Kitsch: Punk Romantics

Kitsch are about to embark on a voyage to TV land and beyond with the June release of their new CD 'Lovesongs For Romantic Punks' and the single and video Eleven Eleven. Here's a band that has been together for eight years and has toured the country up and down solidly for five. How did they feel when a recent live review called them dismal and indistinguishable from Blink182?
"We laughed," says Sam, "but you wonder where the reviewer's coming from."
"This is what pisses you off. You don't get any credit for originality because they instantly compare you to these American bands," adds Ben.

Sam Icke (vocals and bass), Dan O'Neill (drums) and Ben Crawford (guitar) met at school in New Plymouth and started a band as Sepultura- and Slayer-saturated teens. Their first gig was at the infamous White Hart Hotel where the vibrant punk scene 10 years ago captured their impressionable minds. A punk rock education followed through Mushroom Balls, the White Hart and Sticky Filth gigs.

They were soon riding around in Sam's brother Nathan's Falcon listening to NOFX and Bad Religion and had dropped metal for melody and galloping beats. In '97 the trio moved to Auckland looking for skatepunks to play to and began building a live reputation through shows with Foamy Ed, Muckhole, Blake, Brubeck, Sommerset and others, along with a host of internationals.
Brother Nathan looms large as patron saint and bankroller of the recording. He loves this music so much he's accompanying Kitsch mates Sommerset on an eight week tour of Europe and reports back from the front line. The two bands not only have friends in common, they also share a video director, recording engineer and distribution label, Shock Records. Kitsch are exhilarated and encouraged by the positive reception to Sommerset's Streets Don't Close - a high rotate clip on M2 that garnered attention and profile.

"It made Ben cry in the studio, that song," Sam narks.
"It did," Ben admits. "It put a tear in my eye... and I thought 'we've got to work with this guy'!"

The guy, Andrew Buckton, is owner-operator of Studio 203 in Symonds Street, Auckland, where 'Love Songs...' was recorded. Sessions for the drum tracks were done at York Street for the extra analogue to digital converters and the live room.

"Dan was on fire," Sam announces. "What did you do? 17 songs in 17 hours?"
"It was a good experience - we'd never been in a studio that size with that much gear before."

They agree that exposure is a big part of attracting an audience, Ben explaining. "You see all these kids just flock to international shows and a lot of them don't realise that in NZ there's just as good quality music in that genre - in punk rock. NZ's producing some outstanding music at the moment and a lot of people don't know about it yet."

"There are a lot of people out there who don't go out to see bands", adds Sam. "But I'm sure there are bands out there playing what they want to hear."
He later opines that "... the Datsuns and The D4 are as good if not better than the Strokes and the Hives."

Asked about inspiration Sam cites Sommerset and Next In Line - friends making energetic, melodic, powerful perfect music. Ben gives a shout out to emergent NZ hip hop; Deceptikonz, P-Money and the Dawn Raid movement. An occasion on tour when a naked member of the Vandals, who they were supporting, fell five feet onto his back but continued playing lead break is recalled as 'masterful'.

The impetus to record was provided by a Canadian label that wanted to hear a new full-length album, having been impressed by the previous recordings 'Billy Joel EP' and debut album 'The Way It Was'.

Sam writes most of the material and does the organisational chores but hopes to limit his responsibilities. Dan is a rugbyhead ("... absolutely addicted...") and Ben leads a double life as a nurse in an organ transplant ward, which can be a surreal experience after a gig.

"After this crazy, frenetic scene - beer flying everywhere, people jumping off stage, just chaos - I'll walk into work and it's this quiet, sterile environment and everything's organised. I'll be comforting an old lady and be thinking 'half an hour ago you would not believe what I was doing'!"

And how would Kitsch describe their melodic punk rock? "We play easy to play music," Dan reckons.
"It's simple and fun, that's how I try to explain it," says Ben.
"But delivered with intensity and a certain energy", finishes Sam.
And back to Dan. "We pride ourselves on being really solid and tight."

The release gig for 'Love Songs for Romantic Punks' is June 14 at the Kings Arms in Auckland. If hard work and perseverance are worth anything, Kitsch are guaranteed to win.