The Sidekicks
From the fiery punk of early albums like So Long, Soggy Dog (2007) and Weight of Air (2009) to the more expansive pop influences heard on their Phil Ek-produced fourth album, Runners in the Nerved World (2015), Midwestern indie quartet the Sidekicks have shown a remarkable resilience and willingness to evolve with each subsequent release. Led by frontman Steve Ciolek, the Sidekicks grew organically from their Cleveland roots, first becoming a staple of the Red Scare roster and then, as their sound expanded and they headed south to Columbus, joining up with legendary punk imprint Epitaph Records in the mid-2010s.
The Sidekicks first came together in suburban Cleveland, getting their start in 2003 as high-school students who loved the usual punk suspects like Bad Religion, NOFX, and Rancid. It wasn't long after forming that Ciolek (vocals/guitar), Matt Climer (drums), Brandon "Petey" Petrick (guitar), and Josh Henry (bass) fell into the area's D.I.Y. punk community and began nurturing their sound and fan base in community centers and basements with like-minded bands, instead of going unnoticed on overcrowded club bills. Climer also held shows at his place, dubbed the Soggy Dog House, and their profile steadily grew. The Sidekicks recorded a few demos and EPs before issuing their first full-length of pop-punk, So Long, Soggy Dog, through Red Scare Industries in late 2007. The four-song 7" Sam appeared the following year on Whoa Oh Records. In September 2009, the Sidekicks' second album, Weight of Air, was released, once again through Red Scare, and it showed the band expanding its sound a bit more by delving into various indie punk influences; the album featured new guitarist Matt Schuermann as well (also of No Target Audience and American War).
By 2012, the Sidekicks relocated to Columbus, Ohio and were stylistically evolving, as pop and indie rock influences began making themselves heard on the album Awkward Breeds. The album also introduced a new Sidekicks lineup, with Josh Henry out and Ryan Starinsky in on bass. To the surprise of many fans, the Sidekicks signed a new record deal with Epitaph Records in 2014, and in January 2015 they dropped their first album for the label, Runners in the Nerved World, which was produced by Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses). The Sidekicks recorded the new LP as a quartet, but by the time the album was released, the group became a trio with the departure of guitarist Matt Schuermann (Toby Reif would later take up guitar duties). The Sidekicks toured behind Runners for nearly two years before returning to the studio to record their follow-up, Happiness Hours. Produced by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile) and released in April 2018, the album featured some of the band's warmest, most melodic songs to date.
© Corey Apar /TiVo
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Pickin' On Modern Rock Hits
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Alternative & Indie - Released by CMH Records on Jul 31, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Awkward Breeds
Alternative & Indie - Released by Red Scare on Feb 21, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Runners In The Nerved World
Alternative & Indie - Released by Epitaph on Jan 20, 2015
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Bluegrass Tribute to Jack White
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on May 1, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pickin' on the Hits of 2015
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Jul 31, 2015
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pickin' on the 90s
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Apr 15, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pickin' on the Hits of 2013
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Jan 21, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bluegrass Tribute to Mumford & Sons
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on May 10, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Free Bird: The Steel Guitar Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
Country - Released by CMH Records, Inc. on Nov 15, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Bluegrass Tribute to Dave Matthews Band's Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King - EP
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Apr 6, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pickin' on Jewel
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Jun 2, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Bluegrass Tribute to Jimmy Buffett
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Apr 21, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Texas of the North
Rock - Released by Suburban Music Group on Feb 10, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Bluegrass Tribute to the Avett Brothers
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Sep 13, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
So Long, Soggy Dog
Punk / New Wave - Released by Red Scare on Dec 25, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weight of Air
Punk / New Wave - Released by Red Scare on Sep 15, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
People's Court
Alternative & Indie - Released by Epitaph on May 15, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pickin' On Thompson Square
Pickin' On Series, The Sidekicks
Country - Released by CMH Records on Aug 14, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo