Kid Kapichi: “It Feels Good To See [Boris] Not To Get Something He Wants.”

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Hailing from Hastings, UK alt-punk outfit Kid Kapichi have received lots of praise for their recent political singles like ‘This Is New England’ and ‘Party At Number 10’. The band’s upcoming album, ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ (Co-produced with Dom Craik from Nothing But Thieves), is set to push them to new heights this September, showcasing the band’s bigger, punchier, ‘beat punk’ sound, whilst also holding a mirror up to the xenophobic Little England mentality. I sat down with Jack and Ben from the band at 2000 Trees to talk politics, Liam Gallagher, and more.

Hi, I’m Fraser Kerr, and you join me here with Kid Kapichi at 2000 Trees. How are you guys?

Jack: Woo. Very good. It’s our first 2000 trees, it’s a blazing hot summer’s day, and it’s been an amazing show – We had a great time and the people here are lovely!

Ben: Mate, It’s amazing, man. Like we were saying earlier, the crowd’s so sick because it’s like, lots of people are here for our gig, loads of people who are fans already, but so many people open to seeing new music, hearing new bands, you know, it’s incredible.

Jack: Great crowd. Great, great festival.

Saying that you’ve just come off stage. How was that performance?

Jack: It was really nice. It was really nice. We didn’t know what to expect. It’s a show that’s been booked three years ago ’cause of the dreaded C word and we didn’t know what it was gonna be like, you know?

Jack: And we were setting up and there was like a few hundred people and we were like, cool, it’s gonna be a good show. And then we looked away and there’s a few thousand people. I dunno, a couple of thousand people.

Ben: It was sick, man. And it was Bedlam in there, man, mosh pit all sorts and spilling out to the sides, man. It was incredible. Thank you to everyone who came.

Jack: Yeah. Thank you. It was beautiful.

So obvious. Over the three years that you’ve been booked for this festival a lot has happened, both around the world, politically and all that… How good does it feel that Boris Johnson’s finally gone?

Jack: Mate, very good. We’ve had this conversation a lot of times in the last few days, or the last day. Very very good. But like we say, practice cautious optimism because with people on the horizon like Rishi Sunak, who probably couldn’t be more far removed from normal life – One of the richest guys in the UK – you know, I don’t wanna be a downer.

Ben:: But the party’s the party. And until they’re out, you can’t really celebrate until there’s a decent opposition.

Jack: It is a cause for celebration, but cautious celebration. That’s it, man.

Yeah. I mean Priti Patel, Rishi Sunak – as you say, like all of them as bad as each other…

“As bad as each other, but also maybe worse. It’s scary … until there’s a real opposition, it doesn’t feel like there’s a huge amount to celebrate.”

Ben: It feels good to see him not to get something he wants.

Jack: As bad as each other, but also maybe worse. It’s scary, you know, and Me and Ben were saying, until there’s a real opposition, it doesn’t feel like there’s a huge amount to celebrate, but it’s a small celebration. It’s a step in the right direction, but we shall see, we shall see, we shall see.

So how does politics play into your music?

Ben: Wow. Very much so I think, at the end of the day, it is in tough political times that angry music comes out and music that actually has a sentiment that resonates with people comes about. And I feel like, I dunno, like, I mean, ever since we were old enough to vote, it’s been a Conservative government mate. Do you know what I mean?

Jack: Yeah. Yeah. We’ve lost every single vote we’ve ever had Brexit, every general election, So it is kind of easy to feel defeated, but one thing that’s been nice for us. Like, um, as you say, our music’s very politic. And someone was saying to us earlier, like, do you ever get sick of it? You know, do you wanna just put your fingers in your ears and tune it out? And it’s like, yeah, we do but also it’s a responsibility to make sure that, especially if we write something, I like to think that a small amount of people hear that and that’s holding people to account. And when you write a song like ‘Party At Number 10’, it’s making sure they don’t forget it. Make sure they don’t forget it. That’s all I care about. We live in a 24-hour news cycle where something can happen – especially with this government that we’re dealing with right now – and it gets brushed under the carpet. Nobody remembers the next day. So all I wanna do is just make sure that when people listen to our music, they go, oh yeah, that prick did that thing. And that’s what I want to make sure happens basically.

Talking about ‘This is New England’, how was it working with Bob Vylan?

Ben: Mate, It was amazing. Like honestly, we wrote that song together and then it was like you know who’d be amazing on this was Bob Vylan. Like we hit him up, and he come back with that 32 and it was just perfect. And it was like no notes, incredible. It really elevated the tune. And he’s a really clever guy and a really great artist; And as people have seen at this festival and incredible performer.

Jack: He captured exactly what we were trying to get across in that song, you know? And like Ben said, no notes, he sent over his verse and we were just like done. So yeah, it was a very good experience. He’s a true professional. Hats off to him.

You obviously got some praise from the big man himself, Liam Gallagher earlier on in the year. How was that?

Jack: It blew my mind, I mean, we’re all Oasis fans – like everyone in the world is – But I saw Oasis when I was, I think I was 15, I saw them at Wembley and they broke up a week later. Like I was sitting at home and Eddie, our bassist, rang me and was like “Have you seen on Twitter?” I was like, what? And he’s like “Liam, Gallagher’s just messaged or tweeted us!” I was like, no way. And he’s [Liam] like, “That’s a great tune r’kid”.

Ben: We were losing our shit.

Jack: We were losing our minds and then we were like, oh my God, manifest, manifest, manifest the gig. And then the next day we get a phone call from his manager or agent or someone, and we get to do the Royal Albert Hall with him, and I got to meet him, and it was amazing. And he came up and we had a hug, and he was a really fucking nice guy. Like he said, he knew our songs, he was like, “I love ‘New England’. ‘I love ‘Party At Number 10’. He said ‘Party At Number 10’ That’s like a song that Noel would’ve written when he was good. Which is something I’ll never forget.

Ben: If that ain’t a compliment, you know what I mean? It’s nice to like, be at that place as well, man, hitting up the Albert Hall was mad, you know, being in a place steeped in history to be playing with a guy like that is incredible, man.

Jack: Yeah, Liam was great. It was an absolute, real pleasure to meet him. And I hope there’s more on the horizon.

Yeah, I mean, that was a great set at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jack: Were you there?

I was there.

Jack: Oh, thank you, mate. Thank you. We were all a little bit nervous, as you would be. I wore a suit and whenever you wear a suit, something in your brain tells you, you’ve gotta be a bit nervous. It’s either a wedding, or a funeral, or the Royal Albert Hall.

Anyway, that is all the questions that I’ve got for you today. Is there anything else you want to add?

Jack: Just, keep doing what you’re doing and have an amazing time, enjoy the sun…

Ben: Buy the album, ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’.

Jack: ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ Comes out on the 23rd of September. And *calls over Ollie from SNAYXs* Tell them why they should buy the album on the 23rd. This is Ollie from SNAYXs.

Ollie: It’s Shit. No, it’s fucking sick. Buy the album. I’ve got the gold one. Gold vinyl.

Jack: There guys, if Ollie’s got the one. Then you gotta get it.

Ben: Gold medal, baby.

Thank you very much Kid Kapichi! Bye