There’s something about Those Damn Kookies live. With a name like that, you come to expect a certain level of off-the-wall creativity from the Montreal-based band. Perhaps it’s lead singer Gypsy’s distinctive lyrics and chemistry with bassist Doum and drummer Gee. Or maybe what makes the show stand out is VJ Annick’s use of visual imagery, broadcast on giant projectors.
Gypsy, Doum, Gee and Annick have been playing together for half a decade but Those Damn Kookies in its present form has only been around for two years. In that short time, the band has managed not only to sign with label Big Fat Truck, and play in several venues in Quebec City, Montreal, New York, and Toronto’s North by Northeast music festival, but also produce a first album.
“We’re a rock band, but highly influenced by the punk and grunge scene,” says Gypsy, hesitating to compare himself too much to any other band, or give their music a specific label.
Their first album Traffic Noise, available on iTunes since March 2009, is slated to be released in France on November 9th. The CD features tracks mostly written by Gypsy, who admits to using his personal experiences as inspiration for lyrics. The tracks are a melting pot of personal stories, but at the same time it’s hard not to relate to songs like “Bathroom Window”, a modern twisted Romeo and Juliet story. “I want everyone to be able to recognize themselves in the lyrics, in the music,” says Gypsy.
Those Damn Kookies are particularly good live – and they’ve got an explanation for it. “The reason … is that we’ve done a lot of gigs, about 70 of them,” says Gypsy. “It’s really hard in Montreal; there are a lot of good bands, and you have to fight really hard to make your place.”
It might be hard for Montreal bands to carve a market for themselves, but Those Damn Kookies have something other acts don’t. After all, not every other group has a penchant for gory videos with a lot of fake blood. Not only can you find that gore in their video clips, but also in the images Annick controls and broadcasts during gigs.
“Something was missing in our presentation,” she says about the origins of showing short movie clips onstage. The idea of using visual imagery to enhance live performances caters to the band’s need to not only play but show their music. The images manage to fit in nicely with the auditory experience of songs like “Outer Space”, and “Holiday”.
After experiencing Those Damn Kookies live, you might understand what Gypsy means when he says: “We really put our guts into it.”
You can find Those Damn Kookies online or by visiting their MySpace page and checking out some of their tracks Check them out live on November 6 at Les 3 Minots, 3812 St-Laurent.
