Here, a great song gets The Dead South treatment. There’s a quirky, surreal video – complete with aliens and a flying banjo – to capture your interest and to highlight the song’s theme of alienation. If the banjo and the aliens don’t grab you, then just absorb the excellent musicianship displayed in this fine interpretation of ‘People Are Strange’. With this cover, The Dead South manage to find that difficult balance between remaining true to the original while making the song their own. The song features typically fabulous finger-picking, the intricate strings complementing one another perfectly. With the banjo, mandolin, cello and guitar, they manage to create a real foot-tapping rhythm despite the lack of a drummer in the band.
AUK favourites, The Dead South have announced two new EPs of cover songs, ‘Easy Listening for Jerks’ Parts I and II, due for release in March 2022. This inspired cover of The Doors’ ‘People Are Strange’ is taken from Part II, which also features songs by the likes of System of a Down and Cold War Kids. Where Part I follows a more traditional, folk route, Part II is characterised by outsider anthems. The selection of tunes on this EP reflects the band’s pre-show playlist, giving some insight into their influences, and they’re all great choices for adapting to the band’s trademark style. These releases are also notable for being the first on which all four band members take a turn as lead vocalist. It’s a delight to see this Canadian acoustic quartet pushing their music, exploring different genres and moods. check it out.
