King Thief | Life Among the UndeadBy Laura Hamlett
"Success is meeting that kid who says your album changed his life."
As St. Louis success stories go, here's one that involves a band once called Ultra Blue. Alternative rock in sound, the band quietly became a local favorite, gaining fans and momentum with each successive gig. They released three CDs under the Ultra Blue name, every show and CD winning the attention of new fans and record labels. Making the transition to a national stage, the band was forced to change its name to something more unique, hence the moniker King Thief.
The Inferno, their 2007 debut CD as the newly christened King Thief, truly showcases the band’s myriad talents and versatility. The Inferno is 11 songs of darkness and despair, the state of today’s world as reflected through the mind and lyrical skills of ruby-throated frontman Brooks Bracken.
“Our music has gotten more dramatic and theatrical,” he says. “It is definitely darker now. Every song on the album is about a person’s life that starts somewhere and ends in a much darker place. Everything falls apart in every story. I also like to tie morbid historical events with the way I feel about certain parts of the world today. So there is a lot of that on the record, too, such as the Salem Witch Trials (‘New England Hellcat’) and the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots (‘The Queen’).
It’s an addictive listen, this King Thief debut (yet fourth overall release of the band in its two incarnations), perhaps overshadowed only by the band’s live show. The five members—Brooks (vocals), Sam Hill (guitar, backing vocals), Jon Hill (bass, backing vocals), Al Kent (keys, backing vocals) and Louis Wall (drums, backing vocals)—function as a tightly knit unit, albeit one with multiple personality disorder. They feed off each other’s energy and enthusiasm, ultimately delivering to the crowd a memorable and engaging live show.
That shared passion translates into their songwriting process, as well. “We write [the music] together and apart,” says Louis, “usually all having equal involvement.” (Brooks pens all the lyrics.) For the forthcoming follow-up CD, they are beginning songs first with simple piano lines and acoustic guitars, then building the songs from the ground up, layering on instruments, sounds and words.
The guys have clear objectives: “All the songs will have different feels,” says Brooks. “So far they range from high dramatic epics and theatrical storytelling to simple ballads to ripping blast tracks.”
Following the big Halloween blowout Friday, October 31 at Cicero’s, King Thief will be taking their live show on the road. “We are touring regionally a ton throughout the end of the year,” says Louis, “then taking a break in January to focus on writing the follow-up. We love meeting people on the road, and plan on spreading our music worldwide.
Regarding the band’s longevity and obvious strength as a unit, Brooks says, “We try not to have too many rules; rules set you back a few. We also have the uncanny ability to sleep anywhere while on the road.”
King Thief’s addictive live show will be in full display at the band’s upcoming Halloween show, taking place Halloween night at Cicero’s in the Loop. Costumes are encouraged; there will be prizes, as well as treats (and a multitude of tricks); expect to hear a few new songs, as well. Also on the bill are McGill, Mediocre and Chapters. Admission is $7; tickets are available in advance online (
www.ciceros-stl.com) and at the door. There is a $3 surcharge for minors. More info:
http://www.myspace.com/kingthiefmusic
