Fresh from their UK tour, garage-punk band Dearly Beloved have received widespread attention in their home country of Canada and have now branched out to the UK in a successful September tour.
With their scuzzy garage punk riffs they embarked on a tour that began in Southampton on September 7 and ended in Mullingar on September 20.
Band-frontman Rob Higgins and fellow co-vocalist Niva Chow performed a blistering set on September 10 at Alter Ego
The likes of Eagles of Death Metal, M83, Mars Volta and Broken Social Scene helped produce the album.
They have also toured across the US and Canada as well as working with Patrick Hutchinson, most commonly-known as Hutch, widely credited as his soundwork with Queens of the Stone Age.
Speaking exclusively to MM, Rob and Niva expressed their love for the legendary soundman who has worked with a host of different punk bands during the 1980s and regarded as “road brother” by Queens of the Stone Age band leader Josh Homme.
They said “Hutch’s contributions were inspirational, educational and nutritious.
“We weren’t really working with him; he was just around and seemed to always have something to offer. He is such a sweet guy.”
The band shared stories and techniques whilst Hutch made them coffee and played movies outdoor at night as well as a trip to Noah Purifoy’s ‘Wonderland of trash’ at the Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum
They added: “The trip to Noah Purifoy’s place inspired the song Miles Around which we wrote later that day.
“It’s about Noah and what it was like stepping into his world.”
Yet it was To Better Days that stole the crown for their favourite song to perform as Rob admits ‘is the closest I come to feeling like I play in Motorhead’.
“The idea of the song is pretty straight forward and hopeful while at the same it’s probably the most bad ass track on the record.
“That juxtaposition of mixing heavy tones and positive vibes is something we’re into.”
Dearly Beloved were also happy to compare themselves with other bands and artists, saying they are flattered being branded the “Sonny and Cher” of punk rock.
However, they were also keen to distance themselves from some comparisons.
“I can see the similarities people draw to bands like X, The Pixies and Sonic Youth because we have this ‘his and her’ vocal theme going on,” they said.
“Yet we attack the stage and our instruments in a way that is different from those bands – in a way that some people compare to The Ramones or Cream or Hot Snakes that is powered by raw energy as well as some good song writing.”
The band has also shared the stage with big names such as My Chemical Romance and Franz Ferdinand, a feeling they described as ‘like wild animals being dragged in from the local forest’.
“Opening for bands like that made us more aware of pacing and how to let that and the PA do some of the work for you.
“It’s okay to start with a little kiss, so to speak and to take your time with the whole thing.
“We’re so used to having 30 minutes to inspire crowds that don’t know us, that anytime we get to support a big band with a real following of die-hard fans, it’s an eye opening experience.”
Yet it seems that the fans took to the band with open arms with songs Living Proof and She championed by Kurt St Thomas of KROQ/Houndstooth Live, as well as CBC and satellite radio.
“It’s always a pleasure to find out folks that you consider discerning like a song you wrote, especially one like Living Proof that means so much to us personally,” they said.
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