Likely Lads
York, England, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
With a name like that they’ve got to be good. Haven’t they? They say they “write honest songs that you want to hear”. I wouldn’t argue with that. As soon as your hear them, you know these tunes come from the heart. They‘re about their lives, their aspirations. They represent a fine tradition, of course. I can hear The Who in there, The Kinks, The Libertines, maybe a little Wedding Present. But, like all their forebears, there’s something unique as well, a distinctive element that is of them and no one else. They’ve got a strong sartorial edge as well. Check out the pics and the videos. Their wardrobe looks the business - part mod, part casual, part indie. - SohoStrut
Second up were Likely Lads, their sound a lot more original than their name, and in their frankly splendid half hour set, they delivered song after song of insightful, irreverent, and undeniably northern indie. Full of tempo changes and unexpected breaks, their bouncy set just about managed to get the somewhat sleepy audience kicked into gear ready for the headline act. - The Yorker
Informed by the same stripped, garage ethic that has defined a myriad of northern English indie legends, Likely Lads are the most promising four-piece to emerge from York in some time.
In less than a year they have developed a reputation for high energy performances, during which a meld of upbeat, tempo changing alternative rock n roll, complete with catchy riffs and honest lyricism is showcased before burgeoning numbers of soon-to-be-dedicated followers. And it’s these shows that make references to early Oasis and Arctic Monkeys understandable.
Other than a swagger, don’t expect the expected. When guitarist Ash Harding, lead singer and bassist Ross Mcleod, rhythm guitarist Ben Porter, and drummer Jordan Maher come together the results are unique and exceptional. It’s the sound of influences ranging from The Strokes to Jamie T, capped with a typically Yorkshire penchant for the self-deprecating. - OneAndOther.com
Discography
Melrose Yard Demos released 6th February 2012
Likely Lads 4 Track EP released 26th September 2011.
Observations (Single) not yet released, but has been played on BBC Introducing York & North Yorkshire
MinsterFM
Amazing Radio
6 Towns Radio
One Media Radio
Photos
Bio
Bob: These streets are ugly, but they have a kind of beauty. ?Terry: Working class sentiment is the indulgence of working peopled created through football and rock ‘n’ roll or people like you who moved out to the Elm Lodge housing estate at the earliest opportunity. ?Bob: Well I didn't want my kids growing up in these streets,...
The Likely Lads movie (1976)
WHILE it was after seeing a reformed Libertines walk on stage to a rapturous reception at Leeds Festival last year that spurred Likely Lads into doing something about wanting to be on stage and form a new band, they actually take their name from a line which jumped out in another (albeit rather unlikely) TV series - Traffic Cops.
Lead guitarist Ash Harding explains, “There’s a line after a car chase where the narrator says ‘these Likely Lads got away’ and I immediately rang Ross and asked him what he thought.” Frontman/bassist Ross McLeod adds, “I immediately liked it. Not just because of the Libertines’ song but we then watched Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads, about two northern idiots, these sort of ‘northern Del Boys’, we realised the name had a charm to it,” Ash adds, “And these lads who were daft as a brush trying to come up with schemes and ways to better themselves. It reminded us of ourselves.”
Indeed, Likely Lads is all about wanting better. Having formed little more than a year ago in their hometown of York the four-piece alternative guitar band have been steadily causing a commotion on the local scene through a word of mouth buzz, building a fan base that shares their ambition to see British bands returned to their former glory.
While Likely Lads’ influences will be obvious to many, their aim is to innovate and build upon ideas of those who have come before them. “If you look at bands like Stone Roses, Oasis, The Libertines, ultimately something always goes wrong, but they open the door for others to come along and be bigger and better, and right now nobody else is picking up that mantle, so we thought we’d have a go,” asserts Ross.
Along with rhythm guitarist Ben Porter and drummer Jordan Maher – while they all variously hold down dead-end jobs working in retail, house removals, whatever pays the bills, they have spent the last year honing their songwriting skills and actively building an online following. It began in their hometown and is rapidly spreading across the north. As Jordan puts it: “We totally believe in our songs and we aren't afraid to put in as much work as necessary to get ourselves out there.”
It’s the basis on which the band are determined to break. “British bands keep trying to start a revolution and start again but they don’t have the songs,” says Ross, before Ben chips in, “Lots of bands perform well but it’s almost as if they lack the belief in their own music! We believe that our music is good enough to bring guitar music back to the charts. We have that spark that will get the ball rolling again. And that spark is our songs.” Ash adds, “We are about the music but you can buy into us as people – people see us as them!” while Ross again stresses, “The lyrics are all based on real life experiences, whereas with many other bands they are often vague about what they mean. Musically and lyrically our songs are no-nonsense, and straight in your face. But most importantly we actually live the life we sing about.”
An untitled four track EP of free demos circulated to fans both on CD and online in September, and this gave the boys vast attention further afield than their hometown. Others will be able to make their own judgement whether Likely Lads have the walk as well as the talk when they hear their first proper release, the Observations EP, in early 2012.
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