The Dead Licks, The Thing With Feathers

For any of us, moving on from college means growing up. Moving from your Dayton, Ohio, campus to the tough environment of a city, say. Actually putting that finance degree to use. And for Chicago four-piece The Dead Licks, it’s also meant growing up musically — both in terms of their compositions, and as performers.

“We’re not playing for crowds of people who’ll be drunk by the end of the set and not remember the show, anymore,” says Jack Grbac, who, along with guitarist/vocalist Tom Inzinga, bassist/keyboardist Johnny McNamara and drummer Jimmy Gallagher, relocated to Chicago from Ohio in 2018. Instead, the people showing up at The Dead Licks’s Chicago shows “care more about the music,” says Johnny. And the band does, too.

Sonically, The Dead Licks’s more grown-up sound is most apparent in terms of one thing: time. “In Disguise” is an unhurried affair, with roomy, often breezy songs that stretch their legs — with many of them clocking in around the five-minute mark, they’re not quite jams. But they evoke a similar spirit, taking pleasure in playing with and lingering over new sounds.

The Thing With Feathers are an alt-rock, indie pop and dance powerhouse, fueled by three of Nashville’s favorite fools: David Welcsh (vocals), Alex Hendricks (lead guitar), and Chris Roussell (drums). Blending their affinity for several artists such as Coldplay, the 1975, and The Strokes, the band created a distinct sound best expressed in their May 2019 release, ‘Figure It Out’. The infectious hook and pop-sensitive rock sound helped the track amass over a million streams on Spotify since its release, quickly becoming a fan-favorite at live shows and proving a powerful catalyst in reaching an international audience. The first single off of their sophomore EP, ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ (set to release July 22nd), comes on the heels of their ‘Lights Down Low’ music video being added into rotation on MTVs Spankin’ New, a featured performance at this year’s South By Southwest in Austin, TX, and a tour in support of their debut EP that has sent them to various parts of the country.