Alt-rock trio Plastic Barricades recently released their new album “Mechanics Of Life.” This title doesn’t just fit the album, it fits the band as a whole. The mechanics of life aren’t the showy bits or the moments that change the course of your life in one fell swoop. Plastic Barricades deals instead with the growing pains, common struggles, and complicated relationships present in everyday life. Their music is reassuring, calmly telling the listener that they are not alone, and that the little things, from a broken heart to boredom, are just part of living.
Favorites: “How Goldfish Grow,” “Around The Sun,” “Half of Your Soul”
Similar to: Stonedrifters, That’s the Dream, Sunday’s Murder
Interview with Dan Kert, singer and guitarist for Plastic Barricades:
How did you guys meet?
Five years ago, when I have just moved to London, I was scouting for musicians all around town. Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) appeared to be just around the corner from my place. Frazer and Dani were both doing their studies and after a couple of jams together we were playing our first gig at The Water Rats.
Your music is very uplifting. Did you begin making music with the idea to inspire others?
Getting inspired and transmitting that through the music to people around the world is very rewarding. For me personally the whole band thing and playing music in general was always about sharing the joy and sadness and helping out someone who is feeling down. Music IS the cure for so many things.
You list some of your primary influences as big names like Radiohead, Oasis, Coldplay, Muse, Razorlight, and Nirvana. Do you ever look to smaller bands for new inspiration?
Absolutely! During our recent “Mechanics of Life” UK tour we had a mission to find the coolest new bands in the country. We were blown away with the amount of depth and originality of The Zangwills, The Lasting Days, Fukushima Dolphin, Voksal and many more. I am also a huge fan of the Portland scene, especially The Shins and Death Cab for Cutie.
What’s your favorite city to perform in?
This is a tough one! We’ve played almost a hundred gigs around UK and almost every single gig was awesome in its own little way. But we do love the constant enthusiasm of our fans in Wales and Scotland. Glasgow and Cardiff are super cool places to play.
What’s your favorite guilty pleasure song?
I guess it would have to be the first song on our latest album. It’s called “How Goldfish Grow” and we’ve been closing gigs with it for a year now. It is fun and I can jump around for a bit, when I don’t have to sing. It also has a hilarious animated music video, have a look on YouTube.
You’ve talked about collaborating with organizations like Oxfam and the Red Cross. Do you feel musicians have a duty to use their platform to help others?
Absolutely! This might be the only thing about the music industry I am very certain of. As soon as you have people listening to you, you have a responsibility. Charities do make a big difference, without them many more people would be in danger. So, whoever you are, reading these lines, go and donate blood, this will be the best gift you can ever give.
Both the single “How Goldfish Grow” and the music video are pretty adorable. How did you come up with that metaphor?
Find a bigger tank for a goldfish – and it will grow big. I come from a small town in a tiny country, so I have always been facing this “environment affect growth” reality. I needed a bigger pond. London is pretty big.
Do you have any advice to give to anyone out there who’s too scared to follow their dreams?
Forget about your image and stop caring so much about what other people might think of you or your art. Listen closely to your inner self and to the universe. And create. Every day. Without any worries. Just write and draw and play – and share it with others! This is a long road of self exploration – and it is a very exciting road with endless possibilities.
What are your plans for the near future?
We have just finished our tour and are currently booking tours for 2018, UK and maybe Europe as well. The album is getting so many stunning reviews and love from USA that we actually might be touring across the pond sooner than expected. And I am also collecting new material for LP 2. Exciting, excited, excitable!
Watch the music video for “How Goldfish Grow” here or listen to “Mechanics of Life” here.
The Offbeat 