So we’re bouncing around the gigs to make up some time and try and keep things flowing here at 52weeks, so here (in a somewhat strange, back to the future style manner) is week 24 - The Kick at the Blues Room.
Say hello to some solid old-school rock ‘n roll, with a splash of blues, where the sound of the guitar is what matters, full stop. Oh, and if you want to you can throw in some vocals.
If you’ve heard “Joburg Overdrive” you’ll know what I mean when I say raspy guitar, catchy beats and effortless style. It’s a beautiful sound that hearkens back to the birth of of rock. Then again, if you don’t like old school rock ‘n roll, go home.
The vocals at times suggest a hint of Chris Cornell’s (ala Soundgarden/Audioslave) range, but at the same time this introduces the risk of monotony, which The Kick barely avoided. Never mind - the guitar work provided all the novelty required.
The guitar work wasn’t exceptionally tight, but in retrospect it doesn’t have to be - after all, This is Rock and Roll - and experimentation should be the name of the game, so kudos to The Kick for their riffs.
The other highlight of their nice and lengthy set was Plastic People, a fantastic overdriven jamming session that seems to steal a little from Higher Ground of the Red Hot Chili Peppers variety. At least that’s what you might think for the first minute or so until it steps up into it’s very own role.
Simply put, The Kick are pretty close to mastering this timeless form of music, and I look forward to spending many an evening mulling over their effortless sounds with just a bottle of whiskey as company.
Photos of The Kick are on Flickr as usual - I must say they are some of the best I’ve taken with the new baby - not as lifeless as usual, and the lighting on some is just way cool.
Quality of sound: 8.0
Rockstar rating: 8.0
Overall rating: A retro 8.6
Why 52weeks? “Ours is a city, never stops to take a breath…”
