The Key Studio Sessions: HighKick

Philly rock and roll four-piece HighKick had a solid 2014. In June, the guys released Normal View, their latest EP and a big step forward in terms of hooks and production. They toured this summer into the fall, and are wrapping up the year the way they have for the past six years: with the annual HighKixMas variety show at World Cafe Live on December 21st. Though it’s seasonally themed on the one hand – and they do have a double-time version of “Rudolph” with some killer guitar work – the band also has a good assortment of non-holiday jams that we hope fall in the mix as well.

From this week’s Key Studio Session, for example,  there’s the sentimental “Nothing Comes After,” a new song written this fall that addresses life and death and the great unknown. Their anthemic rockers “Mistaken” and “It Could Be Great” nicely straddle the worlds of Phish and Dr. Dog, while “Black Bear Song” is a a goofy honky tonk tune about a roadside encounter with wildlife that doesn’t take itself too seriously. (Also peep their XPN ID in three-part harmony, which I liked so much that it’s included in this set.)

Stream and download HighKick’s entire Key Studio Session here, and get tickets and more information on HighKickMas 2014 at the XPN Concert Calendar.