Review #8 : Wyndup Kid

Review #8

Artist: Wyndup Kid

Singles: Jaycee & Party in the Desert

Whenever a local band from the Garden State pings the radar, I’m never surprised. As Frosted Green hasalluded to in the past, the State of New Jersey is a never-ending “water well” of over-saturation, and yet, here I am listening (borderline dancing) to Wyndup Kid’s “Jaycee” and “Party in the Desert”; two very ambitious releases. “What’s this sorcery?” I rage, half-naked as my arms and

body flail to the dance-like atmosphere of their music.

Before the dancing commenced, and the “play” button was smashed, I tried to decipher the bands

cover art for their single, Jaycee. It’s argued that sometimes a band’s cover art can reflect a

band’s music (hey, don’t bash me, this article said it first!), but I couldn’t come to a conclusion.

Here’s what I observed: a pin-up portraying a glamorous-looking Sid Vicious look-a-like

trimming his own hair. So… is it punk, pop, glam? Anyways, I hate categorizing,
let’s just appreciate the music.

Critics argue, rather fervently, that a songs “money-maker” is its refrain, or chorus. But to be

fair, this isn’t the case for Wyndup Kid’s Jaycee. Hold on, calm it, I didn’t state their chorus was

bad. In fact, it’s completely effective, listeners experience: twangy, strummed chord

progressions, groovy-dance-like bass lines, pulsing, rhythmic drumming, and soaring baritone

vocals, which belt out, “Ohh, Jaycee! Ohh, Jaycee! Ohh, Jaycee! What have you done to me?”

However, Jaycee’s attention grabber lies at its beginning (0:00-0:23). Right from the get-go,

Wyndup Kid’s Joey J. (vocalist-guitarist), Zach Shectman (bassist), and Matty Khan (drummer)

create a “feel good” vibe reminiscent of a summer-esque-window’s-down anthem. Jaycee’s

repetitive, yet catchy, guitar strumming, lively bass lines and accompanying drum build-up, and

soaring “woo-woo!” put listeners in a good space.

Then, while still on my Jaycee listening high, I proceeded to Wyndup Kid’s Party in the Desert,

an equally ambitious and arguably stronger project then the first. Once again, Wyndup Kid

reaches in their bag-of-tricks, starting off at a slower tempo and transitioning into a punk-driven-

party jam. There’s no doubt that the lyrical content in Party in the Desert is sparse; however,

Joey J’s vocals are front-and-center when the music stops and he says, “I am the Pharaoh, and

the sun will rise!” It’s safe to say that these guys know how to jam!

Please check out Wyndup Kid’s SoundCloud, BandCamp, Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook

(@wyndupkid) to support their music and stay up-to-date on their doings.

- Jonathan Ferguson
Frosted Green Productions