More Kicks

Blending two parts power pop melody, one part garage rock attitude, and a dash of punk rock energy for flavor, More Kicks are a British rock & roll band who demonstrate music can sound cheerful and nervy at the same time. A trio with a straightforward instrumental attack, More Kicks add sophistication to their performances with strong vocal harmonies and the unpretentiously clever lyrics of James Sullivan, who sings of romantic complications and everyday travails with authority and sincerity. The group first made a name for themselves through their rollicking live show, which was captured with accuracy on their self-titled debut album in 2019, and they showed off a greater sophistication in their songwriting and studio technique on 2022's Punch Drunk. More Kicks was formed in 2017 by lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter James Sullivan, sometimes billed as Sulli. Sullivan's musical career took off in his teens when he was a member of the group Ripchord, who launched in 2004, won a major BBC talent competition, and landed a deal with the Sony-distributed 1965 Records label before splitting up in 2008. In 2009, Sullivan changed lanes to more independent-oriented projects and started working with the punk band Suspect Parts, a Berlin-based group led by American musician Justin Maurer of the Clorox Girls. Sullivan was approached by drummer Kris Hood, who liked his work with Suspect Parts and asked if he was interested in starting a new group. Sullivan agreed, and after recruiting bassist Marco Busato, they began playing out as More Kicks. They released their debut single in 2018, a three-song 7" featuring the songs "It's a Drag," "Young Enough," and "What a Mess You Make." Another three-song single appeared in 2019, "I'm on the Brink" b/w "He's Gonna Let Her Down" and "Can't Fake What You Got." The second 7" was a preview of the first More Kicks album, simply titled More Kicks, that was recorded live to analog tape at an East London studio; the project took less than four days to record and mix. The album fared well with power pop and retro-rock fans, but shortly after its release, Marco Busato resigned from the group, and Paolo Mantovani took over as bassist. Like nearly all musicians, More Kicks were sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and it wasn't until 2021 that the band was able to hit the road again, with a tour of Europe. In 2022, More Kicks completed work on their second LP, which like the debut was cut live in the studio, though with a bit more overdubbing than on their first effort. A preview single, "Animal" b/w "The Wind Up" and "10 Miles High," became their first American release, issued in the United States by Dirtnap Records in August 2022. Around the same time it came out, More Kicks set out on a short U.S. tour, playing a handful of shows in the Midwest. The full album, Punch Drunk, followed in September 2022, distributed by Dirtnap in the United States and Stardumb Records in Europe and the United Kingdom.
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