Our good friend Jeff “Jerk-Bot” Vice offered to review a couple of his favorite CDs from one of his favorite geek bands. So, without further ado, take it away Jerk-Bot:
KIRBY KRACKLE:
WHO THEY ARE:
— Jim Demonakos; Words and music
— Kyle Stevens: Words and music; vocals, guitar and bass
RELEASES:
— Self-titled debut, 2009, Kirby Krackle Music
— “E For Everyone,” 2010, Kirby Krackle Music
What you need to know about Kirby Krackle is this: You’re not likely to meet a nicer pair of guys working in either the comics or the music industry. When I met the duo at Comic-Con 2009, they practically forced a copy of their self-titled CD into my hands. They then also insisted on autographing it, as well as offering to get me (and guests) into a show they were performing that night. Mind you, that was after I had mentioned my various media outlets, but their nice-guy “routine” did not seem to be an act. Trust me on that.
What you also need to know: They’re huge dorks. Seattle-based musician Kyle Stevens loves his comics, video game, cartoons, films, sci-fi, what have you. So when he and longtime friend Jim Demonakos joined forces, musically, the results had to reflect their nerdy influences.
For example, the band’s name refers to visual “effects” in the artwork of beloved illustrator Jack “The King” Kirby. The song “Back to the Beginning” is told from the perspective of a player in the “Super Mario Karts” game. “One of the Guys” looks at what it’s like to be one Benjamin J. Grimm (aka The Thing, from Marvel Comics’ “Fantastic Four”). “Zombie Apocalypse” describes a “Shaun of the Dead”-like future. And “Dusty Cartridges & Long Boxes” is an all-too-familiar story for any nerds that have struggled with their relationships.
Not surprisingly, in only a couple of years Kirby Krackle has already exploded onto the comics and music scene. Performances at Comic-Con, as well as the Emerald City ComiCon, the annual event Demonakos founded and runs, were very well-received. (A few of these performances saw the duo accompanied by Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada. But don’t hold that against them, DC Comics fans!)
Adding to the coolness factor, both of Kirby Krackle’s CD releases — the 2009, self-titled debut, and 2010’s “E For Everyone” — feature cover and other artwork by comics creator Jim Mahfood. (T-shirt designs featuring the Mahfood designs regularly sell out at the Kirby Krackle merchandise site.)
Still, all the comics and entertainment industry connections can only carry you so far in your career. Luckily for Kirby Krackle, their
music delivers the goods in full. Both CDs are loaded with hook-filled pop/rock creations. My personal favorites are “Back to the Beginning,” “Marvelous Girls,” “Henchman,” “Great Lakes Avengers” and “On and On.” “>The latter, told from the perspective of Marvel Comics character Wolverine, inspired a well-made fan film that’s currently available on YouTube.
There’s also a fan-run campaign to get the Kirby Krackle tune “Ring Capacity” onto the soundtrack for the upcoming “Green Lantern” feature film. (The song is also available for download on the Rock Band Network, meaning fans can jam out to it on that popular game.)
But don’t take it from me. You can check out clips and full-length songs from both CDs on the Website and the myspace page. And a music video for “Zombie Apocalypse” features animation from “Deathklok: Metalocalypse” artists Damon O’Keefe and Daisy Church.
— Jeff “Jerk-bot” Vice
— www.kirbykracklemusic.com
— www.kylestevensmusic.com
— www.facebook.com/kirbykracklemusic
— www.myspace.com/kirbykracklemusic