Dead 60s: Love Scotland

The near double decade long trend in Liverpudlian music has been an easily identified and instantly recognisable one. Bands like The La's, Cast and more currently The Coral and The Zutons, have issued a blueprint for Merseyside sound that unsparing numbers of groups seem more than happy to study. Dead 60's however are not willing to be tarred with that huge red and blue 'Merseybeat' brush.

The name 'Dead 60s' itself tells a story of musicians being constantly benchmarked against the virtuosos of a bygone era occupied by Beatles and Pacemakers and being described by as, well, 'Dead 60s'. Ironic, it may seem then, that a band who grew up in the heartland of the heartbeat to the 1960s should end up sounding more like the folk that re-refined our musical palates a good 10 years later. SkinnyFest caught up with 60s head honcho Matt McManoman to find out just what the Hell they thought they were doing. "Well there was nothing in Liverpool that influenced us. That's probably why we sound the way we do. We took a lot from The Clash and people like that. We didn't want to be categorised like everyone else, like 'skifflesque'." Skifflesque, they are not. Clash-esque, they most certainly are.

Their eponymous debut album is awash with Ska and dub influences. It's that same jerky, poppy, punky concoction that made The Specials et al such a roaring success in the past. Lead single Riot Radio is a polished, no frills, frugal offering that has swept all before it, and it's gone down a treat in the States. With a sound that travels so well, can we anticipate them swapping Bootle for Boston anytime soon? "It's definitely a childhood dream. We'd love to conquer the States and we have done quite well over there. But it's not our foremost priority. We wanna have it sorted with the British fans first, it would be silly to disregard our biggest market." Silly indeed Matt.

Which is why Dead 60s are taking a hike over Hadrian's Wall this August to play T on the Fringe at The Liquid Room. Having spent most of the Summer working on a new album, the Fringe may be an opportunity to premier some of the sounds they've come up with. Excited? "Yeah! It's great to be back, we love Scotland. Scots audiences are always full of energy, they make the gig happen! Apart from the V Festival this is the only UK show we're doing so it's just great. It's really nice." Steady!

Matt and co share a night with the Raconteurs, but competition from Jack White's side project doesn't faze them. They're more concerned with exploring some other bands and meeting old friends. "I didn't realise Kasabian were playing. They're good friends of ours, when we first started out we toured with them. I also want to check out the Dandy Warhols. We've played up here before with Morrissey and The Tears, but this is our first headline show so we're really looking forward to it."

So before they actually do bugger off to the States, catch them in the capital on the 23rd.