GeekOut: How did Kirby Krackle get its start? How did you and Jim come up with the idea of putting a band like this together?
Kyle: Jim and I had been friends for a few years and I had recently, a few years before, just gotten back into comics after a few years break. His store, The Comic Stop, was brand new and he was eager to get sales going so I was a perfect candidate! Every week we would talk comics and then he moved to San Francisco to work for IMAGE comics for a while. We lost touch for a bit, but then he returned and we started talking about a comic book band and what that would mean. We were astounded that no one had done it yet and so after a few months a research to make sure we weren't copying anyone, KIRBY KRACKLE was born!
G: What's the process of coming up with a song? Those lyrics are just remarkably clever, it'd be interesting to know how you guys come up with them.
K: Oh it's REALLY scientific let me tell you! No really, it just starts with Jim and I in my studio trying to make each other laugh and see what we think will make for cool concepts. Just comic guys talking shop basically which every comic fan can relate too, except we then choose to turn those "Oh what if (fill in the blank) happened?" moments into songs! Every song is written on my acoustic guitar and with Jim opening up a word document and just riffing ideas back and forth. Somehow we've squeezed 3 albums out of that process and think we have a few more in us...
G: I just saw on your site that you guys are going to do Kracklefest 2012. Are there plans of going on a larger tour? I'm still crossing my fingers and hope you guys do Asia.
K: Man, I would LOVE to come to Asia at some point. Can we stay with you? We recently just finished a West Coast tour with fellow nerd musician ADAM WARROCK and it was a blast. In July, we're headed back to Australia for Supanova which we attended last year as well. That said, we definitely want to find a way to have a tour happen in Asia and Europe probably next year. Keeping our fingers crossed!
G: Do either of you have non-geek rock side projects?
K: Jim runs the Emerald City Comic Con as his full time job, and I have been a "non-geek" songwriter for longer than I'm been with KK. I started KK when I was 29 and started performing and making records since I was 13 so you do the math on that! I also am a craft-beer brewer and I'm currently in the works of developing a brewery in Seattle. Lots of fun stuff going on and trying to make it all happen!
G: I first heard of you guys because of Marvel's The Watcher. Are there plans for more of your songs to be soundtracks in any other property? If I recall correctly, there was a movement to get Ring Capacity to play at the end credits of Green Lantern. I... I don't know how I feel about that.
K: Our fans were very awesome to get a grass-roots movement going to get "Ring Capacity" on the Green Lantern soundtrack. And while it didn't work, it turned a lot of people onto KK and that is a great think. We have the best fans who are constantly tweeting about what movie they'd like to see us on for a song, etc. We'd love to appear on a Marvel movie of course for example, but the way the music industry works with those things is very complex. We're an indie-band and as we work to expand our fan base we hope that more and more of those opportunities will come our way.
G: How do you guys feel about CBS' The Big Bang Theory? Would you agree to guest star in it if you were ever asked?
K: We have said for years that if Sheldon had a favorite band, it would be KIRBY KRACKLE. Would we guest star? Hell yes! We'd even Rock Band Battle the gang. Of course, we'd lose cause all musicians suck bad at Rock Band. It's the rule.
G: Out of all your songs, I'd say that Dusty Cartridges and Long Boxes would have to be my favorite (a close second would be Roll Over). How about you guys? Which ones of your songs would you say represent Kirby Krackle the best?
K: Thanks man, we love those two! KK keep evolving style wise as we try to entertain ourselves, and hopefully push the perception of people of what nerd rock can be. "Dusty" is definitely one of our better songs I would say as it encompasses the feeling of what being a nerd in love with another nerd is all about. "Booty Do Math" is one of my favorites because it's just so weird. I really enjoy singing "Needing A Miracle", and "One Of The Guys" which is about the daily struggles of someone like The Thing from Fantastic Four. We feel our songs connect the best with our fans when we feel the real emotions behind a character or comic. That's the stuff you can't fake and we hope to be able to channel that feeling more and more in our music.
G: If you could collaborate with any artist, whether living or otherwise, who would it be?
K: We are in love with The Doubleclicks from Portland. Two sisters singing the most delicate and twisted songs we've heard in a long time and we're so jealous of their talent to be able to do that. They're just fantastic. Of course Pearl Jam which I think people can hear in our tunes because I was raised on their stuff. Neil Finn from Crowed House, too many to name but anyone who has ever been a musical hero of mine would be hard to beat. Last fall I had the opportunity to rock on stage with Mike McCready from Pearl Jam and I lost my mind. Hard to describe that feeling but it was a full circle special moment for me.
G: What was it like to play a show with Joe Q?
K: Joe is a great guy, and not many people know this but also a fantastic guitar player. One of the highlights of KK's career so far was rocking on stage with Joe Quesada at Emerald City Comic Con in 2010 and also at C2E2 in Chicago. We're honored that he liked our songs enough to jam on them with us live and being a long time fan of his art and what he's done with Marvel in general. We're lucky dudes.
G: Are you guys Team Tony or Team Steve? Team X-Men or Team Avengers?
K: Always Team Steve, Always Team X-Men, never Team Edward!
G: Favorite comic book character?
K: As cliche as it sounds, Wolverine forever and ever. Silvestri's Wolverine was the book that made me get into comics hardcore and never look back. Again, formative year stuff that can't be taken away once it's in your blood. One time my mom made me Wolverine foil claws even! Mom rules for that one.
G: Okay, sorry for asking way too many questions. I actually got a few more but I figure I shouldn't overstay my welcome. Your fans from all the way here in the Philippines wish to thank you for making awesome music! It's a small group of people but you've got our support. Thanks!
And there you have it, people! Kyle of Kirby Krackle, an unapologetic Wolverine fan, gave us a good look into what Kirby Krackle is all about. Don't forget to download their stuff off their Bandcamp and tell ALL your friends about their awesome music!