Rock Kills Kid
Maxwell's  •  Hoboken, NJ
February 13, 2006

by Therese McKeon

Braving the Northeast winter and the biggest snowfall amounts recorded in New York City history, rock band Rock Kills Kid played Hoboken, New Jersey's hip re-found what's-old-is-new-again club Maxwell's on Monday, February 13th. I was introduced to lead singer Jeff Tucker after their seven song set as openers for She Wants Revenge, a role they've played before. "We're really lucky to call them friends. We're very grateful."

With the rest of band left to loading duties, we ventured out into the bitter Monday night cold. "Wow, I didn't notice that before!" I turned to share in the view of the New York City skyline and the Empire State Building crisply illuminated in red, white, and blue. "Did you have to dig out after the snow this weekend with your show at the Bowery Ballroom?" I asked. "Yes, it took all of us a long time. The van was completely covered. You couldn't even see it anymore."

With the first drag on his borrowed cigarette, the fidgety singer seemed to settle down. As if to excuse and reprimand himself all at once, he added, "I gave up smoking."

Professing "not to be good at this" when it comes to conversing, the self-proclaimed recluse confessed, "It's weird. The more time you spend alone, the harder it is to relate to people and the more time you want to spend alone." For Jeff Tucker, it's just "the way he is" and for this evening I felt somewhat voyeuristic to be able to peek into his solitary world and bask in the calming quality that he emits.

I asked him if it had anything to do with his work ethic or if he found solace in the untainted silence that seclusion affords. His answer was succinct in his usual self-deprecating manner, "It's how I write my music." So as not to categorize the Rock Kills Kid musical style in my own words, I urged him to expand on what influences he has and what music he listens to. "I don't really listen to music and if I do, I only listen to older stuff... Radiohead, Bowie... I guess I do have some Bowie influences in there, huh?" (as if realizing it for the first time).

The Los-Angeles based band's debut Are You Nervous? speaks volumes about the uneasy musician's apprehensions. The title track is an insight into Jeff Tucker's world which shines light on a lonely existence wrought with the growing pains of a single soul looking to connect. Having written all the music before hooking up with the remainder of Rock Kills Kid, the tall, wide-eyed singer explains, "They all want to write new songs because they're eager to put their stamp on it. It's important for them to have input into the music that they're playing so it rings true on stage." For now, they'll have to settle for the emotionally bumpy ride of Are You Nervous?, charged with moving tracks like "Paralyzed" and sprinkled with the genius of this one lonely hermit in "Hide Away" and other gems like "Back To Life".

My time with Rock Kills Kid lead vocalist Jeff Tucker ended with me reminding him not to get a big head, to which he sheepishly nodded and grinned saying, "No problem".

Rock Kills Kid are: Jeff Tucker • Vocals/Guitar | Sean Stopnik • Guitar | Shawn Dailey • Bass | Reed Calhoun • Keyboard/Guitar | Ian Hendrickson • Drums