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The Arcadian Kicks - Stourbridge Rock Cafe
Tuesday 25th September 2007
While the West Midlands music scene is finally getting its dues in the national press thanks to bands like Editors and The Twang, it's still uncommon to come across a local band who have a sound all of their own as well as the songs to back it up.
Stourbridge fivesome The Arcadian Kicks are one group whose star is most certainly on the ascension, and their hybrid of indie rock and a smattering of funk and soul has packed out the Rock Cafe on a Tuesday night with good reason.
Kicking off with the solid groove of Break Me Down it's instantly apparent that The Arcadian Kicks have some genuinely talented musicians on board, with Beckie Pennington's sax adding some real class to their sound. Tom Holloway's guitar playing is subtle when it needs to be before letting rip in all the right places. And in Tommy Kelly and Harry Grainger there's a reliable backbone that brings the songs to life.
All this great music could, of course, be left standing without the right vocalist. It's here, however, that The Arcadian Kicks have their true star in Becky Wilson who mixes the onstage presence of Emily Haines with a voice that should guarantee record labels will be beating down the band's door very soon. A perfect cover of The Zutons' "Valerie" demonstrates the group's potential but it's their own material that really has the crowd paying attention. Only a slightly misjudged cover of Nina Simone classic "Feeling Good" loses the flow somewhat, but it's a minor criticism and the song gives Beckie P the chance to really shine.
Finishing with the funked up swagger of "Charlie", The Arcadian Kicks send the punters home with a smile on their face. In the "ones to watch" category, this is a band with all the right ingredients to make the leap to the next level.
www.myspace.comthearcadiankicks
Words and photos: Steve Gerrard
Rock Photo
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