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"Why Say Why?" Music Video Premiere - Vents Magazine 

"Their new single “Why Say Why?” is a sweet blend of all the little intricacies that play into the band’s sound, making it the perfect introduction for new fans and friends. Kicking off with accordion, acoustic, bass, and a body-bopping beat, the band naturally invites listeners to the dance floor by the time the addictive sing-along chorus sets into place. “Why Say Why?” is the ultimate “live free” anthem paired with a music video that drives it home in signature People Like You fashion. “Why say why? Why not say why not?” – for all you know, there could be a man dreaming instead of driving behind the wheel of a bus coming for you at any moment…"

The "Why Say Why?" video also appeared on...

"Unique almost doesn’t cover it when it comes to People Like You. This five piece band creates psychedelic vaudeville tunes with a punk mentality — and they use everything at their disposal to do it... If there was any band to be highlighted for taking their own advice, People Like You seems to be it. From the accordion and upbeat rhythm that kicks it all off to the spread of images that make up the accompanying video, People Like You are going for it, never stopping to ask why. “Why Say Why” sports addictively gritty vocals and a heavy dose of groove and sticks with you in its catchiness, but also in its positivity."
-Kaitlin Ruether, NewSickMusic.com

"Una peculiar banda de Portsmouth (New Hampshire) que atesora un variado sonido entre el gipsy folk, el punk, la psicodelia y el vodevil creada por Eli Elkus y Andrew Polakow junto a Justin Sheriff, Rob Littlefield y Max Elkus. Unos agitadores musicales, con recomendables directos que presentan su tercer álbum, Dancing on the dead (2018), con temas tan entretenidos como este Why Say Why, toda una declaración de principios, en el que los norteamericanos alientan al oyente a vivir la vida al máximo porque nunca se sabe cuándo llegará a su fin. Un cautivador sonido de acertada fusión que no dejará indiferente a nadie, seguro." 
-Velvety Blog (Spain)

"‘Why Say Why?’ is the perfect introduction to People Like You, with its organic sounds played on accordian, acoustic guitar, and bass, coupled with a bopping beat. Resistance is futile as from the very first bar the listener is compelled to kick back the chairs and dance. It’s a “live free” anthem, with a folk music style rhythm, paired with a funky and compelling video which will make you look out the window just to make sure their bus isn’t coming to pick you up to join their merry band."
-EssentiallyPop.com

Music-News.com, ArtistRack.com, NHPR.org, Multiplicity - Episode 65, YesterdaysNothing.com, Music City Arts Nashville, LATV, IndieWave, H20 Television, IndiMusic.tv, PC Music and more!

"Adieu" Premiere - Deli Magazine

"Their forthcoming third studio album, Dancing on the Dead, shows the band at their best—they’re tighter than ever before, and they haven’t given up on their rootsy experimental sound, either. People Like You is filling in the gap left by other freak-folk greats..."
-Lilly Milman, Deli Magazine

"They're back (though they never left...), and they're zanier than ever (which is in every part the beauty of the whole shebang)!"
-Chris Hislop, EDGE
Interview with EDGE Magazine

PRESS RELEASE

Portsmouth Eclectic Troupe, People Like You, Give Voice to Life, Death, Chaos, and the Characters in Their Heads on Upcoming Album

New Hampshire gypsy-folk-granola punk-alt rockers, People Like You, explore taboo subjects concerning death, life, and chaos on their upcoming album, “Dancing on the Dead.”

Since their inception in 2013, People Like You have been featured in national publications like The Deli, Sound, Take, and EDGE. They’ve received worldwide radio play, from L.A. and London’s KCRW to several radio stations in Australia. Their live performances have supported such artists as Consider the Source, Bella’s Bartok, and Seth Yacovone Band, as well as won them the New England Music Awards Last Band Standing.

“Dancing on the Dead” will be the band’s 3rd studio album, following 2017’s offering, “People People.” The album was recorded live at People Like You Studios, a home studio set up in Portsmouth.

“All of the songs were tracked live,” said Eli Elkus, singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist of People Like You, “and then overdubbed to try and capture some of the life they've had with us playin' 'em around for the past year or so and to prevent being rhythmically gridlocked.”

Mixing was done, in part, at the home studio and the rest in a room the band has in Boston, where the mastering was also completed.

“Dancing on the Dead” gives voice to taboo subject matter concerning death, chaos, and life.

“It's a bit of a maniacal, ludic, rosy, menacing, dichotomous medley of songs,” he said, “aimed to open doors in people's minds, encouraging exploration into the darkness as well as the light.”

Elkus reported that more than on previous albums, some of the songs were written from the perspectives of fictitious characters he’d created in his head.

“I found myself playing the part of said characters outside of People Like You endeavors,” Elkus said. “The mantra, "don't say why, say why not" continues to get me into my fair share of trouble as well.”

Expect a May 11th, 2018 release for “Dancing on the Dead,” followed by a summer 2018 tour.

 

 

Dancing on the Dead

Why Say Why?

When I was young...

I never wanted things done by the books

Thought it was fun and strange 

'til someone gave me funny looks

I used to cry 

on forest floors in little hidden nooks

'til this one time

I ate this funny fungi 

whole world shook

now I say...


Why say why?

Why not say why not?

Live 'til ya die

Don't say why,

Say why not! 

Why say why?

Why not say why not?

Live yer life

Don't say why,

Say why not!


Let's pull the fringes 'til they fray,

let's go to Paris in the rain

Bent outta shape to straighten out

and hop the fence and have a cow

Yeah, let it loose

ya get the goose

ya shoot my dog and call me Saul

and kill the cat inside the box

and put a saddle on that frog


Why say why?

Why not say why not?

Live 'til ya die

Don't say why,

Say why not! 

Why say why?

Why not say why not?

Live yer life

Don't say why,

Say why not!


We'll take the knots right out them knickers

the hissy out the fit

We'll take the belly out the snake

right out the wagon

out the pit

I got the trees to bribe the dogs

So check yer ass and scratch yer watch

and dill that pickle, pick that bone,

fill my cup and take me home


Why say why?

Why not say why not?

Live 'til ya die

Don't say why,

Say why not! 

Why say why?

Why not say why not?

Live yer life

Don't say why,

Say why not!


Superhero Song

It's hard to be a super hero all the time

spend your life sweeping streets and cleaning up the crime

It's hard to live a noble life and lead a righteous line

Oh, it's hard to be a superhero... all the time

Sometime's life's not easy

It ain't always fine


It's hard to be a roly-poly in a colony of ants

Curled up in a tiny ball while they all take their stance

they'll band together and unfurl ya with their little hands

defending, oh, their sacred mound that they made out of sand

Well... sometime's life ain't easy

It's not always fine


It's hard to live a life off booze and not feel like yer dyin'

when the mornin' sun comes risin' and you're shakin' and you're sighin'

with your clammy hands around your head feelin' like you're better off dead

Your love to be's not so pretty when she's pukin' in your bed

Sometime's life's not easy

It's not always fine
 

Old Country

I remember all too well

my whereabouts unsure

with one step back

slipped through the cracks

of that old scratch cellar door

Where kids in rat-bit rags

drag dolls across the floor

the monkey claps, them junkies fiend

I'd seen it all before

vixens in veils and weeping widows wail...

Stories of the Old Country


They're down there livin' underground

under the dirt they kicked around

back in the days in their hometown

And all the pretty scarlet darlin's

painted ladies shakin' lazy bones

fer dancin' in the fancy show


Caught in a trap of blasphemy

with the old scratch after me

spread myself thin in all the sins

that I been livin' in

Went a sip for a sip

it took a million afternoons

and I sold my soul when the last drip dripped

from the bottom of a grog saloon 

No ones no use

with nothin' left to lose

Down in the Old Country


I'm down there livin' underground

Under the dirt I've kicked around 

back in the days in my hometown

And all my marbles they got 

lost in time

The moment that I crossed that

boarder line

They crept down the steps of fiery depths... 


They're down there livin' underground

under the dirt they kicked around

back in the days in their hometown


Adieu

Things don't always seem to fall right into your lap

Is it hard to be a human and sit... like a rock in the path?

Is it harder to make money?

Or harder to spend time?

Are ya sippin' away your nickels?

Are you dreamin' away your dimes?


Adieu, adieu

I can no longer stay with you

Adieu, Adieu

but somewhere in the wayside of my mind I knew

I would be seein' you again my friend

Oh, I'll meet you at the end


So I'll hang my harp on this weeping willow tree...

and may the world go well with thee


Well the grass is always greener

the weeds they grow so tall

Somewhere in an orchard is an apple...

waiting to fall on someone's head!

Oh, the moon is runnin' races and the Earth is goin' laps

doin' laps around the sun and the stars... 

They are our maps


Adieu, adieu

I can no longer stay with you

Adieu, Adieu

but somewhere in the wayside of my mind I knew

I would be seein' you again my friend

Oh, I'll meet you at the end


So I'll hang my harp on this weeping willow tree...

and may the world go well with thee


I was waitin' on a train

to take me to a bigger city

where I could catch a plane

I was was waitin' on a plane 

to drop me on the ground

where I’ll land in a different down

and then I'll walk around the town

walk around the town

over the tunnels under ground

connecting buildings all to buildings 

oh, they build them all so tall

skyscrapers

you see 'em scratching at the sky?

starin' at the starin' at the sun with my own bare eyes

oh, I might go blind I’ve got a sun stained mine

you’ve gotta have a mind to mind

i quit thinking long ago, so much left to find


Adieu, adieu

I can no longer stay with you

Adieu, Adieu

but somewhere in the wayside of my mind I knew

I would be seein' you again my friend

Oh, I'll meet you at the end


So I'll hang my harp on this weeping willow tree...

and may the world go well with thee


Nothin' To Do

I've been cooped up and shacked in

waitin' on the coocoo to call

Tryna fit my fist in my mouth

how the world keeps knockin' me down

and the clock never sung

but a bell rung under my nose

to let it be known

I gotta loosen my shoes

to feel the mud between my toes...


Oh, whoa...

yeah? what do ya know?

and maybe if you could show me...

got all the time in the world


I got nothin' to do today

so whaddya say?


We get out of our houses and into the air

gettin' up off the couches down to I dunno where

well it sure will be somethin'

got nothin' goin' on

do what you wanna do

yeah... I'm talkin' to you


Blisterin' fire in the sky

is drippin' sun drops on my sheets

no, they won't let me sleep

and there's some words I remember...

like trees bendin' outta my reach

How they swallow the floor

and all the glorious creatures delve

deeper and deeper into themselves

they're floatin' in cellular swells


Oh, whoa...

yeah, where do they go?

and maybe if you could show me...

got all the time in the world


I got nothin' to do today

whaddya say?


We get out of our houses and into the air

gettin' up off the couches down to I dunno where

well it sure will be somethin'

got nothin' goin' on

do what you wanna do

yeah... I'm talkin' to you


We could follow our shadows

toss some rocks in a pond

frolic in the flowers

sing a singalong song

yeah, it sure'll be somethin'

got nothin' goin' on

do what you wanna do

oh, I'm talkin' to you


I got nothin' to say

and it's a ok


I got nothin' to do...

No, I got nothin' to do today

 

Better 2 B Dead

Where do you run when cats are lurkin'?

and rats are racin' raiding cupboards

when all the pigs with guns come searchin'

you look one way and go the other


There ain't no use in tryin'

for savin' the survivin'

sun rises risin'

they're still dyin'

Don't believe them they are lyin'

they're only talkin'

no matter how they're cryin'

yep, you keep on walkin'


I hear 'em say

it's better to be left for dead

when every perfect day is just another day away

they never come around

always ahead

they're never now

It's better to be left for dead

when every perfect day is just another day away

who knows they never come around

always ahead...


I seen 'em walk on burning bridges

only to fall into their ditches

yup, you pick 'em right up by their britches

and they will unseam all the stitches


Oh no, you cannot beat them

in their own battles

who knew you could not lead them

through all their travels

no you must just leave them

say nice to meet them

because in the end

you wouldn't wanna be 'em


I hear 'em say

it's better to be left for dead

when every perfect day is just another day away

they never come around

always ahead

they're never now

It's better to be left for dead

when every perfect day is just another day away

who knows they never come around

always ahead...


I hear 'em say

it's better to be left for dead

when every perfect day is just another day away

they never come around

always ahead

they're never now

It's better to be left for dead

when every perfect day is just another day away

who knows they never come around

always ahead

they're never now

 

Belly Full Of Coal

Things wasn't goin' way they 'sposed to go

she was just so sweet that I dipped her in the honey

fed her belly full of bees

Happenings kept happenin' like way out of control

and on them tracks I would have happily sat

had that engine had a belly full of coal


Tried to get lost

must've forgot

you catch the wrong train damn right you might get caught

so I tried to get off

but it wasn't my stop

now I'm doin' time at the end of the line

When it's all over we'll start it over again

ten feet deep...

gonna need a friend


So won'tcha be my neighbor in my grave?

yeah, won'tcha be my neighbor in my grave?


I keep dreamin' of a sidewalk

on a road that never ends

on the other side of sidewalks

endeavors of the dead

we'll be sleepin' in a black box

posies over head

I'll find it kinda cozy...


Wind wasn't blowin' way it's 'sposed to blow

I fit my troubles in a bubble when the bubble hit a puddle it popped

Things wasn't solid not s-solid as they s-seem

I dropped her off at the top of the notch

Will her body hit the rocks?


If she don't float

well, that's the way she goes

You catch the wrong drift damn right that might be it

and if it's all she wrote

well, that's the way of the road

I'll see you on that secret avenue

When it's all over we'll start it over again

ten feet deep...

I'monna need a friend 


So, won'tcha be my neighbor in my grave?

yeah, won'tcha be my neighbor in my grave?


I keep dreamin' of a sidewalk

on a road that never ends

on the other side of sidewalks

endeavors of the dead

we'll be sleepin' in a black box

posies over head

I'll find it kinda cozy...


I keep dreamin' of a sidewalk

on a road that never ends

on the other side of sidewalks

endeavors of the dead

we'll be sleepin' in a black box

posies over head

I'll find it kinda cozy...


So, won'tcha be my neighbor in my grave?

yeah, won'tcha be my neighbor in my grave?

 

Dancing on the Dead

Were dancing on the dead

in this world they’re growing

did they ever even die

the boats just kept rowing going

gently down the stream

until it was glimmering and golden

you’ve got to live life like a dream

Nothing's as it seems to be


I don’t know what I’ve been told

Everything new comes from what once was old


So here we go again

watch the moments slip away

time on our side

not much on our mind

In this world gone mad

everything is crazy

something I could see

suddenly its gone from me


I don’t know what I’ve been told

Everything new comes from what once was old


We're dancing on the dead

with every step were taking

those thoughts lost in our heads?

lifelines forsaking.

Every little thing

broken into pieces

fits right into place

in this puzzle's place


We're dancing on the dead

In this world they’re growing

did they ever even die

the boats just kept rowing going

gently down the stream

until it was glimmering and golden

you’ve got to live life like a dream

Nothing's as it seems to be


I don’t know what I’ve been told

Everything new comes from what once was old

 

One's Sunset's Another's Sunrise

Sunset...

Sunrise...

Sunset...

Sunrise.


Where in the world is the world I know?

I'm spreadin' my relics throughout salvation stores

and strange as I am to stranger hands they'll go

to new fascinating declarations of lore...

well I built a home to roam and so I 'spose I got my deal

comfort and leisure for somethin' unreal

and now I'm sleepin' in the pines cones are bigger than my head

don't shiver for the dead


The pieces of the puzzle

of clockwork universe

keep people in the puddles

from fallin' off the earth

monsters and mongrels

naysayers got me scurred

but, I'd rather be a goner

than livin' in a curse

of

One's sunset's another's sunrise


The weather's pheasant rain 

another feather on my hat

their beaks have been sheathed in the salt minin' flats

and now my skin is a brittle as my little salty dog

n' my grinnin' is crackin' my jaw


The pieces of the puzzle

of clockwork universe

keep people in the puddles

from fallin' off the earth

monsters and mongrels

naysayers got me scurred

but, I'd rather be a goner

than livin' in a curse

of

One's sunset's another's sunrise


Well I scrambled from my sweet home to amble Mendocino 

rambled to a shamble 

don't gamble in Reno


Done placin' bets

got no regard for no regrets

crackin' the code

frackin' the gas station roulettes

I'm on the run

from dirty digs 

and shwilly kids


One's sunset's another's sunrise...

Sunset...

Sunrise...

Sunset.

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