I remember when the Bluesfest lineup for 2019 was announced and it had included Hamilton-based rock group, The Dirty Nil. All my senses went into overdrive. No band in my opinion has fused together different sounds from rock and roll to make something so unique in every single song as they have produced.
The Dirty Nil’s sound takes inspiration from many classic rock bands like The Who, to more modern influences like Billy Talent. This creates something that can only be described by explosion sounds, according to Luke Bentham, lead singer and guitarist of the band.
Beginning almost 13 years ago, while the members were in high school, the band has come a long way to now performing over 350 shows around the world.
“Nothing holds any water compared to persistence… I was thinking the other day, ‘Isn’t it crazy that I’m in the same band that I started when I was 16 years old?’ But then my next thought was, ‘No, it’s the least crazy thing ever… you just gotta keep going and then all of a sudden you’ve been in a band for 13 years.” – Luke Bentham, lead singer and guitarist for The Dirty Nil
During their set at Bluesfest, both Bentham and Ross Miller (bassist, vocals) also spoke of their excitement and honour at performing as part of the festival. They cited bands like Alexisonfire and The Offspring as inspirations for their sound, and how surreal it was to be opening for them. When they finished their set, they said they would join the audience in moshing and taking in the sounds.
Many of their songs taken inspiration from people and events in their lives, with songs like “I Don’t Want That Phone Call,” and “That’s What Heaven Feels Like,” exploring the complex relationships that they’ve experienced from their lives back home or on the road.
The stories can be visceral and brutal, but some of them are rather touching like “Super 8,” and “Evil Side.” Not limiting themselves to one genre fits their songwriting style. The grittiness really works with the guitar sounds, the raspiness of Bentham’s voice, everything just comes together.
Master Volume, the band’s latest album released in 2018 is “the greatest rock and roll album,” says Bentham. Working with veteran producer John Goodmanson, the band were able to take the album to a new height, experimenting with different sounds and really showcasing the raw talent of the band.
Still on the rise, Bentham encouraged fans to come out and see the band in person, as he believes that live performances are when they’re in their prime element.
I couldn’t agree more, after having seen the band live and I literally was at a loss for words. You could just see them enjoying every minute of being on that stage.
In between songs and antics, if you focused on one of the members long enough, you could see them look out to the audience and just smile. It was a look of “okay, we really did it”, they’ve cracked new surfaces and it’s only just the beginning.
