Kicking Harold – Red Light District

By starrymag | April 2, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) It’s modern rock with an element of 90’s grunge and modern dance pop music like Young The Giant. It’s kind of a mixture because the band has been around since 1994. So, we kind of pull from all the elements we have used throughout the years for our sound. It depends on the song.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) In the 90’s I was really into Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. Stone Temple Pilots is one of my favorite bands and we have been compared to them before. Then, there are classics like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. For me, it’s any band that has guitar riffs and good melodies. I like those kind of bands and right now I am into Young The Giant and Royal Blood is really cool. I like Shiny Toy Guns. I like bands that can be and are being played on the radio most of the time because I like commercial pop stuff and I also like heavy based music as well. I like good music so it doesn’t really matter what it is. I just don’t listen to one kind of music.

Q) How did you come up with the title for your new album Red Light District?

A) A lot of times names are just phrases that seem kind of cool. It’s a phrase that I liked and it has a double meaning. You think of the sexual meaning of the Red Light District, but also to me when you are recording the red light goes on. It also can mean when you want something to stop or change. So, the Red Light District for you personally when you are in a relationship could mean a red flag. I just like terms that sound cool on the album title and will also make you think of different things. There is no specific meaning and then the cover art just fit with the title. It’s just a cool image.

Q) How does the cover art then play into the theme of the album?

A) It doesn’t really play into the theme of the album. It was just a cool image and we wanted something to catch your eye. It’s a beautiful girl and a lot of the songs are about relationships and men and women. It can be taken any way you want to be taken. It is not a concept album with super serious thoughts where the images go with the music. I just thought it was a really nice picture. It pops out. I liked having the white on the album. I thought it was different. I try to mix it up each album. I usually go with images until I find ones that I think are cool. Then, our management will look at it and say if it is cool. We just kind of go through it that way.

Q) How much of a hand did you have in the production of the album?

A) On this particular album I did everything. I played everything, produced it, recorded it and mixed it. I did that for the last album as well. I was a music producer for a lot of years so I was able to go into the studio and create the tracks on my own. Then, when the tracks are out I’ll get the band together to play live. That’s what I did in this particular situation. Every album is different. Some of them are full band albums where we started out with all the guys playing on them. It all depends on my mood and how I was recording at the time.

Q) Your song “Kill You” was originally featured on a different album. How did you come to the decision to re-release it?

A) It is a completely new recording of it. There has been three versions of “Kill You.” The first version of it was on our independent album. Then, we got signed to MCA Records (a major label) and they asked us to change the bridge because they didn’t think it was good for radio to have a little rap bridge. It was kind of jarring. So, we changed it for them and we actually liked it better. When we lost our record deal back in the late 90’s, MCA didn’t continue to print it so it has not been available even though it has been playing on the radio ever since. It just continues to play, but no one could buy it. So, it was kind of just an idea that came up while we were recording and I just decided with our manager to make a new version of it for the fans just so they could get it. When it was done, it sounded so good that we decided to re-release it as a new introduction to the band. That way, the older fans can finally buy “Kill You” and it was like a fresh start for the band.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that resonates with fans?

A) It is a pop song and it is a song about connecting with people. Anything that is relationship based, if you’re being truthful about it, people are touched by it. It was a single once so once a single always a single. I am glad people like it. The song is twenty years old now so it has some legs to it.

Q) The video of it features porn star Mary Carey. Do you think that adds to the popularity of the song?

A) Definitely! She is so cool and so nice. She has a big following of people. When we were doing the video, we had that role and she was available. We thought it would be so cool to have someone come out at the end as a surprise. We thought it would be someone no one knows, but we felt if we had the option to have it be someone who has a following and people would recognize it would make more of an impact. She was super professional. I think she had a good time doing it. She has been really supportive with the band and we love her.

Q) What are some of your favorite songs to perform live?

A) Usually when you play live, especially with bands like us where we have five albums, you are not going to play more than a couple songs from each. We do three or four songs from the new one and we do “American Nitro,” which is always fun because it has an AC/DC vibe. “Dance To The Radio” is really cool. We also do “Kill You” and “Drinking to Forget You.” We can do some more if needed, but we don’t want to load a set with all new stuff because we have people who have followed us before so we like to play the hits.

Q) What can fans expect from a live Kicking Harold performance?

A) I pretty much hit the songs that  anyone would know from “Gasoline,” which was on Overhaulin’. We do the original hits from the radio from when we were signed to MCA like “Kill You” and “Down on You” and “Fred’s New Dress.” The other songs are just favorites from the other albums that fit live. It changes every time we go out. It’s an upbeat show. There are maybe one or two slow songs, but then there rest are really rockin’ and some of the new stuff is kind of dance-y. It’s a mixture, but all melodic. So, if someone didn’t like heavier music or rock music they probably would enjoy our show. If you’re a fan of the band you know the songs, which is fun.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) It’s just a tool to get in touch with people in an easy way and it is fun. For me, I like to do it. I’m not the only one who is on it. Our management monitors it and will help with posting press that comes through. Then, I go on there and do stupid things to make people laugh. I just have fun with it. I think the best Twitter profiles are not so corporate. One day it could be a stupid picture of your dog and the next day could be album stuff. It’s a fun way to connect with people and when we have something going on it is easy to throw it up there. Being a  band that has been around for so long, we’ve seen everything change. When Kicking Harold was signed to MCA Records, we were on a major label, had songs on the radio all across the country and we didn’t even have a website. Everyone was just starting online. It’s just amazing how things have changed. Our bass player, Bret, has said, “I can’t believe it has gone from people walking around handing out flyers to just sitting in front of your keyboard and clicking.” In some ways it is better and in some ways you lose a lot of person to person contact when you have that.

Q) What would you like to ay to fans and supporters of your music?

A) We’re definitely not what you would call a super popular band. We’re kind of a cult-y band. So, the people who are into us are usually very cool and into it. They have all the albums and are very nice and complimentary to me. It’s just nice to know. When I am creating something I do it for myself because I’m a musician and I can’t stop. You just have to do it. It’s nice to know that there are people out there who appreciate it and are cool. They’ll give you feedback. I’ll go on YouTube and find some kid playing guitar to “Gasoline” who I have never met. He’s learned my song and he’s put it online. It reminds me of when I was younger. It’s cool to be on the other side of it to be the band they are listening to. I’m happy to still be doing it after all these years and that the band is still active. We’re having fun and I think we’re still making great music. Blues musicians never stop so why shouldn’t rock musicians? Also, “American Nitro” is going to be the second single released and we’re going to be putting out a video in late April, early May. We’ll be doing tour dates in May as well. We’re pushing the second single to the radio so that is the one that will be coming out.

 

 

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY SINGER TIM DAVID KELLY