DEAD BARS - “Make Believe” single review
Reviewed by GMcA
It’s not often that the news that a new song will drop puts a massive smile on my face, but this was what happened yesterday when Seattle’s Dead Bars posted on Instagram.
Along with Lovers Left Alive (Finland) and Anti-Fashion (U.K./LA), the Dead Bars have restored my faith in new music in the last few years when I was becoming jaded and their last album, “All Dead Bars Go To Heaven” (2025), grabbed my attention on release and hasn’t been far from my listening since; the question was, would this new song live up to expectations?
As a single, “Make Believe” finds the Dead Bars continuing to occupy a musical space between The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Sub Pop, punk, skater punk and grunge, and with a nod to the late, great Tom Petty (on the ninth anniversary of whose death the single also dropped).
“Make Believe” also finds the Dead Bars doing what they do so well.
Starting with a rolling bass line, the song creates a deceptively upbeat and almost happy melody soaring above scuzzy guitars - providing an effective vehicle to deliver more introspective, challenging and darker lyrics which become more questioning as the song progresses, and as John Maiello’s vocal delivery progresses from gently sung to raw, impassioned and emotional.
In others’ musical hands the subject matter could have sounded pessimistic and gloomy; in the Dead Bars’ hands, wonderful stuff.
With “Make Believe”, the Dead Bars have created another beautiful, melodic and scuzzy slice of grungy rock/punk which has taken New Music Friday and smashed it out of the park.
Having been lucky to see them play their only Scottish date this year, the Dead Bars are a great live act, bring a rare passion and energy to the stage and I’d urge anyone reading this to see them if you get a chance.
The Dead Bars are - John (vocals), CJ and Elliott (guitars), Oddo (bass) and Rosie (drums).