Mississippi-based grunge- and shoegaze-influenced volume dreamboats Kicking release the European version of Goodbye Party with two additional unreleased tracks (“Cheeks” and “Slower”). Pre-order it here. Candlepin Records released the U.S. version of Goodbye Party EP on January 21, 2022.

It can be streamed here.

Kicking was started by guitarist David Burns and vocalist Bobbie Flanders in the winter of 2016 with the lineup being completed by bassist Lacy Ellinwood and co-guitarist Sarah Grace Shepherd in early 2017, and finally with the addition of current drummer Lexie Gay over the summer of 2020.

It wouldn’t be difficult to categorize kicking with over-used, hip but otherwise irrelevant genre buzzwords, but that would be doing a disservice to the sound. Kicking draws influence from ’90s alt rock and grunge giants to the more subdued elements of shoegaze and post punk, with traces of hardcore and riot grrl still showing proudly through-all while trying to create music that is authentic to the individual members.

Although Kicking has now been a group for the better part of a decade, they continue to push themselves as songwriters and in the sounds and tones they craft, while striving to never be self-referential. What sets them apart are the heartfelt lyrics of Bobbie Flanders, never washed out or hidden, juxtaposed against the effects driven heavy guitar rock of the rest of the band.

Flanders says “Cheeks” was written about a late diagnosis that came as the result of a psych evaluation. “[It is] is an inner dialogue about the relief that’s brought, and how sticking around is starting to feel like the better option.”

Guitarist JD Burns adds, “In some ways “Cheeks” and “Slower” are some of the most technically simple and hook-laden songs I’ve ever written, with the intentions of creating a perfectly catchy, post-punk song that still retained the doomy and dark tones we’re known for. One of my goals with these songs was to stay out of my own way-whether that was not over complicating the playing or using tones that would make the songs too dense- I didn’t want to be continuously second guessing myself.

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Photo by Melisa Burns