Like Kites

I entered Higher Ground just after 9pm Friday night, I was in time only to see the first of three bands, Fun Gus & The Funguys, packing up. I went to the bar to soften the blow and as I was lining up I ran into Like Kites band manager, Daniel Bills who was very excited for the show. “We didn’t expect to sell this many tickets, but I’m glad we did and I think anyone who bought one will go away happy as well.”

Many of the ticket buyers began arriving as Raw Ether took the stage. The majority of the crowd had been sitting around the edges of the square venue but lead singer and bassist Kacee Heidt drew them onto the dance floor in front of him. They played an excellent set, which included some new tracks and some of their classics from their 09 EP. The crowd continued to grow throughout the set and although some of the many I questioned were just there to see Like Kites, Raw Ether did manage to entertain and impress them.

I had forgotten how loud a real rock show can be, the perfect example of this was the vibrations from the music physically moving my clothes. While problematic for me, it was thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd, and what was I doing trying to talk during a rock show anyway?

After Raw Ether moved off the stage I saw Like Kites front man Thom Gardiner moving towards the band only area. I pounced and was invited backstage where I met the band and asked him about his show, he said the band was very excited to be playing their largest to date show, with over two hundred pre sales tickets sold and many more sold on the door, and although this was their first EP launch we should be expecting more from them throughout the year, hinting that a single or another EP is coming our way soon. I left him to get ready and returned to the front of the stage. I stood with the constantly growing crowd who were all eagerly awaiting the final act of the night. Like Kites took to the stage and the four boys each picked a place to stand. The yells of appraisal rained upon the band long before the music started, Bassist Lawson Stapleton riled up the crowd, making even the sound check somewhat entertaining.

The four kind young men I met backstage quickly turned to rock stars as the lights dropped and the music began. The moshing began almost immediately and halfway through the first song the band was rewarded with its first of many applauses. As the show went on they played all of the tracks from their new EP Before I Blackout as well as several covers including Song 2 by Blur and Everlong by the Foo Fighters, the boys showing their roots. Cliff was a bit of a crowd favourite and was definitely my favourite song of the night.

At some times during the show Gardiner was somewhat drowned out by the overall loudness and Bassist Lawson Stapleton spent a lot of the show facing the drummer, this was counteracted however, by his awesome white suspenders and constant comments through the show.

Even the sticky floor couldn’t keep the crowd on their feet through the show and at one point Gardiner taught the crowd to clap the most complicated bass line I’ve ever seen replicated by an audience at a live show.

After their hour long set the boys left, only to hear screams for an encore, this was granted but as they re-entered the stage they found that Gardiner’s guitar had sadly died, instead of requesting a minute of silence, he just asked the audience to search for a guitar, when one was produced the show continued and despite the suspense it didn’t disappoint.

Overall an excellent show, definitely two bands to keep your eye on, it’s always good to support local music and it’s made that much easier when the bands themselves are excellent. Be ever vigilant for the new Like Kites EP Before I Blackout which I have a copy of, fear not those of you who can’t find one, I’ll have a full review as soon as I’ve finished enjoying it or you can listen to some of their stuff here http://www.triplejunearthed.com/LikeKites1

- Kryztoff Raw

Kicking off with a shotgun blast, Like Kites debut EP'sopening track Future Battles, is a rock song with a slow groove and bluesy guitar tones that immediately gives the impression of a band comfortable in their sound. Let In The Fire follows with a bass hum reminiscent of 90's rock and appropriately mirrors an early Foo Fighters beat with Helmet melodies in this grunge extravaganza.



The bright dangle of a breakdown in Cliff is a left field change from the fast paced and dark guitar sounds of the rest of the song. The stand out track is You'll Never Change, with hints of Bluebottle Kiss in its melodies and dynamics, it's clear which era of music the group are influenced by. The band gets a little bit punk rock on MOAR!, however, this song doesn't seem to be at the same level of maturity of the rest of the EP, and the group seem uncomfortable in this genre, plus the Wolfmother style keyboard breakdown should be removed.



The EP ends with Not What It Seems, another stand out, as it is a straight up rock song with tough sounding riffs and slightly distorted vocals. The recording quality is what you would expect from a debut EP, with vocals sometimes sounding a little bit muffled, but as a whole the feel suits the music and makes this an enjoyable little listen.

- DB Magazine