Geekscape Interviews: Catching Up With Kyle Stevens of Kirby Krackle
Every year I put together a Comic Con show that brings together best and brightest of the nerd realm. I like to call it a Nerd-a-Thon and this year I’ve tricked Geekscape.net into being my partner in crime. MUAHAHAHA!
We’ve put together an amazing two-day line up complete with Geek Rock and Nerdcore hip hop and of course the lovely ladies of Devil’s Playground Burlesque. It just so happens that one of these uber-talented Geek Rock bands that will be playing are my friends, Kirby Krackle. I recently caught up with Kyle Stevens, the front-man of Kirby Krackle to fire a ridiculous amount of questions his way.
TN: You’ve performed at many comic-cons and your partner Jim was a founder of the Emerald City Comic-Con – When did you first attend SDCC, and which Comic-Con (in any city) has been most memorable for you and why?
KS: Our first album (Kirby Krackle) came out in January of 2009 and being new to touring the comic con circuit, we knew we had to go big and make an appearance that year whether we’d even make a dent there or not as a new band. In retrospect, it was a smart thing to do because from the very beginning we set ourselves up as a booth that invited fans and con-goers to take a break from the madness and found they were more than happy to take a second to put on the earphones and take a listen to what we do; the organized sound in power-pop rock form of everything they were experiencing walking around the con.
TN: There has been a lot of news about events and announcements at SDCC this year – which are you most looking forward to?
KS: Truth be told, I’m just catching up on all the news as we speak! We’ve been so in the trenches with getting our new album out and the tour that it’s been my entire world for the past four months. Besides looking forward to rocking the Merrow with Nerfherder and H2Awesome, I’m really looking forward to the special SDCC W00t stout that was brewed up by Wil Wheaton and Stone Brewing Company for the event. Being a huge fan of the San Diego craft-beer scene I know I’m going to need to track some of that goodness down!
TN: I will definitely have to bring you around the San Diego beer scene. Okay, next question: Who are your comic book heroes?
KS: I’m a big Wolverine fan from back in the day; I was raised on a steady diet of Jim Lee 90’s X-MEN and so that will always be my jam in my heart. I’m a big Marvel guy, as well as much of what Image puts out. What a great time it is to be a fan of comics, and great comics at that.
TN: They’re coming out with a new Wolverine! Which comic to film/TV adaptation has been your favorite so far?
KS: TV and film offerings these past few years have been completely insane. We’re living in the golden times of geek franchises coming to the screen and we’re all so spoiled that we don’t even know it! The Walking Dead is something I can’t get enough of, and the way Game Of Thrones has taken over pop-culture is simply amazing. People can’t get enough, and I always hope new fans of these shows give a moment to take a look at comics and what they have to offer their life.
TN: You have been creating music for many years – How did you come to making “Geek – Rock” ?
KS: Long story short, it was simply a wanting to create something that wasn’t there. It was scary to do since it hadn’t really been done the way we choose to go about it; emotionalizing all of our favorite characters and finding the human element to put into song. Lucky for us, people thought it worked and we’ve been pounding the pavement ever since. Our new album, “Sounds Like You” (out July 9th) is another extension of that; geek lifestyle colliding with pop-culture observances for another 13-song offering to ear-holes everywhere.
TN: So, who are your musical influences?
KS: I try to tap into everything as an influence and see what sends my brain towards a new angle or melody, but my heart-on-my-sleeve influences are Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin, Counting Crows, Matthew Sweet, and ALL 90’s R&B. No joke, those are some of the best jams I’ve ever heard still.
TN: I know every musician has a different songwriting process – how would you describe yours?
KS: Ha! I’m always trying to figure out what my process is, and them moment I think I’ve got it then it changes. It likes to mess with me! Truthfully, many of the new songs were came to me in the shower. I do a lot of thinking there, to the point where my water bill reflects that. How eco-conscious of me, right? Yikes. I mostly start with a melody line and then figure out the guitar part. Sometimes it’s the reverse of that, but nothing never makes the cut if I’m not humming it subconsciously later in the day. It needs to have a hook that I care about. If I don’t care about it, how can anyone else? I’m in the business of creating songs that are fun and catchy / something you’d like to play for some friends in the car. That’s the goal.
TN: I remember you mentioning before that Jim is your other half when it comes to music. How would you describe your’s and Jim’s working relationship?
KS: Jim and I sit down and come up with the ideas together and what makes us laugh, and then I go off and make them (hopefully) sound good in song form. Once I feel it’s in some sort of state to become something cool, I bring it to the band and they rock my face. It’s a great way to do things and it’s worked for us this long that it’s kinda second nature now.
TN: You mentioned Kirby Krackle’s new album is being released on July 9, just before Comic Con Nerd-a-Thon, Are you excited to perform the songs from the new album? Which is your favorite?
KS: I’M SO EXCITED TO PLAY THE NEW SONGS ON TOUR! Can you tell? The songs on the new album were specifically designed to be performed live and get the crowd singing along which is one of the best things to me about playing live. I never take it for granted and always strive to create new tunes that folks will want to yell back at me. That said, our new song “Grandma’s House” is tons of fun and the few times we’ve played it live so far it’s been such a great vibe from the audience. Another song, the Game Of Thrones influenced “North Of The Wall” is the heaviest song we’ve recorded to date. Haven’t played that one live yet, but I’m dying to see how the crowd screams the chorus back at us.
TN: Nerd-a-Thon will be the third stop on your west coast tour with H2Awesome to promote your new album – When did you first meet the guys from H2Awesome and how did their appearance as your openers come about?
KS: We’ve known those guys for about four years now. We’ve had them at KRACKLEFEST, our annual show ECCC weekend in Seattle a few years ago and they’ve had us out to NYC as well. They’re tons of fun on stage and off, and I’m excited for the West Coast to finally be able to experience them.
TN: Do you have anything special planned for the Nerd-A-Thon?
KS: We’ve got some fun experimental performance things to try out…something to get the vibe fun and crazy. We’ll see what happens!
TN: Are you excited to be performing with Nerf Herder and the girls from Devil’s Playground Burlesque?
KS: I was so psyced to hear we’d be perfomring with Nerf Herder! Let’s be honest though, everyone will be waiting patiently for us to get off the stage so the ladies can get up there. We understand how this works…
TN: Ha! That very well may be true, but I am sure you will provide some great interim entertainment. Through the grapevine, or should I say hops vine we’ve heard you are embarking on a new business chapter in your life – care to share?
KS: Totally! Not only am I a fan of the San Diego craft-beer scene, but I’ve also been a homebrewer for years getting ready to go pro and open my brewery this year in Shoreline, Wa. It’s called Charging Hippo Brewing Co. (www.charinghippobrewing.com), and it’s very exciting / fun / scary as hell, all at once.
The nano-brewery movement in the states and across the world is exploding and I’m excited to be a part of it. I’ve spent the past few months narrowing down my first offerings, and most of my stuff is very hoppy and made with a lot of love. Small batches is what we’re talking…I’m not looking to take over the world because I’ve got the band trying to do more and more, but we’ll hopefully make a dent in an area of North Seattle that really needs a brewery to call their own. As you might be able to guess, this year is pretty crazy so far.
TN: What is the geekiest thing you do when no one is around (be honest, we won’t tell anyone … in person)?
KS: Um…I’ve been trying to trigger my mutant powers since my first issue of Uncanny X-MEN at age 9 and thus far it’s not working. What am I doing wrong? I’ll keep trying though.
Kirby Krackle’s new album, ‘Sounds Like You’, released earlier today, and is definitely worth checking out (here). Again, Kirby Krackle is performing on night 1 (July 20th) of the Comic-Con Nerd-A-Thon, and it’s going to be incredible. Look for more interviews in the coming days, and don’t forget to pick up your tickets to the Comic-Con Nerd-A-Thon! They’re selling out fast, so grab them here while you still can!
