More Kicks “More Kicks” 2019. There are five record labels listed on this LP: Beluga Records, Wanda Records, Snap!! Records, Adrenalin Fix Music and Dirt Cult Records – I can’t say I’ve ever seen that before on one disk. Anyway, I’ve been hanging onto this record to write about since about a year ago when we caught London’s More Kicks at Dirtnap Records Fest in June 2022 in the hopes they’d be swinging back through the States again this summer. Unfortunately, the mod-rock power pop band announced their breakup a couple of weeks ago and I’m super-bummed. Here’s their farewell note from social media:

More Kicks

2017-2023

Hard one, but there it is. It’s been a total pleasure to make music for the past six years as MORE KICKS but it’s time to say adiós. Two LPs, four singles, gigs across Europe and the US. Records released on labels we love such as Dirtnap Records , Stardumb Records, Wanda Records, Snap Records, Dirt Cult Records, Beluga Records, Adrenalin Fix Music. Hotel rooms, flats, camper vans, inflatable mattresses, festival stages, squat stages, no-stages shared across multiple cities; mountains of ginger for aching throats belonging to paranoid singers; litres of gin and tonic ‘for the stage’. Three men driving around the globe in small vehicles with bass cases and assorted paraphernalia jabbing them in the head. What a trip.

There are so many people to thank. Too many. Label bosses, bookers, promoters, sofa-bed providers. Dear friends and people we had never met going above and beyond to help us pull tours together. And of course, all those who came the gigs, bought a record, came to say ‘hi’, said that we were ‘brutales’, too loud, too soft, asked if we were really British (we sort of are). A sincere thanks to all.

An absolute blast.

Sulli, Paolo, Kris xxx

Their music is bright, punchy and ass-shakingly upbeat and their live performance was utterly delightful – definitely a highlight from last summer. More Kicks is their debut LP: it’s 60’s-inspired in the very best of ways with hooks and garagey beats galore. So many excellent tracks! My top picks is the 60’s garage (with organ!) and completely addictive “She’s a Reaction,” followed closely by another ear-worm ready track “Blame it on the Satellite.” Also of very notable mention: their first single “It’s a Drag,” “Rock N Roll Again,” the lo-fi jangly “Ain’t That Just the Way” and the garage-thrasher “Your Vibration” – that video below from Dirtnap Fest (but I didn’t record it).