By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Formed in 2017 and influenced by everything from The Cure to The Descendents, Chicago alternative indie outfit Superkick recently dropped the music video for their latest single “Sure Thing,” which features Los Angeles singer-songwriter Laura Jean Anderson.
A final “sampler” of their upcoming EP ‘Like This/Like That,’ slated to drop in November, the duet embodies Superkick’s new direction and everything you’d want in a single that personifies Summer’s end and Fall’s “ghostly” arrival.
Superkick is vocalist/guitarist Mike Vaughn, vocalist/bassist Joey Youngs and drummer Tom Ruby.
The Music Bugle had the opportunity to talk with the band about “Sure Thing” and more.
Music Bugle – How would you describe Chicago to someone who has never been there before?
Joey Youngs – I think Chicago gets a bad rep sometimes because it’s very often painted as a super dangerous city, but if you take five minutes to understand where you “shouldn’t” walk around outside at 1 a.m., you’ll be fine and realize that it’s a place that’s always lively and exciting. When COVID wasn’t around, there were always D.I.Y. shows all around the city, art exhibits, all happening around Chicago’s iconic music venues, where you could find an amazing band at basically every night of the week.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your particular genre?
Joey Youngs – Genres to me are a thing I feel like the listener decides on more so than the artist. We’ve always just wanted to make the song we like the most, whether it fit inside the box of our other music or not, so to that end, I guess the flexibility and aqueous-ness of it is the best part.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
Joey Youngs – Current Joys, Lala Lala, KennyHoopla and Denzel Curry
Mike Vaughn – White Reaper, The Cars, Rick Springfield and podcasts.
Tom Ruby – The Clash, PUP, The Wonder Years and Fall Out Boy.
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Joey Youngs – In our particular case, this is the longest we’ve ever gone without playing a show in our lives essentially, at least since like, 12 years old. Like most other bands, we had so much planned for the Summer – tours, opening slots, shows, shows and more shows. I miss live music more than anything in the world.
Music Bugle – What has been your biggest struggle lately?
Joey Youngs – Thinking about what could’ve been if the virus didn’t exist. It’s hard not to think about where we’d be, what we’d be doing and all the cool people we would’ve met along the way.
Music Bugle – Does social media make it easier or harder for a band to stand out these days?
Mike Vaughn – I think in general, it makes it easier? The democratization of music and art in general is great, although it does make things more confusing. A real double-edged sword. There’s no longer a strict formula you need to get signed and go platinum. You can make TikToks or YouTube videos or Soundclouds, but theres also no formula to get popular, if you know what I mean and everybody has to be a hyphen “vlogger-musician-influencer” kind of thing. Not that it’s bad, just different and ultimately better for everyone to have a shot.
Music Bugle – What’s something you wish happened more in the music industry?
Joey Youngs – I wish artists were appreciated by labels and venue owners more than they currently are. The amount of times bands will have to play for free and the amount of times labels don’t understand that they wouldn’t exist without the artists really bother me.
Music Bugle – What’s a quote that motivates you to keep doing what you do?
Joey Youngs – I don’t really have a quote that comes to mind that’s, like, specific to someone. I guess like, “Yeah, you right,” whoever said that first, that’s a pretty important one to me. I think it might’ve been Julius Caesar in 61 BC ish? Cuz I always need to remind myself that I’m not always right and normalize being wrong about things.
Music Bugle – Where do you go when you feel the need to escape?
Mike Vaughn – I think we all have our own specific ways to wind down and get away from things. We’re all pretty introverted dudes, though at the end of the day, I think we all like to just relax and watch some YouTube videos. Tom plays “Skate 2” like a madman! (Laughs)
Joey Youngs – On my bed with my really terrible-sounding acoustic guitar. Or skateboarding by the lake.
Music Bugle – Away from music, what’s something people might be surprised to know about the band?
Joey Youngs – That we are all athletic freaks of nature. Sprint speed, olympic quality. Catching ability may be worthy of a third string practice squad spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Except for Tom, but he’s really good at skate games and pop punk trivia from 2004-2012.
