It used to be that The Dirty Nil’s advantage over all other rock ‘n’ roll bands was that they had punchier riffs, sharper hooks, and snazzier collared shirts. No strangers to success, the JUNO Award-winning group have gained accolades, international recognition, and shared stages with the likes of The Who, Foo Fighters, Billy Talent, and Alexisonfire since the release of 2018 Juno Award-nominated crusher Master Volume.
With the world in isolation mode, the Hamilton, ON trio can exploit yet another unique asset – the fact that singer/guitarist Luke Bentham, bassist Ross Miller, and drummer Kyle Fisher all live together in the same house. As a result, the Nil have been able to regularly convene and put the finishing touches on their next album without having to worry about social distancing, face masks, or their 40-minute Zoom time limit running out.
Today, the band has premiered the video for current single and power-pop anthem “Done With Drugs,” via Brooklyn Vegan.
As Bentham admits, the song was inspired by his imminent entry into his 30s, and the significant life changes that he and his friends are experiencing as that milestone birthday approaches. But in true cheeky Nil fashion, “Done With Drugs” isn’t exactly the sincere pledge to sobriety it may appear to be on the surface. In fact, it’s not so much about drug use per se, but rather the performative aspects of self-care as they often play out on social media.