High Top Kicks kick it in BR

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By Travis Leeper

They might have burned down the Caterie. Well, not really, but they were the last to play there, and Baton Rouge's electronauts High Top Kicks are definitely hot enough for it. Consisting of Gabriel Saint, Brent Armstrong, and Josh Lee, High Top Kicks are armed to the teeth with everything from musical gadgetry to some ridiculously thick dance music.

Most of High Top Kick's music comes from Saint and Armstrong, two electronic musicians and DJs who are both interested in cutting some dance tracks for Baton Rouge's music scene. Collaborating for over a year now, the duo spends their time in their home-based recording studios, mixing up fresh electronic in the vein of Justice, Boys Noize, and Daft Punk.

"We fall right between the idea of a band and a DJ," said Saint in an interview with Tiger Weekly. "Because we are performing, we have the spirit of a band. We make dirty, gritty beat driven dance music which lends itself to the vibe of DJs, and I think that helps and hurts us in some ways. It's gained us respect from the local scene, but when people go to a club and expect to hear the Top 40, well, that's not what we do."

And don't think the Kicks are just another pair of fools running songs off an iPod. They've got some of the latest equipment around, with everything from decked out studios, cutting-edge controls, and high-powered software. Of course, gear doesn't make a group magical; it's what they do with it that counts. So just check out one of the Kick's shows, and you'll know that they're doing something right.

Currently, High Top Kicks are scheduled for four Louisiana shows reaching all the way from Lafayette to Monroe. Down here, they'll be featured on February 8 at The Office in Lafayette as well as a March 12 show at the Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge. Both shows start at 10 p.m. and will feature some of the Kick's freshest music from their new release.

"We just finished an online album," said Saint. "But we continue to write and produce constantly. We also do a lot of design work. And for the shows, we always try to have different shirts, logos, and banners; Brent works in that industry, so we have a pretty good hook up."

So if you're looking to hear something loud, ridiculous, and totally different come out of Baton Rouge, catch the High Top Kicks next time they're in your town. You won't be disappointed.

Originally Published: Issue 863 - February 3, 2010

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