Exclusive Interview

What has the last year been like for Dean Lickyer?

Eric-We've went from playing locally to doing a tour out west and trips to Austin Texas for SXSW. Also, finishing up our self titled EP was an amazing experience. We are looking forward to bringing it out on our cross Canada tour this April.

Josh- This year consisted of mostly learning the ropes of how to be a full time professional band. We played over 120 shows, went on tour for a month, travelled and played in festivals all over N. America like SXSW and learned the business of how to properly maintain a band.

It was a huge leap for me because we went from playing 45 minute shows on random occasion to 3 hour, long shows every day on tour. As a singer it was stressful at first but now if we do less than an hour I hardly feel warmed up.

2. Has your sound changed?

Eric-Our sound has changed a lot since we first started out. We originally were a five piece band, but our drummer went to school while the rest of us perused music full time. Eric changed over from guitar to drums which resulted in quite a change in our sound. There is defiantly more of a groove and 70s rock feeling in our music.

Josh- Our sound has really bloomed because this is the first time in I think all our musical careers we have had 4 dedicated, permanent and talented members. So we really got to ferment and develop a sound in which all of us have a hand in writing.

3. What makes Dean Lickyer different than other bands?

Eric-We are just four guys playing classic rock music that we love. I think it really comes through when people see us live or hear our CD.

Josh- Well what makes us different firstly is the music that we play its authentic rock n' roll and you don't see that from people our age. What makes us different individually though is that in our band no one is the forefront, musically. As the most obvious example I encourage everyone to pay close attention to our bassist and you will see the difference between his sound and many modern bassists.

4. Have you changed much as a group or personally?

Eric-I think we have grown both as a group and on a personal level. We've defiantly grown through our different experiences. Everything from the shows we've played, and CDs we've recorded allows us to grow. Being out on the road for the month really allows you to grow together as a band as well—you become like a family since you are together all the time, everyday. I'm looking forward to really getting out there in April again.

5. What's the most fun about touring?

Eric-Playing live and being able to see different places. We've never been out west before we were blown away by it. Meeting different people from different places…it is all a lot of fun. You get to play music everyday. How can you complain?

Josh- The highlight of the tour for me, besides getting to play every night, was when we had free time in small towns. I would go off and look for used books stores and I got some really great buys, things you can't find anymore in regular bookstores, especially with their original covers. The best buy I found was Songmaster by Orson Scott Card.

6. Describe what it feels like to perform on stage?

Eric-It changes from night to night but it's usually an amazing feeling. Sometimes little things happen that can bug you, but you got to put it off and keep trying to have an amazing show. The connection you can get between band members and the crowd is an unbelievable feeling. Sometimes after a show I sit there and try to think—why was that so amazing? Most of the time I cant find an answer.

Josh- It is different each time but we trust each other to catch each other if we fall so to speak.

8. What do you want people to remember after going to see you perform live?

Eric-Those guys are really love what they are playing.

Josh- Everything, I want the entire show to be etched into their minds so they go and tell 5 friends who do the same. For a band in the early stages like us our live show means everything and we take it very seriously.

9. How would you describe your sound?

Eric-It definitely has that old school 60s or 70s feel to it, but we do draw influences from everything. I think you can hear it as you go song to song.

Josh- it is authentic rock n' roll with a new twist; the classic becomes new. Our guitarist Sean said it the best: "we are like the new ford mustang, classic with a new twist." This is the best way to describe us.

10. What motivates Dean Lickyer band?

Eric-For me, it used to be to play what I love and what I like to hear on the radio, but it has changed. A lot of high school kids started saying. "Thank you, finally a classic rock band for my generation." Turns out we weren't the only kids getting into our parents record collections.

11. Where did the name come from?

Josh- The story behind the name is basically our guitarist's dad had a friend in high school (Dean) who had all the underground records before anyone else did. He knew bands like Humble Pie and Led Zeppelin before they were big in N. America and he showed them to Sean's dad which in return showed them to Sean. It trickled down the line and because we all gathered around Sean being a rock n roll player you can say Dean was the first band benefactor.
The end of the story is that Dean died around the same time rock n roll died off from the mainstream so naming ourselves after him is like naming ourselves a rebirth of rock n roll.

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