The Kimberly Trip

October 30, 2005
by Karla Ash

Years before Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, and Kaiser Chiefs, The Kimberly Trip were dodging bullets from the rap-metal mafia with a proudly ‘80s-loving approach to songwriting. And now the world has finally caught up with their keen sense of retro. The Sacramento, CA-based band has just released a new album, the delightful You’ll Get Nothing…and LIKE it!, which finds them further polishing their already slick pop sound and intensifying their guitars. Known mainly to their local fans and hip music critics, The Kimberly Trip is now receiving airplay on commercial stations such as KWOD and the highly regarded Indie 103.1. Vocalist Kimberlina and guitarist Jeffry Wynne Prince recently took time out from their hectic schedules for an interview with The Wig Fits All Heads.

Karla Ash: How many years did it take for the group to develop its current chemistry? Or was it immediate, such as love at first sight?

Jeffry Wynne Prince: I think that we continue to evolve and develop our strengths, and how we work together as a band, but chemistry is either there or it isn't. Bractune (drums) and I have played together our entire adult lives because we've always had a kind of unspoken expression with our musical ideas. We get each other in a writing sense to an uncanny level. When we heard Kimberlina sing, we basically dropped everything we were doing and formed this band around her. Within moments I knew I'd found a sort of musical soulmate to sing the things Bractune and I were creating; it was just fortunate that she was a truly gifted writer as well. It took a couple of years to find the right combination in the rhythm section to complete what we had going, but we knew as long as we found a bassist that could lock with Bractune, that we already had all the ingredients to make the exact music we wanted.

Ash: Were the members geeks back in high school considering the lyrical subject matter seems to focus from that perspective?

Kimberlina: What do you mean, "were"? [laughs]. I feel everyone is a geek, nerd, dork, or a doofus on some level at some point in his or her life. The way you grow is by learning to laugh at your problems and work through things by not taking life too seriously. While many of our lyrics are sung from an angle of diversity, the real point of what we are doing is to give people an outlet so they know they aren't alone in any of the times when they feel insecure, left out, or stupid.

Ash: Is it difficult to balance seriousness with a goofy sense of humor?

Kimberlina: It seems to come pretty natural for us; of course, I don't write a huge portion of the lyrics. Jeffry is really the one who can present the most serious of subjects (like anorexia, vandalism, and being a stalker) and make them relatable and funny without getting even the slightest bit cheesy.

Prince: I just write what I would want to hear. I like humor in music, but I want to hear songs that still make me smile on the hundredth listen. I think you do that by creating characters and situations that are funny because you can relate to them rather than funny because they have a punch line.

Ash: Who has the most twisted wit in the band and provide examples of it.

Kimberlina: Jeffry. His is very “Andy Kaufman” in what he thinks is funny. Is he finds something amusing and no one else gets it, then to him it is even funnier. For instance, he wanted to call the most recent album Foreigner 4. That doesn't make any sense, but it is mildly amusing, and he knew no one would understand, so he was way into it. His point was it is funny because it makes no sense. It was also his idea that we do our Robert Palmer tribute where I wore a suit, and the rest of them wore black dresses and white face paint. They all stayed in character the whole night. They didn't even speak when spoken to; they just stared into space like the mannequin-girl-musicians in all the videos. Those are the only things I can mention in an all-ages-crowd.

For more information on The Kimberly Trip, hit up: http://www.thekimberlytrip.com - The Wig fits all heads

Their “Catastrophic Behavior” album was reviewed on this here rag before and I loved it. I’m loving their new direction as they expand on their pop-rock nuances and venture down a pathway that’s sure to bring the fortune and fame that they deserve—thing is they could be thrown all the money in the world and I doubt that they’d even blink in its general direction. The Kimberly Trip has a bevy of sincere convictions that wouldn’t allow them to sell themselves short or out. Their songs are pop-rock perfections wrapped up in a riddle of lyrical wit that doesn’t try too hard to outwit or befuddle you with enigmatic word twists. The band as a whole is a unit of great songwriting with a talented knack for constructing perfect catchy hooks. Pick this album up and support good indie DIY music. And when I opened the liner notes I noticed Smother was thanked, well thank you guys, you deserve all the praise thrown in your direction and then some!

- J-Sin
- Smother

There was once a King who lived in the past. His chambers were decorated only with items from years long gone; even his clothes had fallen from fashion, much to the dismay of his Queen. The King refused to accept that his favorite music was no longer in public favor. Every day he’d walk past the common folk, dismayed at the harsh sounds they produced behind castle walls. “Begone, creatures of evil!” he bellowed. “There is no place for you here in the golden realm!” But nobody would listen – at least until the Prince arrived. “I shall bestow upon you a gift,” the Prince promised. Without warning, the Prince and his companions – two men and two women - began to play their instruments in the same way the King remembered, when his land was filled with color and warmth. The King smiled. “You have given me something more precious than anything,” the King raved. “You have proven yourself able to wield great power – now do it again.”
The Prince was stunned. Again?

His face pale with worry, the Prince bowed before the King and promised to return.

A year had passed when the King viewed the Prince again. His eyes glowed when the Prince and his merry women and men started to perform. The King immediately launched into dance upon hearing their opening song, “Red Riding Hood.” The guitars were louder, yet they were still sweet to his ears; even the children, who always found the King’s palate to be archaic, joined him in his unguarded giddiness. The people cheered when the jubilant chorus of “Trouble Again” echoed throughout the town; even the nuns danced with drunken, lascivious men chanting, “Uh oh! I’m in trouble again! Uh oh!” Many of the tunes reminded the King of boyish days and missing persons, such as the jangling beauty of “Fairy Tale Life,” which recalled the style of Lord Marr from the Smiths family. “Paperboy” reminded the King of a lonely, sensitive child that Merlin had carved from tree cloth; smitten with a comely lass, he stood awake in a storm outside of her door until his body was ripped apart by rainfall. But it was a secret tale only a few, not even the Prince or his mate Bractune, knew. The King admired their creativity. And when Princess Kimberly sang the sultry melancholy of “Snowflake,” he was moved beyond words.

And so the King wept.

“Ah, now my heart sings!” he shouted to the Prince as he readied for another show.

And onto the night the King and his people celebrated for no other reason than the joy of hearing real music again.

- CD Reviews .com

The Kimberly Trip should be dubbed the Kings of Sarcasm. Just as their post-punk role models indulged in saber-tongued lyrics mismatched with the most joyful noise in pop music, the Kimberly Trip unleash their caustic, witty social observations with gallons of soda pop hiding the poison within. “Someday when I’m rich and famous/And you mistake me for Tori Amos,” lead vocalist Kimberly sings sweetly on “Geek School,” “I know you’ll all forget/About the time that you saw/Kleenex sticking outta my bra.” Like the Waitresses from an earlier decade, the Kimberly Trip take the classic girl-band formula and twist it so you’re singing along to pretty female harmonies that are not as innocent as they seem.
This Sacramento, CA group approach their artistry with a smile on their face – sometimes a demented one such as on the disturbingly hilarious “O.C.D. Guy” wherein Kimberly reveals, “He doesn’t need a psychologist/To be my love specialist/He puts me at the top of his list/After list after list after list.” Get it? Humor is hard to pull off in rock & roll yet the Kimberly Trip effortlessly deliver chuckles as brainy as they are incredibly goofy. On a “ha ha ha, he he he” scale, “O.C.D. Guy,” “Geek School,” and “Suck Knob” (a clever slam on nü-metal) are off the charts.

Nevertheless, the Kimberly Trip has a serious side, too, and lovelorn tracks like “Supergloo” and “Anything But You” are genuinely moving. The music has a definite “Rock of the ‘80s” sheen – loud guitars that shine like silver under the summer sun and sprinkled with jubilant keyboards – that sounds contemporary enough for the Kimberly Trip to resemble what Garbage would’ve been if they had arisen from Orange County.
- Cd reviews .com

By Mon Castro

Catastrophic Behavior/The Kimberly Trip

I must admit that I, at the outset, dismissed The Kimberly Trip and categorized them as Avril Lavigne/Lindsay Lohan clones. And since those “artists” are on my genocide list, it sealed TKT’s fate. Furthermore, I couldn’t get past the ludicrous lyrics “Hoped we’d see John Mayer but you dragged my ass to see Slayer.” What the?!-----

But, as you’ve surmised I am now humbly chastised for being blind, a direct result of being, er, snobbish. Sure, the lyrics aren’t exactly The Cure or The Stone Roses, but that’s the whole point of The Kimberly Trip. Irreverence is part and parcel of being who they are. The band, led by vocalist Kimberlina, doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at Slayer fans and label them “Satan worshippers” or scoff at the Emo and NU-Metal bands. They can also turn the “Suck Knob” down and show their sensitive side on songs like the lovely “Anything But You.”

The music is a mish-mash of influences ranging from Blondie to Garbage, a charming blend of punk/new wave guitars and synths. The Kimberly Trip, based on this album alone, indeed, deserve to be heard by more people as well as put more snotty music buffs in their places.

- Manilla Standard

Sort of like Garbage does with their electronic kneeling towards synth-based pop-rock, The Kimberly Trip even have the hot girl singer to front the band. But okay, I’m not being all that fair, they’re actually better than Garbage could ever hope to be. And with corporate whoring by the major labels well in effect, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see this talented band swept up by a major massive and thrown to the wolves of American pop culture. But when that does happen let’s hope that they don’t sacrifice their great songwriting and sound for what’s chic now.

- J-Sin
- Smother

The Kimberly Trip – Catastrophic Behavior
Glitter Kitty Records

There’s no doubt about it, Sacramento musicians seem to have mastered the knack of recording nice quality recordings. The Kimberly Trip’s second CD offering, Catastrophic Behavior, is no exception. Hot off the heels of their debut disc, Not Compatible With System, the Trip offer another great collection of songs to get your head bobbin’ and your mouth smilin’.

Their sound can be described as hard-edged pop. Add a little dose of electronica to fill out their sound, and throw in a large helping of sarcastic wit to finish things off.

The first track on the CD, Freaky Things, gave me a chuckle right away. Kimberlina sings, “Hoped we’d see John Mayer, but you dragged my ass to see Slayer.”

What really makes this band shine is Kimberlina’s vocal talents, along with harmonies provided by guitarist Jeffry Wynne Prince. Check out the second track, Supergloo. I swear I can almost hear a Simon and Garfunkel kind of harmony going on here. (And I do mean that as a compliment, not that I like Simon and Garfunkel or anything. I think I’ll shut up now.)

The thing I like most about this band is that they don’t take life too seriously. They aren’t afraid to add some fun humor to their songs. And by golly, it works! They sing about therapy, and taking the short bus to geek school. They add just the right touch of quirkiness as to not overpower their musical talent. Hey, check out song #4 – Suck Knob. We’ve all been to shows where the band just plain SUCKS, right? Well, TKT offer a simple solution: turn the SUCK KNOB down! They may just have something there. This song has been recently played on KWOD’s Sounds of Sac show.

For more information on this band, check them out at www.thekimberlytrip.net. They’ve got some cool merchandise available as well. To the band I must say, “I think I like the freaky things you do.” At least that’s what my therapist said. You know, taking yourself too seriously can seriously shorten your life span, so lighten up and listen to some good music. Laugh a little, dang it! - Ca Bands .com

The Kimberly Trip, Catastrophic Behavior - The Kimberly Trip from Sacramento, CA, create old-school pop for nostalgics and revivalists. Once upon a time there were new wave acts such as this scattered across the globe, but like the dinosaurs, they simply vanished. No matter. "Catastrophic Behavior" is a summer blast of '80s guitar-rock intoxication, Oingo Boingo keyboards, and sweet-as-honey lead female vocals that are more beautiful than Gwen Stefani's could ever be. Count "Supergloo" is among the keepers with its finger-snapping heartbreak beat. Electric guitars that rock but don't bleed the eardrums and synthesizers that imitate classic Atari games - does it get any better than this? Pure bliss!


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Our Rating: 8 stars!!!
I've always felt that No Doubt had potential that was never fully milked. They were certainly on the right track with "Tragic Kingdom" with the Missing Persons hiccups of Gwen Stefani and those juicy 1981 synth lines. Somebody in the band started listening to way too much R&B on the way and the nostalgic rush of the group hit a roadblock, crashing into insignificance.

THE KIMBERLEY TRIP picks up where No Doubt left off on "Tragic Kingdom," producing a joyous and teeth-bashingly hilarious new wave homage on "Catastrophic Behavior." It's not that the band is consciously trying to ape No Doubt; rather, it's a case of shared influences, and the early '80s as symbolized by Blondie, the Waitresses, and Bow Wow Wow are all over this summer blast of a record.

While it has a heavier bottom and cleaner production than much of what was produced during the '80s, it's in the same sunglasses-at-night spirit. Choice picks: "Freaky Things," "Supergloo," "Geek School," and the emo/nu metal putdown "Suck Knob," which is lip-rippingly funny. Sweet vocals over salty lyrics, and top-of-the-line musicianship throughout.

The music rocks without being deafening or chaotic, pop without being too sugar-smacked. My roommate and fellow crit Steve is trying to snag the CD from me hands at the moment. Buy a copy, Steve. And so should YOU. Get 'em while you can at: http://www.thekimberlytrip.net/home.html.
author: Adam Harrington
- Whiperin' and Hollerin'

By Christian Kiefer

The first thing one notices when interviewing Jeffry Wynne Prince and Kimberlina is that they talk like a married couple. It’s no great surprise, But in the context of rock interviews, it’s surprisingly loving and domestic.

Adding to the scene is the ambience of the location itself: the currently gutted shell that is Princes’ new fixer-upper home in Fair Oaks. Most of the floors have been torn up, and the house is permeated with the smell of paint and dust, the former an important point because Jeffry's style of décor says volumes about their style of music. Instead of the subtle Easter pastels that are the last bastion of Martha Stewart’s influence on a home-improvement-crazed America, Jeffry is going with big colors: deep purples and fire-engine red and, in the case of the room where the interview took place, jet-black walls and ceiling (high-gloss, of course).

It’s an ambience well-suited for the future center of operations for the Kimberly Trip, a five-piece pop band that has proven to be one of the most consistently drawing acts in the area. A large part of that draw undoubtedly has to do with the music itself: an accessible mixture of, as the band’s Web site puts it, “Blondie meets Garbage with a sense of humor.” It’s a quirky, funny style that is immediately accessible, filled with requisite hooks, guitar fills and harmony vocals.

Perhaps more importantly, the Kimberly Trip has never been a band that has taken itself too seriously--a surprising fact in a town where it sometimes feels like hairstyles are more important than music. “We wanted to solve problems through humor,” explained Jeffry, the band’s guiding force, main songwriter and lead guitarist. “We take the music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously.” The end result is essentially feel-good party music with a heavy 1980s-era influence, like an updated version of the B-52’s or, as Jeffry put it, a “fusing of Rush with Nerf Herder,” a feat accomplished with help from fellow band members Bractune on drums, Misha on guitar and Sierra on bass (only single names given, making one wonder if Madonna, Sting, Prince and Flea all were members at one point, as well).

Coupled with an entertaining stage show including custom microphone stands, guitar-hero posing and, if the venue is large enough, trampolines, the Kimberly Trip’s members try to remember something so many local acts seem to forget about: They are entertainers. “We try to do something memorable that people want to talk about afterward,” Kimberlina explained. Jeffry was slightly more pragmatic in his response: “We had a meeting where we talked about what we needed to do to charge $10 to $15 for a show in a town where $3 was standard,” he said. Not to be taken too seriously, Kimberlina interjected, “So, we bring our fog machine wherever we go.”

Fog machine or no, the band is certainly one of the more business-savvy groups in Sacramento.

The first step in next year’s process is the release of a new CD, the live, acoustic recording Mimicking the Cool Kids, which will see its release on Friday, November 19, at Bodytribe Fitness (920 21st Street), with a no-special-effects performance. The best news of all is that the show is only $3. “I can justify that by saying that this has no show,” Jeffry explained. “There’s no lights, no fog, not even a microphone. It’s just us sitting on the floor playing our songs for our fans.”

In the meantime, fans, present and future, can collect more information from the band’s Web site at www.thekimberlytrip.net.


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