THE KITTYHAWKS: THE DEVIL'S OFFBEAT SINGLE REVIEW
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
If you are a punk music fan and don't like ska punk music I don't trust you; with its unmistakably catchy addition of brass and wind instruments, sing-a-long vocals and punk rock lyricism, what is there to hate? All jokes
aside, if you are like me and get behind ska punk, you are in for a treat as Naarm/Melbourne's The Kittyhawks celebrate the release of their latest single 'The Devil's Off Beat'. It's a misfit family, A lost soul community, Raised up from the ground, With hope for humanity, We don't raise a flag, Or need biased immunity, We're the street team, Screw the mainstream, Born of Anarchy. From the first note The Devil's Offbeat feels like a welcome home house party, surrounded by friends and family; like you are walking into a room where everyone knows your name and greetings are all hugs, cheers and smiles. With its dance-able beat, lyrics that promote a crowd sing-a-long and mischievous undertone I can see this song turning into a joy filled feral pit experience in a live setting. Whoa, Drowning in catastrophe, Whoa, Come right back to me, Whoa, Fight the raging apathy, They say "No light, no hope, Just all fists and fire, Your ink stained skin is fading thin, And its paints your lost desire."
Penned by the drummer, Elliot, to echo his life experience, “The Devil’s Offbeat” is both a celebration of the misfits and a love letter to the underground spaces that give them a home. The track captures the raw excitement of stepping into a sweaty DIY venue and discovering a community that thrives on individual freedom and shared rebellion.
It's the spark in the night, That will not expire, So wear it loud, sing it loud, We're the misfit choir. Musically, The Kittyhawks have written a song that flows together like a leaf on a river. Instruments slip into gaps to fill the pauses in other instruments with practised ease, never feeling
crowded or with awkward silences. The tempo shifts give you moments of pause before you are pulled back into the celebration. Vocally, the combination of feminine rock tonne, rough husky fry style masculine timbres and crowd chanting provides a multi-dimensional listening experience. The Kittyhawks wrote a song to shine a light on the scene, culture and establishments we all hold dear and you can feel the love, passion and gratitude through every note, bar and line of lyrics. Whoa, I set you free, When you're lost and empty and you're on the ground, The doubt is creeping in, Past comes crawling and it pulls you round, Come back to The Devil's Offbeat.
The Kittyhawks are on tour. You can buy your tickets at the link below:
For Fans Of: Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, No Doubt and Mad Caddies
9.5/10
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