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Checking in with an interview featuring LA based rock outfit Vista Kicks. Originally based in Sacramento, these Cali rockers have made a habit of delivering booty shaking rock n' roll with a strong emphasis being put on melody and giving the audience exactly what they came for. These guys may not be on your musical radar just yet, but they will be soon and have left a bevy of musical carnage in their wake that will take some time to fully comprehend. The guys were rad enough to take some time of their schedule to talk about the band's beginnings, their creative process, the energy of their live shows, and where they see themselves moving forward. Here is the transcript from our chat:
Give us your names and roles in the band?
We have four members, the names and roles are as follows:
Sam Plecker: Guitar, Voice
Nolan Le Vine: Drums
Trevor Sutton: Bass
Derek Thomas: Voice
Take us behind the formation of the group and how you all met?
We met back in elementary school, growing up in the same town, we all desired to travel out and have a career in music. In our hometown of Roseville, CA, people didn't really know us for the booty-shakin' rock n' roll we play now. Everyone knew us then, for jazz and soul covers. Our high school job was performing Franks Sinatra's hits in backyards, and weddings.
In 2016 we started Vista Kicks. We got that name hanging around Hollywood for two years living together in a one-bedroom, making close to nothing, after rent, and the only way we could get our "kicks", was to go somewhere high up, or free, or both. I.E. Vista Kicks
How would you characterize your musical style for those who aren't familiar with you?
Booty-Shakin' Rock N' Roll
What's it like to be involved in the Cali music scene and how have you seen it grow and flourish over the years since when you started?
It's nothing like the movies. Scenes have never existed for us, or if they did, we didn't realize it at the time. Lately, we've been making our own scene. A scene that unites people who wanna go out and sing the words to their favorite songs and not give a shit who's watching them, while they dance at our shows. The culture at our shows is fun culture, and our people bring that vibe when they come because they expect it. We even have "Kickbacks" where we invite friends over to our studio in LA, have a full on rock show, party, then everyone dances to old funk records till 4am. Nowadays us young folk are so uptight you'd think we were our parents.
How does this creative process usually flow for you guys and what do you each bring to the table?
It's a case by case basis. We all bring the ruckus. The composition is typically brought into a rehearsal, in pieces or roughly sewn together and the band then hammers out the arrangement. In a song's fruition it may go through many a metamorphosis before taking it's final shape. Sometimes it feels like making a sword, without A/C in the summertime, pounding the red-hot chunk of something into shape, folding it upon itself, over and over again, you know it's good, but you don't really know what it is, yet. Sooner or later you either have a song or a nightmare.
Go behind the recording of your 'Chasing Waves" LP and what it was like to put it all together?
That was nice, we recorded it in Sacramento with an engineer named Sean Stack, all of our parents catered our food while recording so we each had dishes that we grew up on, made by our parents, and served to us in the studio. It took about 2 1/2 weeks recording and tracking everyday until we had something to release (after mixing of course).
How fun and energetic are your live shows?
We try to make every show, not only intense and entertaining, but dynamic and truly relaxing, you can forget yourself, if only for an instant.
What is the secret for maintaining such long and luxurious hair?
No secret. But hear this, Boston... AMERICA. Grow you hair out at least ONCE in your life, while you can, or before you die; you may regret not doing so.
In your spare time, what do you guys like to do for fun in your spare time when not making music?
Derek likes to garden, Sam likes to skateboard, Nolan likes fishing, and Trevor likes painting.
What's coming up next for you guys this year, any new music you're working on and any show dates coming to Boston soon?
We hope to make it out to Boston in the fall.
Booty Shakers Ball is the name of our first full length that’ll be released later this year.
Lastly, what do you want people to get from your music?
We hope it cuts you in your heart and makes you wanna sing, dance, and enjoy the present moment.
Thanks once again to Sam, Nolan, Trevor, and Derek for being so awesome in doing this interview. These guys have an incredibly laid back vibe, and reflect the Californian spirit quite well. As their hair is definitely impeccable to say the least, it should interest you to know that the band have a habit of performing shirtless quite often so if you crave exposed flesh and hot, sweaty men jumping around, that should give you ample reason to check out the band in person if that floats your boat! For more on Vista Kicks, please 'Like' them on Facebook from this locale here and check out their music located on a handful of streaming platforms also.