We’ve been a bit UK focused over the past few weeks, with an unexpected and much appreciated link on Fat Cat’s homepage. Our across the pond angled ears have caught wind of a band we think will create some waves this May. Kill it Kid is a five piece from Bath just signed to One Little Indian, and the split this band will create in the indie universe will at least be fun to watch. On one hand, they’re a Mississippi Delta sounding rock n’ roll outfit, blasting violins, steel guitars, fuzzed out riffs and stomping rides funneled through the deepest origins of America’s rock heritage. On the other hand, they add in a kind of Anthony Hegarty style vocalist, which can either sound completely out of place or uniquely purposeful and striking, often managing both at the same time. On the first listen, the sheer musicianship of the band is the focus, but on subsequent ones, focus is pulled to the dynamic range of the disquieting vocals.
Currently, the band is reworking some of the tracks from their soft-released December EP, Burst its Banks, and have teamed up with Ryan Hadlock in the studio. Hadlock has worked with Foo Fighters, Fleet Foxes and The Strokes to name a few, and this has us pretty stoked, too. The four-track EP is pretty bruising and intricately composed, ranging from crushingly intense violin-laced rock down to gorgeous female lead vocals and dueling acoustic soloing in “Private Idaho” (Track is downloadable below). OLI plans on releasing a reworked version of the EP’s second track, “Send Me an Angel on Down,” on May 18 and follow it up with an October release of a full album.
To unleash a healthy baseball extended metaphor, it seems Kill it Kid has all the raw tools to make it to the show, and are honing their skills in Single A. The unique and fresh sound is sure to make its way to the top tier in May when they drop the new juice on us. It’ll only be available in the UK, but that’s not going to stop us from snagging it immediately. They’ve got major league potential and we can always get behind a band that’s fusing successful conventions with a twist. We’ve got permission to post “Private Idaho” from their December EP, which is interesting because the focus on this track is Steph Ward’s smoky vocals and Chris Turpin’s raspy warble is not included. This makes us sneakily believe big things are happening in the studio at the moment and that they’re fine-tuning the vocal nature of the tracks and getting them perfectly mixed. You’re going to have to wait until May to get the full and finished sound. Nonetheless, Sun Records would have snatched this band up in the 1950′s, no doubt, and as the tracks get reworked, keep the name of this band in the back of your head.
Kill it Kid – “Private Idaho” (Demo)
