Blackburn outfit The Illicits recently returned with their new single ‘Modern Life’. Already hometown heroes with a string of hometown dates sold out dates, could this be their break-out moment?
Artwork by Tucker Creative Studios
Pre-lockdown, they had caught the eye with the destructive ‘Left Behind’ and the fine cover of ‘Born Slippy’. Although Covid knocked the band’s momentum, they returned earlier this year with the post-punk classic ‘Play Your Part’ and the glam-stomp of ‘Feel it’. This time out, they travel to the initial wave of punk to unleash their visceral social commentary.
Like many from that generation, they have reworked 50s rock ‘n’ roll up to a furious conclusion. Guitarist Brad Hayes has found a beautiful dystopia where Steve and Mick Jones have become one guitarist. The howling destruction of the Pistols is funnelled through Mick’s early beefed-up rock ‘n’ roll to produce a savage take on the ‘I Fought The Law’ and ‘Janie Jones’ before a thunderous descent into a ‘Holidays In The Sun’ climax.
As frontman George Richards howls “this is the modern life” The Jam are brought to the fore. Wrenching the lyrics from his spleen, he breathes life into a generation who skint, downtrodden, and ignored.
This is the sound of punks, skins, mods, and indie kids uniting in the face of political gaslighting and corporate greed’s race to the bottom. They can lie to our faces, but not our hearts!
*Banner image courtesy of Sonic Pr and @jtm.dos