Kid Casanova

“New York foursome Kid Casanova makes whip-smart, melodic alt-rock to shake your booty to. On the band's quirky self-titled debut CD, it delivers a merry mix of decades and influences in one perky package. There are hints of the Mekons' sly social commentary, careening British Invasion melodies and classic New Yawk glam rock. It's pretty infectious stuff on disc and ought to be downright irresistible performed live.” - Tallahassee Democrat

“Kid Casanova are an indie act from New York making their first Bay area appearance. The sound is smart, slightly cinematic power pop with the tiniest bit of alt-country vibe. Don’t know much about them, but the songs I’ve heard lead me to suspect they’re pretty freakin good.” - Weekly Planet

“If you¹re looking for a diamond in the rough, be sure to check out Kid Casanova when they come to town on the 19th. One of the advantages of having PR reps hound you is that every now and then they're hawking a
really good band like this one. Kid Casanova plays the kind of British-based, clever songwriting pop/rock
that was a mainstay on the old 106.3 in the 80s. You can listen to “Tell Me More” at www.kidcasanova.com.”
- Upstage Magazine

New York foursome Kid Casanova, greeting the world with their self-titled debut care enough about molding their songs into shapely pop forms that they seem like a much-needed blast of fresh air, or rather, a blast of old-fashioned air. Kid Casanova loads up on harmonies and melodies and then disburses them in short, sweet shots. Their outsized charm comes primarily from Kevin O'Sullivan's vocals, sounding as they do like a smoother version of Pete Shelley or solo-era Jonathan Richman. The two guitars, wrangled by O'Sullivan and Kana Philip, are the second-best thing about Kid Casanova. Neither guitarist will melt your face with a solo, but their decision to be tasteful and tuneful will do something better, namely, warm your heart. And I would be criminally remiss in my duties as an arbiter of taste if I didn't back up my dump truck of praise to Kid Casanova's doorstep and empty it out for their avoidance of the done-to-death distortion pedal. Ever since Nevermind, it's been increasingly hard to find guitarists with ideas for pumping up the excitement during the chorus that go beyond stepping on their Big Muff, so again, Kid Casanova is retro in the best possible way.
The trick of a superior pop album is consistently high songwriting with a trip or two into the stratosphere. Big Star's Radio City did this with "September Gurls." The Flamin' Groovies' Shake Some Action did this with the title track. Kid Casanova comes close a few times in its mere eight songs, but a couple of anonymous acoustic numbers pull downwards instead of up, and the record spins to a stop without a home run. Still, those are high expectations, and Kid Casanova's ability to raise them to such a level with their first try should be taken as a clear victory. Better things are sure to come soon for this bunch, and what they've got in the meantime offers more than enough charisma, craft, and outright fun to hold us over until they hop up to that next rung on the ladder.
- Popmatters

It's almost embarrassing for a reviewer to get excited about a band like Kid Casanova these days. Most of us get off on being contrary; at the very least, we won't get behind anything as trendy as this. Kid Casanova are good-looking New Yorkers with cool clothes and an ear for poppy retro glam and melancholy brit pop. Haven't we all had enough of these New Yorkers and their fucking success? I was done with it a year ago with Interpol and The Killers. But... shit, Kid Casanova is really good.
Bastards.
Kevin O'Sullivan is one of those frustrating people who can't sing, but still becomes an excellent vocalist through sheer will, style and attitude. Picture someone with the vocal timbre of The Cure's Robert Smith, and Julian from The Strokes's wardrobe. On "Wakeup, Girl", he sounds shamelessly like Material Issue's Jim Ellison. It's fantastic and I hate it. As the rest of the talented band plays their beautiful bouncy song, O'Sullivan somehow uses rock star pronunciations without sounding pretentious -- bawks instead of bucks, hawohm instead of home. This is the type of posturing that puts a bulleye right on a singer's forehead, but I'll be damned if O'Sullivan doesn't pull it off while clapping his hands at the same time.
All the attitude-toting frontmen in the world wouldn't mean a thing if there wasn't good songwriting holding everything together. (It won't take a MENSA member to figure out what I'm about to say.) Kid Casanova HAS written some of the best songs I've heard all year. "Tell Me More" is an insanely catchy, perfectly produced song. It was clearly done on a budget, but a smart band with a budget can make a recording sound like a million bucks. Check out the chimes, the tambourine and the handclaps. They dissolve into the brightness of the song, but these flourishes are the difference between a good band and a great band. "Wedding Day" has the drive of a New York Dolls song, with sharp horn arrangements and more of those Robert Smith vocal flutters that hit high notes only a man totally secure with his masculinity would touch.
It's time for all of us to forget that Kid Casanova is a couple of years late with their retro rock revival. This self titled record is one of those special albums that could be released any year. It will always be a good record.
Did I mention their drummer is a hot girl and she kicks ass? Unfair.
- Splendid Magazine

Hailing from New York, Kid Casanova make rock to shake your ass to. There is a definite British tint to their sound, a kind of American style- Cribs if you will. With good tunes and an explosive live show, Kid Casanova have been wowing the crowds in America. Frequently compared to a concoction of Jam/Clash/Buzzcocks/Elvis Costello, they need to be brought to these shores soon!! We may try and get them over for a HNB Showcase, so keep your eyes peeled and listen to the songs on their site.
Check out http://www.kidcasanova.com
- Hot New Bands (UK)

There are no two ways about it, the Kid can rock. This local quartet jams hard on the guitars with a New York sound that will make you want to dance ‘til you drop. - AM New York

Kid Casanova plays like the soundtrack to a beach party movie scored by Television and the Violent Femmes. Their "By And By" is the bounciest song to come along in awhile - Morning Call Disc Review, Philadelphia

Kid Casanova take songwriting cues from song-driven rocknroll bands such as The Only Ones and Big Star - The Deli

If one is into good, old-fashioned rock-n-roll songs, New York-based band Kid Casanova - With influences from Tom Petty to the Beatles, from Motown to doo-wop - has a lot to offer. (Feature & Interview) - Centre Daily Times (PA)