by James Andrew | New Rise Music

 

 

*Footage of The Kickback courtesy of Love Drunk.
*Skypiper footage courtesy of the band and shot by by Jesse Hassler and Tony Bonacci.

*"When I Die" courtesy of The Kickback 
*"Even If" courtesy of Skypiper

 

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New Rise Music presents Through The Ceiling, a short film featuring insight into the personalities and music of The Kickback and Skypiper.

 

Skypiper will be playing both Inspiration Children’s Project events on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Vega and on Feb. 26 at The Waiting Room. Inspiration Children’s Project is a brand new organization dedicated to putting instruments into the hands of children who would otherwise not have access to these educational tools.

 

Skypiper is an indie rock band hailing from Omaha and comprises Gabriel Burkum, Graham Burkum, Kyle Christensen, Ryan Menchaca and Conner Giles. Skypiper has been writing, playing and touring together since 2007. In 2008, they independently released their debut full-length album Lay Low and Pretty, recorded at Empty House Studios in Omaha. In the years since their first LP, Skypiper has charged forward: writing music together while touring, and performing on billings with Colour Revolt, Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, John Vanderslice,The Envy Corps, Blind Pilot, Dignan, Sara Watkins (of Nickel Creek), Wild Sweet Orange, Sleeping At Last, The Appleseed Cast and Eisley. In August 2010, Skypiper recorded a live, acoustic (and drumless) EP titled Down In Our Song. All seven songs were recorded in one day, filmed and were made into a short film. In 2011, Skypiper recorded their sophomore eponymous album, which was entirely tracked and mixed in the large wooden sanctuary of a 1950s church-on-a-hill in Omaha with Grammy-winning producer Jason Burkum. Burkum also produced the bands first two albums. 

 

As for Skypiper's 2012 tourmates, familiarizing oneself with The Kickback may seem like an exercise in confronting consistent sets of seemingly opposing ideas. It's a band that prides itself on its love of Muppet Christmas specials and youthful naiveté, but has no problem admitting to a paralyzing fear of death and decline. The group seems to strive for brutal honesty, all-the-while realizing they’re a pop band playing pop music. Even the membership of the fourpiece itself may seem odd: two brothers from South Dakota, two Chicago transplants from Washington D.C. and Mexico.

 

Consisting of brothers Billy Yost (vocals, guitar) and Danny Yost (drums), Eamonn Donnelly (bass) and Jonny Ifergan (guitar), Chicago’s The Kickback is a result of the brothers’ emigration to The Windy City from rural South Dakota in late 2009 and the subsequent Craigslist pleas seeking out band members. The group’s music — with lyrcis exploring 1980s journalists banding together to battle the decline of print journalism through sheer ultra-violence, or in another case the emasculation of trying to protect the woman you love in a city you don’t understand — has earned them wide praise from Rolling Stone, Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis, You Ain’t No Picasso, the Chicago Tribune and many more.

 

New Rise Music is a Nebraska organization started by James Andrew to document both local musical talent and that which tours through Nebraska. More short pieces will be released weekly. Reach James at newrisemusic@gmail.com.