The KAAMS - Kick it

The Kaams is a Rock'n'Roll/Garage trio from Bergamo, Italy featuring Andrea Carminati: Vocals, Guitars, Organ; Marco Facheris: Bass, Guitars, Backing Vocals and Tiziano Carozzi: Drums, Percussions. 

Their latest full length album was released recently by Area Pirata Records on CD and on vinyl. After various changes in the band, this new record sees the light of day four years after "One To Six", and two and a half years after the lastest single "Don't Forget My Name", both also released on Area Pirata . "Kick it" is featuring 12 new songs recorded at the Outside Inside Studio of Volpago del Montello by Matt Bordin and mastered by Andrea De Bernardi at the Eleven Mastering Studio in Busto Arsizio.

Let's talk with main man Andrea.

1) For the viewers of this blog who would not know you, What would you tell about The Kaams to introduce yourselves? How long are you guys together as a band?  Who is playing what instrument in the band nowadays? Can you also explain the name of the band, where does it come from?

We formed in 2009 and all we wanted to do was play some Beatles and Kinks tunes in our rehearsal room. Over the years, the line-up changed so many times, (I am not going to list every single change because I think it wouldn't be interesting), in a few words: we recorded our first demo and 7'' as a duo, then our first and second album as a four piece, and eventually our second 7'' and our latest album as a trio, tricky story eh?  Nowadays we are: Andrea - vocals and guitar, Marco - bass and backing vocals, Tiziano - drums.

In front of the legendary PIT'S

The story behind the band name is much simpler: we got our first gig arranged but didn't have a name yet. At the time I was studying Italian literature, in particular "The Million" by Marco Polo and the chapter where he met Kublai Kahn, the emperor of the Mongol Empire. In my book, Kahn - whose name roughly translates into “the king of the kings”, or at least I’ve always liked to believe so - was wrongly written as ‘Kaam’. You see, we are humble guys.


2) About the latest full length record "Kick It",  released on Area Pirata what can you tell about the recording process? Was this a "live" in the studio recording or a track by track recording with lots of overdubs?

We recorded our latest album at Outside Inside Studio. Matt Bordin (Mojomatics, Squadra Omega) did a great job and we are really satisfied with it. The recording process was basically a live take (drums, bass and guitar) with some overdubs: vocals, we added an organ, some more guitars, percussions, Matt played harmonica and so on. You know, all this kind of stuff to make it more professional.


3) Do you use the nowadays digital recording technology or do you guys only work with analog machines in analog studios?

Outside Inside is mainly an analog studio, that's why we chose it. We recorded the live take directly on tape, and the overdubs on pc, you know, digital material is easier to handle when you want to add short parts or some solo, and it allows you to save time and money, but then Matt transferred it to another weird tape machine and the outcome was a blast! As you may notice, I'm not an expert.


4) Is there a main composer in the band or is everybody involved in one way or another?

The composer is me (Andrea), I usually write the music and a vocal line, we practice all together and if it works I start writing the lyrics.


5) What is your favorite topic/topic that comes easily when you write a new song?

I don't have a favorite topic, but I can tell you for sure what I don't write about: politics.


6) I know it's not the best idea to confine bands in "categories", but How would you describe the kind of music you guys are playing? 

This is a hard question. We like so many different things and we listen to so many different kinds of music. Your music reflects both: your taste and your influences. It's plain, but I can't precisely define our music. We love 60's bands, soul music, psychedelic pop, punk rock music, folk songwriters... ah, don't know, too hard.


7) Do you have a new video on youtube featuring a track from the new LP?? 

No, we don't have any video, video killed the radio stars. Here is a live version of "Out of the Blue"




8) What can concert goers expect at a The Kaams gig? Are you playing any famous cover songs? 

What to expect from a Kaams' concert? Don't know, maybe three guys trying to play the best they can, with passion, energy and precision, if they are not too drunk ah ah. We have always played some cover songs during our set, currently we are playing a song by The Tunas (the best Italian band of all time), "This Man He Weeps Tonight" by Dave Davies and "Don't Send Me No Flowers (I Ain't Dead Yet)" by The Breakers.

9) To what kind of music did you listen to as a teenager and does it still influence your today work? What was your favorite band as a teenager? Name 3 bands that you consider still have a influence on your own work today?

When I was a teenager I used to listen to a lot of punk bands like the Ramones, the Queers and Porno Riviste. Maybe they don’t influence my way of writing anymore, but I still love them!


10) What can you tell about the cover artwork by Roberto Taminelli? Did he come up with the idea or was this your idea and he made it happen? How do you think this cover represents you as a band?

We gave Roberto some ideas for the cover, but then he came up with a sketch of a half llama and half human figure. Originally, it was supposed to be a frog in reference to one of our songs. Specifically, it should have been a big boot kicking a frog, but we were afraid of animal-rights activists’ reaction; so here is the human-llama. I really like it.


11) Anything you wanna add?

I just want to thank you and tell you that we are playing some gigs in Belgium this August, so see you there!

PURCHASE A DIGITAL COPY HERE : https://thekaams.bandcamp.com/album/kick-it-2
OR
PURCHASE A PHYSICAL COPY HERE :https://areapiratarec.bandcamp.com/album/kick-it