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"Its just funny how we always get compared to The Manics because we're talking about something political" says drummer Neil Chow. "Its just a shame that the only reference point from the last ten years that people can say is the Manics, because they're one of the few bands who had views and opinions of their own."
Back in September 2000, Kinesis were a group of 16 year old from Bolton, the nearest decent music venue was in Manchester, and the charged nihilistic diatribe of bands such as At The Drive In was sparking a political interest in the minds of Connor Mcgloin (guitar and keys) Michael Bromley (Vocals and guitar), Tom Marshall (bass) and Neil Chow .
Two and a half years later, Kinesis are headlining their own tour, and have spent one week in the past four months in their mind-numbing home town. A lot has changed for the 18 and 19 year olds dubbed as northern England's answer to The
Pixies. Their fusion of sinister thrashing guitar wretchedness and wired upbeat punk has welded a firm fan base to the back of their well traveled tour van, while last single 'Billboard Beauty' was on heavy rotation on MTV2. The music world is literally begging for Kinesis to step forward and claim the success that will rightfully be theirs.While the majority of our generation want to be famous, and while the majority also don't give a fuck what for, the Bolton four piece are the perfect antidote to the problem. Rising against the sales fueled, plastic, toilet humour anarchy of bands like Bowling for Soup and Busted, Kinesis remain the thinking punk's band.
"I think a lot the politics comes from music, like Malcolm X, Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and to certain extent the Manics as well, all those kind of bands, it starts the interest, it kind of ignites that spark," says Tom. "That's what were trying to do, we're trying to ignite the spark in people's minds so that they can do stuff themselves, like I guess we have personally."
So are the politico pop punks trying to change the injustice in the world around them, Zach de la Rocha style?
"Its kind of more of a personal perception of the world and certain situations than a manifesto to specifically do something," says Tom. "We want to get people to ask questions and seek answers for themselves, because as people, that's what we're doing and that's what comes into the music."
While the rest of their friends left Bolton to live the student dream, Kinesis have lived on the road, grasping what normality they can in between their crammed touring schedule. "We hardly ever see any of them, when they're home we're not," explains Neil. "But when we see them they're all pretty chuffed for us."
"None of us have loads of close friends, we have a certain few people who we can just trust and talk to," discloses Tom. "I think that's the best way to keep it, and since we've been traveling so much, the friends who aren't real just gradually just disappear".Though the pop sensibilities of the bands repertoire will lead to understandable adoration from the female fans, the band are keeping their feet firmly grounded. Groupies, though not yet a hindrance, are becoming more apparent. The band, who all have girlfriends, have become skilled at spotting them.
"When there's a girl there asking you questions and stuff, you can just tell by the way that she's asking, she's not really interested in what your talking about," grins Neil.
"Who wouldn't be interested in him eh?" winks Tom. "I am."
"I think with our band, it's like we've got this thing," Tom adds humbly. "I don't know why, I can't explain it, but everything just happens naturally, and just goes… right, well so far it has anyway!"
As the band awaits the release of their next single 'And They Obey..', time will prove whether the band can cross over the biggest hurdle of their careers, from alternative Manic-esque favourites into a full blown mainstream success. My bet remains firmly on the latter.
Photo by Thomas Toti
