01Profile
A The Kecks Photo
The Kecks
Musicians — Hamburg
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
The Kecks, Lennart, Sam, Joel and Kai. A curious blend of Australian, German, Austrian and British nomad making weird noises under Hamburg's seedy neon glow.
Describe your style in three words?
Dark, Flamboyant, Romantic.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
We were fortunate enough to catch The Strokes at a short notice intimate show in Berlin back in February just before the world came to a grinding halt. Just so mind-blowingly good. Effortlessly cool, all killer no filler. Timeless, the songs just don't age. As raw and powerful as when we first heard them as teenagers. Masterclass.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
The first would have to be The Growlers, they have been a massive influence on us and were actually a major part in us forming as a band. We actually all met for the first time on the back of a flix bus on the way to a Growlers show in Berlin. It was about 10am and Joel had just cracked a beer. The mullet and day drinking combination was like a moth to a flame for our resident Aussie Sam and the rest, as they say, is The Kecks history. Radiohead would have to headline, unreal band. Those "From The Basement" shows are about as good as it gets live. Whenever we feel like we are making some headway you can always go back and watch that performance and instantly feel shit we need to rehearse. Yorke and Greenwood are proper geniuses in a beautifully weird kind of way. Had the pleasure of catching them live a couple of times and it is just like watching something from another planet.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The Aussie psych-rock scene from the 2000s onwards has been a big influence on us. Apart from Sam coming from those shores, those guys are hugely inspirational in the way they have done things. They are just all muso's hanging out, all playing together in multiple different bands and projects, different lineups and constantly revolving. Inspiring each other and pushing each other. The way it should be. So much incredible music has come out of that... Tame Impala, Pond, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs. The way it should be. The London noughties indie scene has also had a massive influence on us, that's why we have always been drawn to the city to record with JB Pilon at Buffalo Studios. The sounds and style of the likes of The Libertines, The Kills, Arctic Monkeys... These are all the artists that made us fall in love with music. The Pete Doherty album recorded at Cloud Hill studios in Hamburg was another big deciding factor in drawing Lennart and Joel to Hamburg in the first place.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
It's a bit a cliche but it would have to be David Bowie. The most charismatic man to ever live. Such a weird and wonderful creature, I think you could probably spend eternity in his presence and never get bored. One of a kind enigma. Sorely missed.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
We hold Molotow in Hamburg very dear to our hearts! It's absolutely central to the musical universe in Hamburg and countless bands that have gone on to be huge have stepped on its stage over the years. Not only do they often bring our favourite artists from all over the world but the social scene revolving around the venue is absolutely crucial too. It's a proper old school dive bar type bar and before Covid hit you could head down pretty much any night of the week, grab a beer and you'd be guaranteed to bump into some cool people and hear some interesting music. It's essential to Hamburg's culture. We've seen bands like Temples, Fur and Cherry Glazerr here in the last 12 months alone. The future of the venue looked pretty uncertain for a while but we were overjoyed to hear it had found a new home recently as we've been actively trying to help save them! We can't imagine a Hamburg without a Molotow.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
We were fortunate enough to get to hang out with Anton Newcombe at his Brian Jonestown Massacre studio in Berlin a few months back and that was an unforgettable afternoon. He is every part the razor-sharp maverick you hope he would be. He has such a pure passion and enthusiasm for music you just can't help but be gripped by it!
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Don't Believe A Word' by Thin Lizzy. From the Live and Dangerous album. I was fortunate that my dad was always in bands and used to play the pubs and working men's clubs when I was growing up. I used to go along with him and sneak a shandy being about twelve or thirteen years old. I remember picking his guitars up at home and air-guitaring along thinking I was Phil Lynott. I suppose that is where I caught the musical bug!
A song that defines the teenage you?
'F*ck Forever' by Baby Shambles. This one was a toughie! It could have been anything off the debut Arctic Monkeys album but I think Babyshamles are a perfect soundtrack to teenage angsty nights hanging out at NME club nights, Fred Perry polo buttoned up, swigging on Red Stripe with some naughty winklepickers and girls jeans. Terrible backcombed hair... We all went through that terrible stage, right?
One record you would keep forever?
'The Queen Is Dead' by The Smiths. Just a seminal piece of music history isn't it? Every song is magic. It just stands completely on its own, beautifully melancholy and dark. Weirdly Sam and Joel ended up having a couple of beers with Mike Joyce a few months back when the bars briefly reopened in Hamburg and he was hilarious. So many stories. He dug our last single 'All For Me' too which definitely wears its The Smiths influence on its sleeve so that was a really nice compliment.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"What's that darling? How am I doing? Guess I'm doing all right except I can't sleep and I cry all night till dawn."
From 'Hello Darling' by Conway Twitty.
A song you wished you had written?
'Common People' by Pulp. Britrock perfection! Instantly gets the heart racing. We had some Pulp comparisons on the last single and that was massively flattering because we are huge fans.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Sports' by Viagra Boys. No matter where you are, who you are with, what time it is. Crank this one and you just know it is going to go off! We were absolutely gutted when the Hamburg date got cancelled due to Corona. That's a gig that you'll definitely need to book the next few days off work afterwards to recover!
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'On The Road Again' by Willie Nelson. This one is our touring anthem! It's always the first song that gets blasted in the van whenever we hit the road again. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser in our van and always sets us off on a good vibe!
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Big Enough' by Kirin J Callinan. This one is another one that gets absolutely hammered in our van. It goes off absolutely every time. Completely bizarrely brilliant, we actually caught Kirin opening for The Growlers in Berlin and we have all been a little infatuated ever since.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Praise You' by Fatboy Slim. This one is the undoubted king of the party closers! Just hearing those first few chords on the piano can take you back to so many bleary eyed happy memories. A stone-cold classic.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Calva Louise are phenomenal live! They should be on everybody's must watch list! They go from polished pop to shrieking powerful grunge in a second. If they come to your town, you need to go and see them!
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
The Kecks, Lennart, Sam, Joel and Kai. A curious blend of Australian, German, Austrian and British nomad making weird noises under Hamburg's seedy neon glow.
Describe your style in three words?
Dark, Flamboyant, Romantic.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
We were fortunate enough to catch The Strokes at a short notice intimate show in Berlin back in February just before the world came to a grinding halt. Just so mind-blowingly good. Effortlessly cool, all killer no filler. Timeless, the songs just don't age. As raw and powerful as when we first heard them as teenagers. Masterclass.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
The first would have to be The Growlers, they have been a massive influence on us and were actually a major part in us forming as a band. We actually all met for the first time on the back of a flix bus on the way to a Growlers show in Berlin. It was about 10am and Joel had just cracked a beer. The mullet and day drinking combination was like a moth to a flame for our resident Aussie Sam and the rest, as they say, is The Kecks history. Radiohead would have to headline, unreal band. Those "From The Basement" shows are about as good as it gets live. Whenever we feel like we are making some headway you can always go back and watch that performance and instantly feel shit we need to rehearse. Yorke and Greenwood are proper geniuses in a beautifully weird kind of way. Had the pleasure of catching them live a couple of times and it is just like watching something from another planet.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The Aussie psych-rock scene from the 2000s onwards has been a big influence on us. Apart from Sam coming from those shores, those guys are hugely inspirational in the way they have done things. They are just all muso's hanging out, all playing together in multiple different bands and projects, different lineups and constantly revolving. Inspiring each other and pushing each other. The way it should be. So much incredible music has come out of that... Tame Impala, Pond, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs. The way it should be. The London noughties indie scene has also had a massive influence on us, that's why we have always been drawn to the city to record with JB Pilon at Buffalo Studios. The sounds and style of the likes of The Libertines, The Kills, Arctic Monkeys... These are all the artists that made us fall in love with music. The Pete Doherty album recorded at Cloud Hill studios in Hamburg was another big deciding factor in drawing Lennart and Joel to Hamburg in the first place.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
It's a bit a cliche but it would have to be David Bowie. The most charismatic man to ever live. Such a weird and wonderful creature, I think you could probably spend eternity in his presence and never get bored. One of a kind enigma. Sorely missed.
Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
We hold Molotow in Hamburg very dear to our hearts! It's absolutely central to the musical universe in Hamburg and countless bands that have gone on to be huge have stepped on its stage over the years. Not only do they often bring our favourite artists from all over the world but the social scene revolving around the venue is absolutely crucial too. It's a proper old school dive bar type bar and before Covid hit you could head down pretty much any night of the week, grab a beer and you'd be guaranteed to bump into some cool people and hear some interesting music. It's essential to Hamburg's culture. We've seen bands like Temples, Fur and Cherry Glazerr here in the last 12 months alone. The future of the venue looked pretty uncertain for a while but we were overjoyed to hear it had found a new home recently as we've been actively trying to help save them! We can't imagine a Hamburg without a Molotow.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
We were fortunate enough to get to hang out with Anton Newcombe at his Brian Jonestown Massacre studio in Berlin a few months back and that was an unforgettable afternoon. He is every part the razor-sharp maverick you hope he would be. He has such a pure passion and enthusiasm for music you just can't help but be gripped by it!
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'Don't Believe A Word' by Thin Lizzy. From the Live and Dangerous album. I was fortunate that my dad was always in bands and used to play the pubs and working men's clubs when I was growing up. I used to go along with him and sneak a shandy being about twelve or thirteen years old. I remember picking his guitars up at home and air-guitaring along thinking I was Phil Lynott. I suppose that is where I caught the musical bug!
A song that defines the teenage you?
'F*ck Forever' by Baby Shambles. This one was a toughie! It could have been anything off the debut Arctic Monkeys album but I think Babyshamles are a perfect soundtrack to teenage angsty nights hanging out at NME club nights, Fred Perry polo buttoned up, swigging on Red Stripe with some naughty winklepickers and girls jeans. Terrible backcombed hair... We all went through that terrible stage, right?
One record you would keep forever?
'The Queen Is Dead' by The Smiths. Just a seminal piece of music history isn't it? Every song is magic. It just stands completely on its own, beautifully melancholy and dark. Weirdly Sam and Joel ended up having a couple of beers with Mike Joyce a few months back when the bars briefly reopened in Hamburg and he was hilarious. So many stories. He dug our last single 'All For Me' too which definitely wears its The Smiths influence on its sleeve so that was a really nice compliment.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"What's that darling? How am I doing? Guess I'm doing all right except I can't sleep and I cry all night till dawn."
From 'Hello Darling' by Conway Twitty.
A song you wished you had written?
'Common People' by Pulp. Britrock perfection! Instantly gets the heart racing. We had some Pulp comparisons on the last single and that was massively flattering because we are huge fans.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Sports' by Viagra Boys. No matter where you are, who you are with, what time it is. Crank this one and you just know it is going to go off! We were absolutely gutted when the Hamburg date got cancelled due to Corona. That's a gig that you'll definitely need to book the next few days off work afterwards to recover!
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'On The Road Again' by Willie Nelson. This one is our touring anthem! It's always the first song that gets blasted in the van whenever we hit the road again. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser in our van and always sets us off on a good vibe!
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Big Enough' by Kirin J Callinan. This one is another one that gets absolutely hammered in our van. It goes off absolutely every time. Completely bizarrely brilliant, we actually caught Kirin opening for The Growlers in Berlin and we have all been a little infatuated ever since.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Praise You' by Fatboy Slim. This one is the undoubted king of the party closers! Just hearing those first few chords on the piano can take you back to so many bleary eyed happy memories. A stone-cold classic.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Calva Louise are phenomenal live! They should be on everybody's must watch list! They go from polished pop to shrieking powerful grunge in a second. If they come to your town, you need to go and see them!