When Liverpool based slacker punks alright (okay) first announced something of a new musical era, I was worried that the band might throw out the baby with the bathwater. I love this band’s inventiveness and their slice of quirk.

However, we are now a couple of tracks into the ‘new era’, and while the tracks seem tighter, more focussed and harder hitting, I’m delighted that the spark that makes this band so special is evident in spades (assuming sparks can be measured in spades).

Maybe folk will think I’ve lost the plot with this but this new track Elevator Etiquette reminds me a bit of an updated smoky Thin Lizzy – there’s that striking conversational vocal delivery and hard guitar riffs. Hard, unique and smirking.

The track Elevator Etiquette is described by the band as a stomping anti-9 to 5 rager born from the frustrations of negative office culture and being undervalued in the workplace. Not only is that sense of not making headway, there’s the toxic attitude, the confusing unwritten code about how to conduct oneself, and all for a basic income.

As well as the spiky guitar work, there’s a nice change in tempo in the song with vocals shared between Alex’s angry vocal delivery on the verses and Will Booth’s softer vocals on the chorus.

Unfortunately there’s a Catch 22 element to this tale as there is no closure; its ultinately a choice between the mad flurry to the office, the stress of the day, with a few brief respites before having to return to that rat race. The horror is that you might eventually become conditioned to this abnormal normal life.

On the track, vocalist Alex Usher comments, “‘Elevator Etiquette’ is one of the first tracks we play at our live shows. It really sets the tone for how the night is going to play out – us sending as much energy as possible into the crowd and them giving it right back to us. It has quickly become a fan favourite in the set.

“Lyrically, the track came together pretty quickly. I was working at this place where the work culture wasn’t great. One day the whole company just dissolved so I was out of a job. After finding out the news I headed to the pub around the corner, grabbed myself a Guinness and started writing. The lyrics were pretty much complete by the time I was onto buying my second pint!”

Tonight (31 Aug 2024) alright (okay) are engaged in another Heller endeavour (but a far more pleasurable and positive one), competing in a battle of the bands contest to win enough money for them to produce a debut EP. Support the lads at the Jac Baltic for the final.

* words by tiggerligger

* images from the band’s socials