Give the women what they want. Kiss Kiss Bang smiled and breathed life to a new edge Rock sound with fun-loving tones mixed with powerful, heartbreaking ballads. With 70% of their Facebook fan base being women, they live up to their name. Kiss Kiss Bang, an up and coming Alternative Rock band from Bowling Green Kentucky are performing on stages in Kentucky and Tennessee opening for bands like Black Stone Cherry, Tremonti, Non Point and Drowning Pool.
Kiss Kiss Bang members
Trevor Smith- Lead Vocals/Guitar
Andrew Hopper- Bass/Vocals
Corban Burke- Drums/Vocals
Malcolm Booher- Guitar
I knew there was something special about lead vocalist Trevor Smith when I first saw him on stage at the age of 17 with his first Rock band, 449 opening up for Tremonti in Nashville, Tennessee. His voice was this soulful rage much like that of Layne Staley of Alice In Chains. Although Trevor is really pleased with his learning experience with 449, he compares that time in his life as building blocks to bring him to where he is today with Kiss Kiss Bang. “It taught me the things I need to know now,” Trevor Smith says. Trevor reflects on when he first picked up a guitar at the age of 5 or 6. “I remember it had one string on it, and I was learning I Wear My Sunglasses At Night,” Trevor smiles at the memory. When Trevor was around 13, he saw Slash on TV. Trevor was rather excited as he thought this “dude was the coolest thing” he’d ever seen. He knew that’s what he wanted to do at that point. “All I wanted to do was play guitar!” as he remembers he never really had plans to sing. He now is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Kiss Kiss Bang.
Kiss Kiss Bang is a blast on stage. They are a straight laced “live band” unlike some bands that rely on pre-recorded sounds. Andrew Hopper on bass sings back up, “and makes me sound better than I actually do,” Trevor says. Corban Burke on drums is an animal. Trevor says Malcolm Booher (former guitarist for 449) is the “only Rock Star in the band because he lives and breathes it.” and adds, “He does his thing, and his thing is what we need!” according to Trevor Smith.
When asked who inspires them of all bands they’ve opened up for, Black Stone Cherry is their favorite because “those dudes” have the fundamentals and the ground foundation as one of the most talented Rock bands without any backing tracks. “I’ve always looked up to those dudes. They’ve always helped us out. They have taught us a lot about songwriting,” Trevor praises.
Trevor Smith was playing acoustic guitar at Dublin’s in Bowling Green when he met bassist, Andrew Hopper who was playing with a band that night. Trevor says Bowling Green is one of those towns where everyone is trying to be so different that everyone starts sounding the same. That is why he was really excited when he heard a unique voice when it comes to Andrew. “I found someone who can actually sing,” Trevor adds. Trevor and Andrew later worked together as forklift drivers in Bowling Green. They hung out all the time and started singing together. Then, the next thing they were on the front lines singing every song together. They now practice in a one bedroom shack in Bowling Green way back in the woods. There’s loud amps, big, huge John Bonham style drums, and just vocals with Andrew and Trevor writing songs.
“The bass player moves the heaven and Earth, Hell, too. Tsunamis and F5s, bouncing off the ricketier scale.” – Andrew Hopper
The song that means the most to me is War Inside Of Me because it is the most thought provoking, deeply driven song that riddles matters of a heart wrenching war inside. This particular song is the first song Kiss Kiss Bang has written. Lead vocalist Trevor Smith says,”It’s just about how we deal with things no matter what our problems may be. A buddy of mind that lives in Iraq loves the song. He looks at it different than I do.
To us, it’s about the war inside yourself, a struggle, the battle of a broken soul.” Fan Mindy Moore has a tattoo that reflects words of this song that says “The Battle of a broken soul. Chains that won’t let me go.” The struggles of every day life can build up to a point where a person can be constantly at war with themselves. Trevor says the songs is open for interpretation. They wrote the lyrics based on the taint of war, but made it metaphorical enough as far as what you’re dealing with in your life as opposed to actually going to war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXXAVU0dLpU
War Inside of Me by Kiss Kiss Bang
Trevor says his favorite song is This Is How I Feel, but adds he’s also very taken by a new song they’ve written called When You’re Gone. This Is How I Feel is a really edgy, Rock ballad that shows the strength of their character, jumping around on stage and feeling the sound in their soul. When You’re Gone has a very unique message about heartbreak, remembering what you have, but finding it hard to let go. It’s like turning the lights on and everything you have is gone, and all that is left is a letter on the bedroom floor from the one you loved.
“It’s hard to keep fighting when what’s worth fight for is gone”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdZPoiiJ3Dw
When You’re Gone by Kiss Kiss Bang
When You’re Gone and This Life are new songs they recorded with Jordan Henson (formerly of 449).
There are five songs total on Kiss Kiss Bang’s EP. The titles are The War Inside of Me, Drive, Fire, This Life and When You’re Gone. The song, This Life, is also a brand new song that Trevor says is heavy, edgy and melodic. Fire, which is one of the first songs they wrote, is about walking into the fire after long, heavy tones of a relationship that leads to agony, smoldering ashes that was once a fire turns to heartbreak.
254 Productions recently shot a music video of Kiss Kiss Bang’s song “Drive” on the top of a parking garage in Bowling Green. “They captured what we wanted in the video for the song. Whether you’re at the highest point or lowest point in your life, just get in your car and drive,” Trevor commented. Bassist Andrew Hopper adds, “Even though the song is about driving, the video wasn’t. The video was just kind of a jam session to show who we are as people, who we are as musicians, and 254 Productions definitely captured it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60yD9_UdWyQ
Drive music video by Kiss Kiss Bang
Trevor Smith and Andrew Hopper on their music video “Drive”
So, to give the women what they want, Kiss Kiss Bang dedicated a song just for “the baby dolls” aka “the ladies” with Supa Fine Sugahh. Trevor says that song has many spellings, but however says the song has two h’s in the interview. “Supa Fine Sugahh is pretty straight to the point. There’s no metaphorical meaning behind that. That song is just about the ladies having a good time,” Trevor adds. At a recent show at Daisy Duke’s in Nashville, I was able to capture a live performance with my camera. Bringing it straight to you, some Supa Fine Sugahh from Kiss Kiss Bang. It’s about giving the women what they want. Without further adieu, this is a gift for you…
Supa Fine Sugahh by Kiss Kiss Bang
