smidgen of the expansiveness of Doves. Inzinga’s vocals poke around the track, at times sounding like the ghost of 1980’s Michael Stipe, there’s no doubt this boy can genuinely sing. As the track builds its momentum, the band are tight enough to entrust him as their captain, their guiding light, or maybe as the track tells us, “their saviour in disguise”.
There was a sense musically at least, of a sound akin to that of Catfish and the Bottlemen or their criminally underrated countrymen, We Are Augustines. Though a slow burner, it’s an intensely catchy yet lengthy track at six minutes long. Will that prevent it getting the air play it deserves? I certainly hope not. In the defence of their lengthy offering, the song never feels over-burdened or stodgy and never allows itself to overflow into pretentiousness. Every note feels essential, a worthy addition, a valid contributor, and an essential building block clasping onto the soul of this wonderful tune.
Two final questions remain, can they do it live, and can they build on this within their album. I truly hope so. Give both them and the album a go.
Play It When…?
It feels like a warmer weather track. As the darker nights dissipate could it be that feel good track you need to start your first year without the pandemic? Maybe you should let the bottle of whatever liquor your having decide.
John Frazer
