Biography
Blending power pop tunefulness with garage rock edge and a measure of punk drive, More Kicks are a British rock & roll trio whose performances convey both buoyancy and tension. The three-piece lineup delivers a direct instrumental punch while elevating its sound through layered vocal harmonies and the plainspoken yet incisive songwriting of James Sullivan, whose lyrics address romantic entanglements and ordinary hardships with conviction. The band first attracted attention via its energetic concerts, documented faithfully on the self-titled debut LP issued in 2019, then revealed increased refinement in composition and production on the 2022 follow-up Punch Drunk.
More Kicks originated in 2017 when lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter James Sullivan—occasionally credited as Sulli—assembled the group. Sullivan’s earlier path began in his teenage years as a member of Ripchord, the band that formed in 2004, claimed victory in a prominent BBC talent contest, secured a contract with the Sony-affiliated 1965 Records imprint, and disbanded in 2008. Shifting toward independent endeavors, Sullivan joined the Berlin-based punk outfit Suspect Parts in 2009, a unit fronted by American musician Justin Maurer of the Clorox Girls. Drummer Kris Hood, impressed by Sullivan’s contributions to Suspect Parts, proposed forming a fresh project; Sullivan consented, bassist Marco Busato was enlisted, and the new trio adopted the name More Kicks.
Their initial 2018 single appeared as a three-track 7" containing “It’s a Drag,” “Young Enough,” and “What a Mess You Make.” A second three-song 7" followed in 2019 with “I’m on the Brink” backed by “He’s Gonna Let Her Down” and “Can’t Fake What You Got.” That release previewed the debut album More Kicks, captured live to analog tape in an East London studio over fewer than four days of recording and mixing. The LP resonated with power pop and retro-rock listeners, yet shortly afterward Marco Busato departed and Paolo Mantovani assumed bass duties. The COVID-19 pandemic halted nearly all live activity in 2020, delaying the band’s return to touring until a European run in 2021. Work on the second album concluded in 2022; again tracked live in the studio, it incorporated slightly more overdubbing than its predecessor. Lead single “Animal” coupled with “The Wind Up” and “10 Miles High” marked the group’s first American release, issued by Dirtnap Records in August 2022. Concurrently, More Kicks undertook a brief U.S. visit featuring several Midwest dates. Punch Drunk arrived the following month, released stateside by Dirtnap and in Europe and the United Kingdom by Stardumb Records.
More Kicks originated in 2017 when lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter James Sullivan—occasionally credited as Sulli—assembled the group. Sullivan’s earlier path began in his teenage years as a member of Ripchord, the band that formed in 2004, claimed victory in a prominent BBC talent contest, secured a contract with the Sony-affiliated 1965 Records imprint, and disbanded in 2008. Shifting toward independent endeavors, Sullivan joined the Berlin-based punk outfit Suspect Parts in 2009, a unit fronted by American musician Justin Maurer of the Clorox Girls. Drummer Kris Hood, impressed by Sullivan’s contributions to Suspect Parts, proposed forming a fresh project; Sullivan consented, bassist Marco Busato was enlisted, and the new trio adopted the name More Kicks.
Their initial 2018 single appeared as a three-track 7" containing “It’s a Drag,” “Young Enough,” and “What a Mess You Make.” A second three-song 7" followed in 2019 with “I’m on the Brink” backed by “He’s Gonna Let Her Down” and “Can’t Fake What You Got.” That release previewed the debut album More Kicks, captured live to analog tape in an East London studio over fewer than four days of recording and mixing. The LP resonated with power pop and retro-rock listeners, yet shortly afterward Marco Busato departed and Paolo Mantovani assumed bass duties. The COVID-19 pandemic halted nearly all live activity in 2020, delaying the band’s return to touring until a European run in 2021. Work on the second album concluded in 2022; again tracked live in the studio, it incorporated slightly more overdubbing than its predecessor. Lead single “Animal” coupled with “The Wind Up” and “10 Miles High” marked the group’s first American release, issued by Dirtnap Records in August 2022. Concurrently, More Kicks undertook a brief U.S. visit featuring several Midwest dates. Punch Drunk arrived the following month, released stateside by Dirtnap and in Europe and the United Kingdom by Stardumb Records.
Albums
