Jack and the Kids

There must be something in the air down in Bendigo as they’ve put out yet another stellar band. We had a chat to Jack Kennedy from Jack and the Kids about why bigger is better, breaking tendons and what it’s like musically growing up in regional Victoria.
Hey Jack, thanks for chatting to Forte, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?
Hey! Thanks for having me, I have just finished work for the day which is always great!
So you officially launched the EP, congratulations! How are you feeling about the release?
There are a lot of different feelings, but I must say we are very excited about it. I am sure there will be that sense of feeling that we are finally letting go of something we have worked hard on for a number of months now.
How long was this one in the works for?
We started laying demo’s down in my makeshift bedroom studio about 18 months ago for the record. However, some of the songs such as ‘Where Did You Go’ were first written about four years ago.
It’ll also be premiering on Tone Deaf, that must feel pretty unreal?
We are really excited about the premiere and we can’t thank Tone Deaf enough for premiering the EP for us!
Growing up in Bendigo, have you found it’s been a great environment for your music to flourish?
Growing up I used to go and watch some of the local gigs in town that were ran by the local council or Freeza. There was a period when I was about 16 where I really liked the emo-punk music and that sort of music was really big at the time. The local scene at the minute is very vibrant and with events like the Blues & Roots festival, and when the odd touring band stopping over at Starbar or The Black Swan it gives the locals a chance to play with some great bands.
Do you think there is a difference at all between what the regional and city bands are producing?
I think there is a difference. There are obviously a lot more studios and producers in the city compared to Bendigo, so I guess naturally that has to have an impact. But don’t get me wrong, there are some great artists making and producing their own music that are based in Bendigo. This years GTM winners Fountaineer have not long released their debut single and it’s an amazing track. We went to the city to record the EP, that was mainly due to I knew some people who had recorded at Salt Studios(where the EP as recorded) and their stuff came up really well.
You actually performed quite a bit as a solo musician, what made you decide to enter the band world?
I started off playing some solo gigs, which was really good fun, however, I had a sound in my head that I wanted to produce and needed to get a band together to be able to do it. Two of the other boys in the band, we played in a cover band together about four years ago so it was also about wanting to make and perform originally music with them.
And you managed to snap a tendon in your finger, how’d that happen?
I did it playing football, was very nasty.
But it’s all good now I’m guessing! I’ve heard that you’ve added in a lot more synth to your live shows of late. Did the Kite String Tangle or Snakadaktal impart any wisdom onto you all?
Both of those artists are definitely some of my modern day influences, so I guess you could say have put some wisdom into the song writing. Especially TKST, what that man does is amazing! Adding more synth and keys into the show was probably about making the music more atmospheric.
Thanks again for chatting with us, is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thanks for having me Forte. I would just like to say thanks to anyone who has listened to us or come to a show. It would be great to see you at our EP launch shows in Bendigo and Melbourne!
When & Where: Musicman, Bendigo – May 7 & Shadow Electric, Abbotsford – May 8