Johnny Kills Take It Easy – The Joy of Violent Movement

Back in 2017, I wrote a bit about the Brighton, UK/London, UK-based indie rock trio Johnny Kills. And as you may recall, the act which is comprised of sibilngs Tim (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Lloyd Kimmings (bass, keys, vocals), and their best friend and Cameron Gipp (guitar, vocals), quickly received attention across the blogosphere and elsewhere for a sound that draws from surf rock, garage rock and Brit pop with the release of two early demos “Take It Easy” and “Maybe Next Year,” and the release of official singles “Let’s Talk About Me,” “My Shirt Guy Is High” and “End Game” with drummer Fin S. Woolfson.

Now while it’s been a while since I’ve personally written about them, the band has been rather busy working on their forthcoming debut EP, slated or a Fall release through Killing Moon Records. The EP’s first official single is the off-kilter and anthemic “I Feel Like.” Centered around fuzzy and distorted, angular guitar lines, stomping drumming and propulsive, post punk-like bass line and a rousingly anthemic hook, the Blur-like track captures the panic and unease of early adulthood, with the recognition that growing responsibilities and obligations and an uneasy reality are just around the corner. And in some way, the song possesses a deeply cynical, fucked up air. In fact, as a result, the song may arguably be the darkest and most cynical of the up-and-coming British act’s growing catalog. “‘I Feel Like’ is a about a cynic begrudgingly accepting the fact that love is probably a pretty important part of life,” the band’s Tim Kimmings explains in press notes.

Comprised of siblings Tim (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Lloyd-Kinnings (bass, keys, vocals) and their best friend and spiritual brother, Cameron Gipp (guitar, vocals), the Brighton, UK/London, UK/York, UK-based indie rock trio Johnny Kills specialize in a furious, surf rock, garage rock and Brit Pop-inspired indie rock. And with the release of two demos — “Take It Easy” and “Maybe Next Year,” the trio quickly received attention across the blogosphere and elsewhere; in fact, as a result, the trio along with North London-based Fin S. Woolfson (drums), the band recored their latest single “Let’s Talk About Me,” a single which will further develop the young upstarts reputation for crafting songs about being in your early to mid 20s and being absolutely clueless and anxious — about anything and everything. And although it’s been almost two decades since I was in my early 20s, the band’s sound reminds me quite a bit of Blur and others, as it consists of explosive power chords paired with propulsive drumming, and an anthemic, shout worthy hook reminiscent of Blur‘s “Song 2.”

As the band’s Tim Lloyd-Kinnings explains “‘Let’s Talk About Me’ is about the frustrations of hanging out with people, who spend the whole evening talking about themselves, before realizing you kinda just want to talk about yourself too.” As a result, the song’s narrator recognizes that he’s had enough and wants to put his foot down; but he also seems to reveal a stunning lack of awareness of the fact that his friends are selfish, hateful pricks. But regardless of how far some of us are removed from our 20s, the song captures a sentiment that should be familiar, especially if at any point you may have been desperate for some kind of friendship/companionship.

Tag: Johnny Kills Take It Easy

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