"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.