Introducing #187: The Kecks
German indie rockers The Kecks return with rousing new single ‘Tonight Might Be Different’. They took a minute to talk us through their music.
Hey guys, how are you? So your new single ‘Tonight Might Be Different’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
Guten Morgen! Yes thanks for taking the time to check it out. Yeah we are wonderful thanks, it finally feels like we are towards the end of this global nightmare doesn’t it! We played our first show in a year last week which was such a euphoric feeling and it sold out at our favourite venue Molotow which filled our hearts with pure joy that people haven’t forgotten about us!
The single is derived from a late night conversation between Sam (guitar) and Lennart (vocals) where they were discussing that even when your in a bit of a tailspin, and your life’s descended into a chaotic nightmare (we’ve all been there!) you can still desperately cling to the hope that tonight might be different. (Though ultimately, it’s usually more of the same, but we can dream!)
You are based out of Hamburg, Germany can you tell us your favourite things to do there?
Hamburg is a real musical city with a rich heritage of subculture, music and art stretching back as far as The Beatles residency. So there’s always something to do. Be it a gig, gallery, protest, poety reading, play, piss up or just a hang at the beautiful harbour there’s always something to do. Molotow is the centre of our universe, it’s an awesome venue with loads of history and a magical rider fridge that is never empty ha! Everyone from The White Stripes and beyond have been through the venue on their way up. The crew there are absolutely golden. Just last week I stumbled in by chance and there was an awesome transvestite punk band from Berlin playing called Eat Lipstick. Molotow is a good time guaranteed!
How does playing to audience over in Germany differ to those over here? Are there any stark differences or surprising similarities?
Honestly in Europe as a whole bands are just treated a whole world better than they are in the U.K. I was astonished the first time we hit the road coming from England. Instead of a warm can of larger each and a packet of haribo every venue has awesome home cooked catering, they often have accommodation you can use for free, the rider is usually unlimited and you are always paid fairly and significantly more than we would get for similar shows in the U.K. The venues just generally treat you like you are valued and they actually want you to be there which hasn’t always been the case in the U.K.
That being said, when it comes to audiences the U.K is the home of rock n roll and the audiences are what make the shows, that’s why we will always keep coming back! I’d say in France, Holland and Germany audiences are generally more attentive and really get into it and listen in detail, but for wildness and vibes the U.K Always wins, hands down.
What are your key influences when it comes to your music?
We tend to just write about real lives experiences and how they make us feel, it’s the only way to be authentic really. It’s not always a rosey ride but neither is life. The Growlers are a huge influence on us also, and actually one of the main reasons the band was formed. We actually first met on a bus to Berlin to go and see The Growlers. Few hours of sharing beers, weird playlists and a urinal later and the band was formed. The Growlers - City Club had a big influence on our sound.
Now the track is out there - what next for you?
We are a little bit mind blown to say we will be heading into Clouds Hill Studio with Gordon Raphael, the sonic wizzard producer behind the first two The Strokes albums in October. It’s crazy for us because those albums are two of the main reasons we all got into music in the first place so it’s a real pinch me moment for us all!