Listen Up Kid

Kingston, ON-based alt-rock outfit Listen Up Kid are gearing up to unleash their latest EP Minutiae later this month, but before the new release lands, the band have unveiled a video for album cut "Affinity."

The clip, directed by local creative company the Factory, follows a male and female protagonist who — unbeknownst to each other — are living out identical lives. As they go through time mirroring each other, the pair become increasingly aware of each other's presence. The clip tracks them as they discover their oddly intimate connection, interspersed with performance footage of the band for some added action.

Exclaim! has the exclusive premiere of the clip for "Affinity," and you can check it out right now in the player below before Minutiae officially arrives on February 19. - Exclaim.ca

"they draw influences from early 2000s American bands like Jimmy Eat World, Brand New and the Used. Their upcoming debut release was recorded with producer Terry Benn, who guided the group through the process of putting a modern spin on the genres that inspired them.

Incorporating elements of emo-tinged pop punk, the band deliver heavy-hitting instrumentation that's buoyed by melodic, expressive vocals that more than once teeter towards screaming." - Exclaim.ca/Sarah Murphy

December 8 2015 Kingston's K-rock 105.7 featured "Make Up" on "Indie Night In Canada" - Listen Up Kid

Oshawa's 94.9 The Rock broadcasts "Make Up" across the GTA - 98.9 The Rock

https://www.facebook.com/Dcdisaster/videos/10153656498412403/?theater - 98.9 The Drive

“Radio friendly but noisy,” are the first words that come to mind when describing the sound of Kingston-native five piece band Listen Up Kid.

Drawing influences from bands such as The Beatles, The Used, and heavy California-based rock band Thrice, Listen Up Kid includes a wide variety of sounds and styles in their music.

This is especially evident in their latest album, The Process Of Progress and The Possible Side Effects.

“It’s very harmonic, melodic, lots of harmonies going on, catchy choruses, fairly atmospheric and ambient. We’re all pretty influenced by the same stuff,” said Dennis Clark, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist.

Clark has been with Listen Up Kid since its conception.

“I came up with the name two years ago. It came out of an acoustic side-project band that I was half-heartedly in,” Clark said.

“Now that I got all of these guys together, who are my friends from different walks of life, we’re working on stuff that we’re all equally really proud of.” The members of Listen Up Kid include Clark, who’s the lead singer and guitarist, Jeremy Head on bass, Eric Lavigueur on vocals and guitar, Charlie Thomas on vocals and lead guitar and Justin Andre as drummer and vocalist.

When it comes to playing shows in Kingston, Listen Up Kid is familiar with the crowd and has had much success in the Kingston music scene. This being said, they don’t take just any gig they can get their hands on anymore.

“We formed in Toronto and we like to keep our business as out of town as we can. We try and limit Kingston to opening for good touring acts if we can. We have the advantage of opening for good bands,” Clark said.

“We opened for Aaron Carter, which was a sold-out show.” Besides opening for Aaron Carter, Listen Up Kid also placed first in Kingston and third in Ontario for Landmark Event’s Showcase Festival — a battle of the bands type event — in July of this year.

According to Clark, playing shows remotely and experiencing the Toronto music scene has been a great learning experience, but nothing beats his hometown of Kingston.

“I’m really glad I moved back to Kingston two years ago and Toronto I found was very ‘everyone’s out for themselves’ — understandably so, everybody goes there to make it — but in Kingston everyone is a lot more laidback and we’ve got a good team right now,” Clark said. - Queen's Journal

" Dennis Clark performed a set that consisted of himself, guitar, keyboard, tambourine, harmonica and a set of pedals for looping to create his own layers. All I have to say is Fantastic, can't wait to see him play again. And his album, smooth and enticing, get it!" - Scourse Photography