An Interview With Rock-Alt Group, KICKING HAROLD!

Kicking Harold have been making solid alternative-rock tunes since the mid 90’s. They are known for their successful songs, “Kill You” and “Down on You”.

This summer, they are busy touring all over the US so there are plenty of opportunities to catch them live!

Enjoy this exclusive interview with Kicking Harold’s lead singer and guitarist, Tim David Kelly:

Tell me about making the video for “Kill You”. It looks like it was pretty fun to shoot!

Yes, it was lot of fun! We worked with our friends at Big Machine Design and they did an amazing job. The whole thing was filmed on location in Los Angeles, CA and Big Machine took it from there. They created all the cool effects. The idea was to do a classic story-style video, but with very current Vine-style smash cut effects. I love the way it came out.

Where does your band name come from?

I have told this story about ten thousand times now and I really wish I had picked another band name with a cooler story, but Kicking Harold came from the photographer at our first shoot saying, “Kick Harold out of the frame.” His black lab was named Harold…and we never really kicked him.

How do you think your sound has grown through the years? How have all your skills grown over the years?

Kicking Harold’s sound has progressed with the times, but still retains the original rock/grunge elements as well. Hopefully with time all skills sharpen. I have personally grown from just being an artist to producing as well.

On your latest album, “Red Light District”, you cover INXS’s “Need You Tonight”. Why did you choose to cover that particular song? What are some other songs you guys enjoy covering?

I picked “Need You Tonight,” because it was the perfect song for the CD and I love INXS. Their clean guitar riffs always sounded heavier to me and it seemed like a great choice. Some other covers we have done are “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band, “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf, and many others live. We did a fun “Working Man” by Rush at one point, too.

Can you describe your songwriting process? Do you share the responsibility?

The process varies, but normally I come up with little one minute ideas and keep them all until it is time to record. I then go through them and work on the ideas I like best. On this album, I wrote all the songs except the cover, but in the past I have collaborated with the other band members as well. Both ways have their good and bad points.

Can you remember the moment you all decided to start this group? Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else?

Yes. This band was started for fun after trying for years to get a record deal in another band. As soon as I started doing things for myself and stopped trying to get signed, we got a deal at our first show. There is good lesson there. As for doing other things, I am a music producer as well so that is what I like to do when not in band mode.

Who are some of your all-time favorite rock inspirations?

Way too many to list but Rush, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Van Halen, Stone Temple Pilots were some of the big ones for me.

Since this is a radio-based publication, what do you think of rock radio today? What stations have really supported you through the years?

There are lots more customizable music options now, but I still love the random old school factor of terrestrial radio. A few stations off the top of my head that have been very good to Kicking Harold are WAAF in Boston, KUPD in Phoenix and KOMP in Las Vegas. We love those stations and all the others that have played us over the years. Huff at KOMP is great guy and a friend of the band. We broke out of Las Vegas, so that town is one of my favorites to play.

What have been some of your favorite shows/tours? Favorite venues?

Kicking Harold is happy on any stage. We have played for 10 people and we have played for 10,000. It is always fun.

Any crazy fan stories?

Our fans are pretty cool, so there is nothing that stands out as crazy right now. I have been lucky that way. No stalkers or creepers. Just super nice, down to earth people that love the music.

Do any of you have any very non-rock habits or tastes?

Everything we do every minute of the day and night is pure rock!! Haha (Unless I am watching “Gilmore Girls.”  But hey, Sebastian Bach is on that show, so even that qualifies as rock!)

Anything else you would like new or old fans to know about your music or the band in general?

I would like to thank them, because without fans you are done. The new album is something that I think the fans of “Kill You” and “Gasoline” will dig as well as people into new dancier bands like Young The Giant, who I love by the way. I am very proud of “Red Light District.”