Jul. 28, 2010 - Issue #771: Young at Heart
Prevue
Sparks will fly
Winnipeg punks keep home fires burning
/ Supplied
The punk 'n' roll three piece, rounded out by bassist Leif Gobeil and drummer Steve Hallick, has only been together one year, but all three members have been hashing it out in Winnipeg's music scene—one awfully similar to Edmonton's, Lodewyks observes—for over a decade. Having known each other from other bands, the timing was just right to finally come out and say what they'd all been thinking.
"The bass player and I have known each other since high school ... and I played a ton of gigs with Steve's other bands and we've always loved each other's bands. I don't know why we've never played in a band together until now, so it just made sense.
"I've never played in a band where the chemistry was so instant," he continues. "Musically, it's like we finish each other's sentences, we always know exactly what the other person's going for. The songwriting process and jam process just comes so smoothly."
With such instant, easy-going rapport, the band committed itself to jamming for an entire year leading up to its inaugural gig, timed smartly with the release of a self-titled debut album, available on cherry red vinyl. Recorded over a weekend and released in December 2009, it has quickly made its mark on the 'Peg, already slated as one of the best local records in 2010.
"We knew we wanted to do something that would stand on its on, bringing elements of rock 'n' roll that had been dead for some time, and at the same time do a fresh take on everything, bringing new elements back to the punk-rock world. I think we're still working toward that goal, but our album is a good first effort in that direction," he offers.
Recorded live off the floor in the studio, Kids on Fire focused on that element of grittiness that often gets lost through tedious tracking, making an effort to capture a live sound on the record.
This dedication and enthusiasm is apparent in the lifestyle all three members have chosen for themselves—one they are excited about bringing on the road.
"Being a punk is about how you go about your life. We starting to realize what it means to live in a punk-rock world: the choices you make toward the environment and all that good stuff, but it means you're still a douche bag," Lodewyks laughs. "Growing up punk makes you a bit of an asshole, but in this band at least we're charismatic assholes.
"We've been playing and touring in bands for a decade now, but this enthusiasm we're taking on the road is like we're going out for the first time, because this is the first band we really all connect with. There are elements of the chemistry of this band we've never had in other bands, so we're excited—ecstatic, really—to bring it on the road." V
Sat, Jul 31 (9 pm)
Kids On Fire
With Slates, Old Sins
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