Talisker Skye

Keith S | June 2, 2012 | 1 Comment

Forget what you think you know about former Tickle Me Pink front man, Sean Kennedy. His loud, keyed-up stage performance has evolved into the calmer, though still boldly honest, front man for his new band, Talisker Skye.

No stranger to picking up the pieces and soldiering on, after TMP amicably parted ways in March 2011, Kennedy (vocals, guitar, piano) revisited songs he wrote while mourning the unexpected loss of his best friend and band mate, Johnny Schou. He joined forces with Give ‘Er Hell’s master-shredder, Buck Dubs (guitar), and the multi-talented Kira Lynn Sands (cello, vocals), and formed Talisker Skye, “a mainstream twist on eclectic indie rock with folk harmonies and old world instrumentation.”

Dubs and Kennedy have been friends for years, and after Kennedy witnessed the bad-ass power pipes showcased by Sands, in “about 20 bands” around Fort Collins, he struck up a conversation with her about playing music together.

Their four-song debut EP, in defens was recorded at the Blasting Room, produced by master, Bill Stevenson, and will be released on June 30, at the Aggie in Fort Collins.

In case you’re wondering, the core band; Kennedy, Dubs, and Sands, are all Scottish, and Talisker is the name of a bay on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland. I emphasize “the core band,” because for their CD-release party, they will be accompanied on stage with a violin, bass, lap steel, mandolin, and drums.

The roots for much of in defens extend back to the loss of Schou. Says Kennedy, “I wrote “Away” a long time ago, back when I was still in TMP, but the style of the song was more acoustic, and it didn’t fit the sound [of Tickle Me Pink]. I wrote it right after Johnny passed away, and it was [written] in relation to the piece of you that dies when someone else dies. It’s kind of a depressing song, but it takes the standpoint of ‘I’m still down on earth suffering, why can’t you take me away?’ The whole ‘life is unfair’ thing.

They delve into topics, all-too familiar to many of us, with unflinching honesty; addiction, what-ifs, failed relationships, and the seemingly eternal search for lasting love; the complex evolution of life. (Check out our review of in defens in this month’s A-Sides.)

Besides the obvious style differences between TMP and Talisker Skye, when it comes to writing, Kennedy says, “I pick up my acoustic guitar and just write a song, and the other parts follow. It’s more about focusing on the song, as opposed to the show—the lyrics are the main focal points, so I spend a lot of time on the lyrics. Once TMP split up, it gave me a chance to get back to the heart of why I write. I write now more than ever.

“From the time Tickle Me Pink started, to where I am now, even when I was still in Tickle Me Pink, there’s been a huge transformation, and I think lot of that is getting older. Another piece of it is seeing other bands, and learning good song writing as you go.”

On June 23, to whet your appetites, Talisker Skye will be performing an acoustic set on Music Buzz Radio at milehighunderground.com (from 2-4pm), and possibly showing the video for “Away.” Tune in for a taste, and don’t forget to block out June 30 on your calendars. Talisker Skye WILL win you over with their addictive melodies, and you WILL feel the emotion behind their music. Their songs have a distinct sense of vulnerability, and evolve into assertive, empowering choruses, and Sands has found a way to entwine her soulful vocals with a tender head banging—really.

The show will include performances by Chad Price (Drag the River), the Say So, the Epilogues, and a little TMP reunion surprise. (But you didn’t hear that from me).

Also, look for the video for “Away,” directed by Brad Scott (Definite Productions), and make sure you hide a Kleenex in your pocket.

With their debut EP, and video complete, this formidable force is ready to share—and bare—their souls with the masses.

Tickets (CHEAP) are available at aggietheater.com, doors are at 8:30.

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