Feature image credit: Allison Lynn/All images courtesy of Ken Phillips PR

Image credit: Jeff Mozey/All images courtesy of Ken Phillips PR

Recently, we caught up with veteran bassist, Kevin Baldes, of stalwart SoCal Pop Punk outfit, Lit. Among other things, we touch on what he’s been up to during the lockdown, his origins in music, the history of Lit, the band’s new music, Kevin’s love for KISS, Van Halen, vinyl, and a whole lot more.

If you would like to learn more about Lit, the link to their webpage is here. Once you’ve checked those out, dig into this interview with Kevin. Cheers.

Andrew:
Kevin, I appreciate you taking the time today. How have you been holding up over the last year or so What have you been up to?

Kevin:
I’ve been good. I have a ten-year-old son and a wife I’ve been with for about twenty years. twelve of those married. The COVID time off was actually a nice time spent with the family. During that time, we did some work to the house, and I worked on some music as well as did some photography work. I kept busy.

Andrew:
Before we dive into your professional career, let’s go back a bit. What first got you hooked on music? What led to you picking up the bass?

Kevin:
KISS, Van Halen, and the late 70s, early 80s Rock music scene is what I was exposed to early on. I wanted to be a singer, but at a young age, I wasn’t sounding all that rad. A. Jay Popoff was the drummer at the time and looked way cooler than me, so we pushed him into the position. We needed a bass player, so I took that position. I love playing bass. So, it worked out well.

Andrew:
Who were some of your early influences?

Kevin:
My early influences are KISS, Van Halen, ACϟDC, all the Yacht Rock you can muster up thanks to my sister. Kenny Rogers. Johnny Cash, Queen, Joan Jett, Devo, Pat Benatar, Pink Floyd, early MTV, etc. All the
neighborhood kids, and their older siblings’ music collections. Basically, 70s and 80s Pop, Rock, Metal.

Image courtesy of Ken Phillips Publicity Group

Andrew:
Let’s talk about recent events first. Tell us about Lit’s new single, “Yeah Yeah Yeah.” Tell us about the track, and how it came together.

Kevin:
That track came together in Nashville with A. Jay, and Jeremy teaming up with two writers out there. Eric Paquette and Carlo Colasacco.

Andrew:
I also understand you’re in the studio working on a new album which is slated for a spring 2022 release. Can you tell us anything more about it yet?

Kevin:
Yeah, I just finished my tracking yesterday here in Fullerton. We’re excited for this to come out, and for all to hear it!

Andrew:
How have you evolved as an artist since your early days? How does your new music stack up against your well-known hits such as “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Miserable,” and “Zip Lock?”

Kevin:
It’s still Rock ‘N’ Roll with a Pop sensibility to it. It’s funny because a lot of the lyrical content is still the same, as we haven’t changed much. For better or worse, drinking is still a huge part of our existence. [Laughs]. That and relationships. I really feel this album stacks up very well to our earlier releases. I can’t wait to hear some feedback from people that have been following us for years. It’s different, yet fits right with those early tracks. The live feedback has been great. Instant feedback from the crowds has been overwhelming. Kinda like the early days. We chose “Miserable,” as a single because it went over so well live on tour.

Image credit: Will Steven/All images courtesy of Ken Phillips PR

Andrew:
It’s been twenty-one years since the release of “My Own Worst Enemy,” a song that took over the charts and Pop culture. How has Lit evolved as a band since then?
Has your process changed at all?

Kevin:
Like I said before, for the most part, we’re the same group of guys we were then. Hopefully, wiser and more mature. That’s questionable though. [Laughs]. Aside from the obvious stuff, like family, kids, mortgages, and health, we really haven’t changed a whole lot. Which in my opinion is good. We still laugh at a lot of the same crap and enjoy each other. That should explain being together since the mid-80s when we were barely teens. It’s a brotherhood. In regards to the process, the writing has changed. Email and distance have taken the place of the warehouse with video games, and a refrigerator stocked full of Natural Light. [Laughs].

Andrew:
Lit rose to fame during a very fertile time in Pop Punk History. Bands such as Blink-182 The Offspring, No Doubt, Sublime, Save Ferris, and so many more broke around the same time. Looking back, what was it like being a part of that time? How does the Pop Punk scene of today stack up in your opinion?

Kevin:
We worked hard for so many years, and in ’99, it all finally paid off, and we hit the road. It really was a dream come true. Still is. We do not take any of this for granted. We’ve been around long enough to know scenes evolve. It’s sort of hard to put my finger on what the Punk scene is today. There are so many genres, and platforms to hear music now. Honestly, call me old, but I miss the old way of things. I miss record stores. I miss magazines. It was slower-paced. In today’s scene, you have to be active daily on socials, or you lose fans’ attention. I don’t know. That being said, I’ve discovered bands and artists from these platforms that I love dearly. Pros and cons, I suppose.

Andrew:
Do you collect vinyl? CDs? Cassettes? Or are you all digital now? If you do collect physical media, why is that important to you? Why do you feel keeping physical media alive is important in this day and age?

Kevin:
I do have a nice collection of vinyl with lots of stuff I grew up on. Lots of Classic Rock and Metal. I have a
huge Johnny Cash collection. That started with a few pieces from my parent’s collection. I’ve got original Sun Records. It’s what I grew up on. I’m a very nostalgic kind of guy, especially with music. I collect a lot of stuff, having it around makes me happy. It’s who I am. Also, playing vinyl is a sort of religious experience. It takes time and preparation. It’s also a delicate process for those of us that like to keep our vinyl protected. Anytime something takes more to do, it usually has a better payoff. More rewarding. I’m not just pushing a button on my device, which is easier and I do it, but touching, and smelling the cardboard
jacket, and ultimately, laying the arm down onto the groove of the vinyl is special to me. I know others feel the same way. I know this because I’ve literally made friends with them on social media. [Laughs].

Image credit Jeff Mozey/All images courtesy of Ken Phillips PR

Andrew:
What are a few of your favorite albums, especially on vinyl, and why?

Kevin:
KISSDestroyer is very dear to me. It was my first record, and I still have the vinyl copy I’ve had since I was six years old. That, and Van Halen’s Diver Down. Another early album I grew up on. It also came with an inner sleeve with tons of black and white photos inside. Those photos were a small glimpse into the wild life of a Van Halen show. It was all you got so your mind had to create its own idea of what it was like. It’s kind of like an old horror movie with no blood and guys. Just the idea of it. You had to build it yourself, and use your own imagination. In regards to why vinyl — on the right system — just sounds amazing, and so warm. Especially older albums, recorded on 2” tape, on an analog system.

Andrew:
What other passions do you have? How do those passions inform your music, if at all?

Kevin:
Photography is my other passion. I predominately shoot music-related stuff, but not exclusively. It doesn’t really influence my musical taste. It’s kind of two separate worlds. I like it that way.

Andrew:
What sort of equipment do you use in the studio, and the live setting?

Kevin:
Both are just about the same. I use Fender basses, and usually, Ampeg gear. My touring rig is a Gallien Kruger setup.

Andrew:
Last one. What’s next on your docket? What are you looking forward to most in the post-COVID world Does Lit plan on hitting the road, or playing any festivals in 2022?

Kevin:
More of the same. Playing out and experiencing this great big world. Bringing my camera to capture the adventure. Hoping to play countries and places we’ve never been to. South America, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and Europe. The UK is always off the hook. We’re heading there early next year with Bowling For Soup if all goes as planned.

Image credit: Imani Givertz/All images courtesy of Ken Phillips PR

Interested in digging into Lit’s newest music? Check out the link below:

Dig this interview? Check out the full catalog of VWMusic Interviews, by Andrew Daly, here: www.vinylwritermusic.com/interviews

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