Author: Adam Gorecki. Adam Gorecki is a London-based writer, maker, and photographer with a broad love for anything that catches his curiosity, particularly music. Graduating with a Level 4 Diploma in Copywriting from The College of Media and Publishing, he sees music as a complex social study and is fascinated by how brilliant ideas can be brought to life. He has a critical eye for great storytelling and thrives in exploring the philosophical side behind an artist’s intentions and what can ignite a spark that lasts for generations.

There’s nothing quite like spending a wet and rainy evening in a cramped yet charismatic music venue in the heart of Shoreditch, clenching onto your pint glass and hoping no one accidentally knocks it out of your hand.  This week, I visited The Macbeth in Hoxton—a dimly lit, gothic tavern just a stone’s throw from Old Street. I spent the first half hour being relatively entertained by the venue’s artwork, Tudor-style portraits of pop culture icons. I spotted Jay Z, Snoop and even Dr House (which I felt was a random one). 

But I wasn’t here for them, I had come to see ‘rock revivalists’, Dead Zebras, who were here to round off their very successful debut year. I last caught them at a heavily captivating gig at Slim Jim’s Liquor Store in Islington at the dawn of their musical escapades in 2024. I remembered them for their infectious ‘pop-inspired’ choruses which were near impossible not to sing along to as well as the cheeky charisma that quickly resonated with the crowd. When reuniting with the band to take their pictures, a member recalled me as being ‘the happiest man in the room’ that night, which was nice to hear. 

They’re known to be mixologists in a blend of genres ranging from the 80s to hints of punk and glam metal. Described as ‘creating a cocktail that sounds like a wild ride in a DeLorean with a Van Halen soundtrack’, I’d say that’s pretty spot on. This concoction results in heavy guitar riffs, dramatic and expressive vocals and a great deal of fun flamboyance. 

From the outset, the Zebras make an immediate attempt to break down the barrier between the band and the audience. You’re instantly thrown into the rhythmic wilderness of the 80s with a cackling sense of chaos throughout. From unbuttoned shirts and leather trousers to the drummer taking shots of JD mid-set and a heck-load of tomfoolery, watching the Dead Zebras comes with the fun anticipation of not knowing what they’ll do next to surprise you. 

Like with any underground band, there shouldn’t be an expectation for those attending the concert to know the artist’s work inside and out. However, every band should hope that the crowds will leave the venue energised and electrified while humming the tunes on their way out. All that matters is that as the audience makes their way home, they are left with a clear memory of how it felt to watch them play. That’s what brought me back to see them. 

For instance, their rendition of Robbie Williams’ ‘Let Me Entertain You’ represents everything that the band stands for – playfulness, youthfulness and the wild desire to put on a show. Luckily, the Zebras don’t have to rely on covers in order to engage with their audience. Songs such as Red Room and Your Love are instant head bangers that won’t take the crowd long to get familiar with and join in. Your Love, particularly, contains a bold, thumping, theatrical guitar riff on the chorus which harmonises with the belting vocal hook -‘oh, this flame can’t burn forever’. It’s the song that I find most recognisable and most unique from the Zebras’ catalogue. 

Aside from their ability to get the audience to smile, laugh and sing, the Dead Zebras are a quartet of incredibly talented musicians and performers. When performing their latest upbeat rock anthem, All Night Long, Lead Guitarist (Ky Underhill) illustrated a perfect example of how to wrap up a set with an impeccably vivacious guitar solo and wicked chemistry with the band’s bassist. Not to mention astronomical showmanship from vocal lead, George Alex and an intensely rhythmic performance from percussion professional, Lukasz Pietrasewski. 

 In all honesty, it’s just great to see that up-and-coming bands are still daring to be weird. It’s certainly crucial for their sub-genre and it’s entertaining seeing how much fun they get to have with it. I wish them the best of luck next year and look forward to seeing where these vibrant characters end up going next. You can find them on Spotify and don’t forget to follow them on Instagram: @deadzebras.