NakedCity Wichita

kick kick

Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by Seth in music

words > JASON DILTS

Bejeweled in balls—red, blue, yellow, and green. Empowerment, they hope you’ll glean.

Their upbeat sound has shades of punk, peppered with psychedelic funk.

While Kansas City they call their home, the larger world they aim to roam.

They once were in the ICT, their aura got the best of me.

When Kick Kick takes a sonic stroll, the masses unite—that is their goal.

And if your life is at a loss, their music might make you the boss!

That’s my Seussical summary of Kick Kick. This is a good month to profile them, because more than any other area ensemble, they unwittingly encompass the matchless spirit of the good Doctor.  They’re a colorful group, with a definite message. They never take themselves too seriously and are always up for a bit of ironic fun.

Last summer I was blown away by their First Friday performance at Rock Island Live. Jackets sporting colorful playpen balls caught my attention. Blaring ballads with a buoyant message kept me on the edge of my seat. To be at a Kick Kick show is to take a futuristic leap in time to a day when adversity has been transcended and you are the unassailable boss.

I could describe their style as a mixture of punk and psychedelic rock, but “boss” is the word the band might choose. “It’s like a state of mind. It’s an attitude of empowerment. Its music that makes you feel you can put a hole through the wall. It’s saying that you can do it,” says member J.B. Kick.

Kick Kick hopes their optimism will serve as a force for unifying the masses. Though their music was created in a suburban Kansas City cellar, they hope to engulf the world with their sound. “Boppers, hipsters, burnouts, valedictorians, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers—they’re all invited to the same party, all dancing, all free,” says J.B. “Our fans definitely have a sense of humor and understand irony.”

So far that party has been regional, but the band plans to expand their appeal in the near future. In the meantime, they have released, Powerplay, a 12-track album with their bossy style on full display. Having the audacity to be yourself and chase your dreams is one of life’s greatest challenges.  Through his writing, Dr. Seuss found jesting ways to reinforce the importance of those ambitions. That’s what Kick Kick does with their music. When they take to the stage, they take command of it. In doing so, they are telling all of us to take charge of our own stage—whatever that may be.

Kick Kick hopes to return to the ICT soon, so be on the lookout for bright colored balls attached to suit jackets!

You can visit kickkickmusic.com to learn more about the band. Their album is available for purchase on their website and for download on iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody.

Tags: jason dilts, local music, rock island live