It’s a blistering evening in Northside as the four members of The Kickaways swelter in the apartment that they’ve dubbed the Kickaplex. Although only two of them actually reside there, it doubles as rehearsal space and crash pad for the quartet. But, tonight, “sweat lodge” serves as a functional description.
Heat is an apt metaphor for the The Kickaways’ career arc since their formation early last year; their most recent triumphs include a well received month-long residency at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine and the March release of their official debut album, America! America!, on The Recording Label, the free music label/website founded by Pop Empire’s Cameron Cochran. After seeing The Kickaways tear through a live set at downtown club Mainstay, Cochran offered his services and the foursome (vocalist/guitarist Austin McMahan, guitarist Devyn Glista, bassist Jake Ittel and drummer Adam Lambchop) readily accepted.
“It was little things, like that night we just decided to wear black pants, shirts and ties,” McMahan says. “It just caught his eye.”
Even when things have gone wrong for The Kickaways, they’ve turned out to be positives. For example, a poorly managed gig had them playing at 2 a.m. to only a handful of people one night, but their resultant anger translated to a furiously visceral gig … which earned them a plum opening gig.
“We were saying, ’12 people are going to get a hell of a show,’ ” Lambchop says, laughing. “But one guy was there who said, ‘Holy shit, you guys are really good. I want to book you for this Greenhornes show.’ ”
Download The Kickaways’ debut album at therecordinglabel.com for free. The band plays the Down Under in Covington Friday and on Fountain Square June 24 as part of the free MidPoint Indie Summer Series. Go here to read Brian Baker’s full interview.
This article appears in Jun 8-14, 2011.