Dennis Kyne

Zero Magazine Review
October 2003
This do-it-yourself rock n’ roll gem gets straight to the skinny. The opening
jam, "I Ain’t Going Back Again," is a brutal lesson in modern day warfare. For
starters, how about some friendly fire, depleted uranium, hot nuclear flashes,
and PB tablets forced down your throat? Have you ever seen a soldier melted into
concrete? Just open the inside of the cover and you’ll see what I mean.
Getting back to the music—it’s good to see rock n’ roll getting back to its
roots. Sergeant Kyne along with guitarist Sean Packer, bassist James Bradford
and drummer Ryan Hoffman really do rock n’ roll a service. The electrifying
guitar work of Packer and the heartfelt lyrics and rhythms of Kyne really give
this piece some meaning to life on the war front.
Kyne, an Army Medic from the 18th Airborne says it best when he’s asked to go
back and fight again, "No amount of money you could give me, honey, could get me
in going back again." Wake up America! People are dying and the cry of the
unheard is loud and clear. Get off your ass and buy this CD, Support the Truth.
It may be the most important thing you can do to save this country from a
complete meltdown.
-Milo

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- Zero Magazine

On either side of the party line, bad music is bad music. Drawing on his experience in the Gulf War, Dennis Kyne’s rock album “Support the Truth” relies on war themes and his general frustrations with the world.

While Kyne promises thought-provoking songs about an experienced soldier, the record never actually delivers. The songs are drawn out, the acoustics overpowering, and the lyrics are at times missing in action.

Kyne depends on the strength of his musicians and shock value of his controversial political lyrics. Kyne is able to produce great work, as seen in the first track, “Ain’t Goin’ Back Again,” reminiscent of ’60s and ’70s war protest songs. An aged quality in his voice propels the song to authenticity, and the slow tempo sets the mood for a classic war-torn narrative.

“Curbside,” the second track, should be taken out with the trash. The lyrics come off whiny and do not play to Kyne’s strengths. While describing life on the streets, Kyne sings, “I’m not the sinner/you see you are the one/soaking up everything and giving me none.” The endless self-pity elongates the song and forces sympathy. Fortunately, sagging lyrics toward the end can be ignored and the music enjoyed.

It is easy to forget Kyne’s flaws after listening to “Alzheimers.” With descriptive lyrics and a creative theme, Kyne entices the listener with a smoky song about a lost soul. A low point is when backup vocals enter the piece, mimicking a slowly dying cow. After listening to the cow steadfastly drag the song on for more than five minutes, it becomes unbearably redundant.

The last track, “One in Ten,” has a rapid pace and wonderful guitar, but the music quickly consumes the lyrics. As Kyne sounds like an inaudible drunk, it’s easy to tell that the song lacks the balance and professionalism necessary to keep the listener interested.

The only consistency on the album is the unfaltering quality of the guitarist and drummer that carry the album along through each song. Kyne deserves credit for actually living through some of the lyrics, unlike most hollow songs that only give a pop-tartlet another reason to gyrate.

The idea for “Support the Truth” had a lot potential, but is an artistic disappointment. If Kyne sticks to his guns and records more crisp narratives like “Ain’t Goin’ Back Again,” his musical mission might have a chance at success.

Abby Anderson
- University of Idaho

A Revealing Album That is Locked and Loaded and Setting its Sights On Our U.S. Military

It wasn't until Dennis Kyne returned to the US to finish his civilian duty that he learned the most painful lessons of 15 years served in the US Army. His own Military and his own countrymen let him down. Kyne was shocked to return home and learn about the side effects of his exposure to depleted uranium weapons. He was thankful that he did not swallow Pyridostigmine Bromide tablets, a requirement set forth for all military personnel during the Gulf War I. He decided to disobey orders and threw them all away. His comrades who did swallow them are now suffering from un-diagnosable diseases. Now all he wants to do is Support The Truth. With a revealing book with the same name under his belt, it was time to let the music do the talking.

Kyne makes his way through 11 tracks of emotional fist waving at our government and military on his new rock album I’m Not Resisting. "All We Want Is The Truth" opens the album with Kyne sounding like Iggy Pop, a real ear catching start to an album. His high energy level bites like a pit bull and it hangs on without letting go throughout this solid release. Five of the tracks were recorded at KZSU Stanford Live and they are crackling with that live off the floor spontaneity that every artist yearns for while in the studio. The entire album has that feel from start to finish. That essential gritty edge and undying tension is just what the doctor ordered to convey such a distressing message.

This CD is jam packed with powerful eye opening messages and good music to back it all up. It does not get any more sincere than this. That was the intention of Kyne all along, to carry a message to his fellow man while rocking your soul every step of the way.
- By Keith Hannaleck, 10/24/2005

I’ve been saying it for a while now, there is something in the air, a change, a need to comment, something borne out by the fact that I seem to be receiving more and more music which has a message about the darkness gathering in the world at the moment and the need to push back against it. Music has always been a potent force to inform and energise people, to call to arms like minded folk and to put your thoughts and observations on record for all to see. Some bands make music which counterpunches with rhetoric and rabble rousing, some makes music which examines and debates and some, like Skip, fights back in the sweetest, gentlest way possible an approach which seems to make it all the more powerful in a sort of David and Goliath fort of way.

And whereas most artists advocate a need to combat the problems of the world, Skip instead encourages you to embrace your inner child and follow the instructions in the title and skip! Why? well, because skipping is fun, it reminds us of our formative years, it allows us to forget things for a while and once you learn how to momentarily let go the world doesn’t seem so bad. But also if it raises a smile on one other person, makes someone laugh, even make someone join in then you have made the world a slightly nicer place to be in, if only for a moment and if enough people do that change will come. It is tackling the earths ills through holistic happiness, start anywhere you want, do something no matter how small and you are part of the change.

The song runs on a sort of mix of pop-jazz infectiousness and old-school music hall and the result is wonderful. Scat singing, cascades of piano, brass salvos and the most addictive chorus you have heard in a long time and the important message “war makes you old, skipping keeps you young” resonates throughout. It is a message to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, The Iraq War and every other war and disaster which needs some love and laughter to help those effected to get through.

Sometimes the simplest messages are the most effective, forget the political rants and idealistic raves, those who have the answers and know how to fix society. Sometimes you have to just reduce everything down to its most childlike quality, embrace the simplicity and innocence and just skip through the eye of the storm. It’s sometimes that simple. - Dave Franklin

When did the Arabi Wrecking Krewe start?
The wrecking krewe started in October 2005. After the storm, Bonerama was on the road. You couldn’t get back in right away. My wife and I were in Houston and Baton Rouge most of the time. When I was able to get back in October, I got into with Sheik—Armand Richardson. He is a photographer. Sheik and I go back 25 or 30 years when we used to march with the Tumblers from the Dream Palace. Sheik was able to get in touch with two other guys, Bill Phillips and Dennis Kyne. Dennis fought in Afghanistan, but now he is a peace activist. He was in here days after the storm giving out stuff, helping. - OffBeat New Orleans