The Kicks from Nashville are no stranger to the Atlanta music scene. Over the years they have been familar faces on stages at Vinyl, Smith's Olde Bar, and Park Tavern, and this city's music scene and fans have accepted them as adopted sons. Known for their pop-rock radio friendly songs, The Kicks have- literally- kicked it up an amp with their new EP, Sputnik Sessions. Showing a mature yet refined gritty rock sound, this new album has the band and the listener exploring exciting songs that still maintain The Kicks' same catchy accessibility.
Recently Mixtape Atlanta chatted with The Kicks bass player Gabe Anderson about the new album, 2012 resolutions, and what to expect at their upcoming Smith's Olde Bar show on Saturday, January 7.
I'm really digging the new songs on Sputnik Sessions. The songs have a rawer more emotional drive and rock sound, whether they are fast ("Pretty Little Thing") or slower ("Lay It On Me"). Was this evolution in sound a conscious one? Was it inspired by anything in particular?
The sound of the guitars and drums and all is really just something where we try stuff and tweak stuff until we're all smiling about what we're hearing. We feel like the Sputnik Sessions especially (more than King Richie) has a wider range of styles from song to song. A couple that come to mind are "Let Me Love You"- we just kept referencing that Rolling Stones percussive-ness, so that really ended up shaping the tune. "Hawk Eyes"- Lenny Kravitz is awesome, and always posts unbelievable pictures of himself on his twitter.
Are there any plans for a full length album?
YES! The plans are in the works! The beginning of this year we'll be finishing up songs and heading back into the studio to get another record out as soon as possible this year. We'll be playing some new stuff at the Smith's show on Saturday night that will probably make it on the new record.
On "Hawk Eyes" and "Pretty Little Thing" there is a great rock rhythm and force that I haven't heard in your previous stuff. Especially with "Pretty Little Thing"'s guitar solo, there is a real Aerosmith quality there. What bands from the past and current- if any- do you look for for inspiration in your own sound? Are there ever any disagreements in favorites among the band?
Well, truth be told, the newly discovered force of rhythm comes from Lucas and I, who won the wrestling matches against the other two when it came time to decide whether or not to turn up the bass and drums while we were mixing the songs.
Lately, inspiration has been drawn from: Fitz and the Tantrums, The Kooks, Crash Kings, Jellyfish and a lot of the usual suspects The Beatles, Queen, Aerosmith (pleeeeease YouTube Aerosmith "What It Takes" Live Japan).
*We did. Gabe's right. It's awesome.
Nashville these days is becoming as known for its rock acts as it is for its country past. How do you keep your music and live shows fresh?
We love to play shows, so we play quite a few of them. But we get tired of doing the exact same things too many times. We'll add new original tunes as often as possible, play a cover song or two, and even re-work older songs just to give ourselves a new jolt...and hopefully the audience as well.
We also build into the show a few moments where we don't know exactly where a song is going to go. Not knowing how long Adam is gonna solo on something (and believe me, HE always things it should keep going!), or how long we're gonna stay "down" in a song before building back up. Those sorts of things. Communicating with head nods and hand gestures is fantastic.
Any New Year's resolutions as a band or personally for the upcoming year?
We're really excited about doing this full-length record, so I guess a resolution would be "In 2012, The Kicks are going to release an awesome record, and then be on the road playing that record all the time".
Personally...I think we'd all like to make it in to the massage parlor a bit more often.
If you where making your Ultimate Mixtape of favorite songs, what is the one song you would have to include?
In My Life- The Beatles
Check out The Kicks do their thing live with Red Letter Agent and Indianapolis Jones THIS Saturday at Smith's Olde Bar. Doors are at 8PM and tickets are $10 in advance or $12 day of show.
Kim Burdges
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