From Oz To La La Land

Towards the end of a long and stressful semester, I took some time off to see "The Hot Kicks," an Australian rock band that a friend of mine recommended to me. It was a uneventful weekday night that took me to the set at the Key Club on the Sunset Strip. By the time that the half-hour set was finished, I was hooked. The band returned to the Key Club earlier this week, and although relatively unknown to the crowd who were mostly there for the main event, the band tore up the stage and had the audience screaming for more. The band features siblings Pete [guitar] and Kim [drums] and Mick Kicks [bass]. Their new album is titled, "We Are the Show." After the show, the band took the time to answer some of my questions.

How would you describe your music, sound, and direction?

It's rock n roll with a punk ethic, but there's also that pop sensibility to a lot of our songs, meaning that you can definitely sing along with the choruses.

How long have you been in Los Angeles?

Around 2 and half months.

You have been working in the studio. Is a new album in the mix?

We have just finished recording our debut full length album with renowned L.A producer Dave Cobb (Shooter Jennings, Chris Cornell) and engineer Greg Gordon (Oasis, Dandy Warhols, Public Enemy). We really wanted to capture that live raw element which our shows are known for. Our aim was to record an album that doesn't sound like a lot of the crap you hear on the radio these days which has been over produced and almost clinical sounding. Dave and Greg were along the same vibe and were keen to use recording techniques like the classic rock bands such as Zeppelin, The Beatles and The Who used back in the 60's and 70's. We tracked straight to tape and recorded live, all in the same room. Initially we were going to overdub Mick's vocals, but we were so stoked with the sound coming out of the room while the whole band was playing, we ended up using those live takes. It was pretty remarkable. Have the US audiences been treating you right? Well received when playing on stage in LA?

The crowds here have been amazing, particularly in Austin Texas during South by Southwest. The crowds at our shows were out of control. They definitely dig their rock n roll over there!

How long have you been playing together?

We've been playing together for over five year in various projects but as a trio for almost three years.

How did the band form?

Siblings Kim and Pete were jamming together looking for a bass player. Mick was a budding sound engineer who Kim knew through work. He couldn't really play bass, but was enthusiastic and told her he could. He went home, learned some songs Pete had written, came in, jammed, and the rest is history! Who were your early musical influences?

INXS, Beastie Boys, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, The Beatles, Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Who are your more recent musical influences?

Not recent bands but Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, The Who, Small Faces, The Clash, Queens of the Stone Age, Chili Peppers, Muse, Kings of Leon, The Hives, Supergrass, The Raconteurs. How would you describe the sound of the band?

Like being slapped in the face while having sex with a supermodel! How do you compare the music scene in the states to that of Australia?

There's a good rock scene in Oz but it's such a small market due to the population. So the main thing about being here in the States is that there are more bands, more venues, more places to tour and more of an opportunity for original unique rock n roll! What is the story behind your recent move to LA? How long in the making?

It's something we've been looking at since we first came over here a couple of years ago. You've got to go where the love is, and we're definitely feeling it over here. We also wanted to work with Dave Cobb so that was another factor for getting set up in L.A. We love playing live and touring, so America is definitely a good place for that.

What is the creative process like for the band? How are songs generally worked from concept to finish?

Pete writes a lot of stuff which he then brings into the studio to work through with Kim and Mick. We also just jam out in the rehearsal room and formulate many songs from there. What plans you have in the near future? In the coming months we'll be touring nationally throughout the States on the back of the new album Do you miss home?

We miss our families and friends but we're amped to be in the States for a while.

What do you like best about LA/America?

Everyone's really really really good looking in L.A!

What do you like least about LA/America?

Everyone's really really really good looking in L.A! What is the most fun interesting part of your musical adventure and journey?

As an independent band, we deal with every aspect of running the business so that definitely means you're interacting with all types of people. We love playing live, touring, and the people you meet along the way, which in any other circumstance would never happen. You never know what situations you'll end up in so things never get boring!

What has been the most fun or interesting experience here in the states?

Everything!!!! Happy Hour meetings over margaritas and great Mexican food, meeting amazing people, the challenge of finding couches to crash on, the excitement when all our baggage and instruments come out on the airline baggage claim, trying to get to gigs in all sorts of strange circumstances, the passion and dedication from our fans, L.A, NYC, San Diego, Austin. How will all of the new sights, sounds, tastes, temptations, associated with moving to a new country and city, factor in to the equation?

We've worked out that the feel of hangover is the same, no matter what country you're in! We tend to take most things in our stride. We've been touring pretty consistently over the last few years so we're used to being in unfamiliar surroundings.

The HOT KICKS www.myspace.com/thehotkicks www.thehotkicks.com