On their second EP, ‘Average Songs About The Best Days Of Our Lives’, Less Deceived showcase an obnoxious brand of punk rock that if all was right with the world would earn them an invitation to this years FEST in Florida. A mecca for beer koozies, flannel shirts and Hot Water Music tattoos.
While Gainsville might be a world away from Kingston Upon Hull, where the four members of Less Deceived live, they share a lot in common with that particular brand of punk rock. Stylistically taking a light hearted approach to music which is more about drinking, dancing, shouting and hugging your friends than it is about conquering the world.
Harry, Dave, Dom and Adam joined us to tell us a little about more about which records in particular influenced the songwriting on their latest EP.
Bruce Springsteen – Darkness on the Edge of Town
Harry: While ‘Born to Run’ was the soundtrack to my formative years, it’s ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ that hit me hardest. There’s a cold honesty to it, but it still remains a perfect collection of sing-a-long rock songs. Songs about loss and love and disenfranchisement that you can’t help but raise a beer to, which are exactly the sort of songs I want to write.
Iron Chic – Not Like This
Harry: We probably wouldn’t be a band without Iron Chic. Driving back from seeing them in Manchester, I basically shouted at the other three to let me join until they caved in order to shut me up. I’ve loved them since the first demo, but ‘Not Like This’ is the perfect combination of melody, anger, and hope. Pop punk songs that mean something, that are about trying to be a grown up in a world you don’t really care about. It’s a philosophy that I think resonates on pretty much all of the songs we write.
The Wonder Years – Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing
Adam: I’ve been through a lot the last few years and it always seems like The Wonder Years have a song about it. It’s the most honest pop punk I’ve ever heard – that doesn’t sound like much, but to me it really is. I didn’t used to have the confidence to sing about the things that went wrong in my life or the things that hurt, but I feel like listening to The Wonder Years has helped me conquer that, and made our songs that much stronger. I’m sure you’ve heard of them but if you haven’t then have a listen!
Green Day – Dookie
Dave: I probably wouldn’t be playing guitar if Green Day hadn’t released ‘Dookie’. I was 12-years-old, and it was the first CD I went out and bought on my own. I was instantly hooked by the way they injected melody into a genre of music that at the time, I thought was meant to sound harsh and unpleasant. The simplistic but energetic guitars on ‘Welcome to Paradise’ and the subtle vocal harmonies on ‘Pulling Teeth’ really showed off a side of punk rock that is both raw and elegant, a forte that has become a staple for Less Deceived and many other bands.
Everything John K Samson has done
Dom: Because it’s too difficult to pick a favourite, I’m going to go with anything that John K Samson has ever done. The pro-animals leftist anarchist preaching of Propagandhi shaped my teenage years, and as John (I like to think I’m on first name terms!) left to concentrate on The Weakerthans and latterly his solo stuff, he carried forward a subtlety and poetry in his lyrics that just speaks volumes when you get a little older.
‘Average Songs About The Best Days Of Our Lives’ by Less Deceived is out now on Disillusioned Records.
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Average Songs About The Best Days Of Our Lives by Less Deceived
