Chasing Ghosts are currently touring the country in support of Young Lions on their Burn tenth-anniversary tour.
For the proud Thungutti man, the Burn tour offers another avenue to continue doing what he does best, telling stories via song. Many of those stories feature truths about the First Nations' experience in this country, post-colonialism, that most modern Australians have never been taught.
With an acoustic guitar in hand, a booming voice, a collection of instantly memorable songs, and equally memorable banter at his disposal, Kyle can command a room's attention like few others.
Those unique abilities were captured on record earlier this year when Chasing Ghosts released Homelands Unplugged. An intimate, stripped-back, raw and emotional reimagining of Chasing Ghosts celebrated 2021 release Homelands, Homelands Unplugged includes a spoken word introduction for each song that reveals the true story behind each composition, offering a glimpse at the beating heart of the man behind the songbook.
That heartbeat grows even stronger when Kyle is joined by his brothers in Chasing Ghosts. Featuring Aussie music veterans including current and former members of bands the ilk of Agnes Manners, In Fiction, and The Mission In Motion the Chasing Ghosts' live arrangements pack a powerful emotive punch that accentuates Kyle's delivery.
As anyone who has met Jimmy could attest, that heart beats with pride for others too, especially those who dare to speak their truth and tell their own stories through art.
Ahead of Chasing Ghosts returning to the road alongside Young Lions, Tapestry and Shangrila for the remainder of the Burn tour, Kyle was kind enough to pen what we're calling a 'letter of musical recommendation' revealing his connection to the hardcore scene in this country and giving a heartfelt shoutout to two hardcore bands with First Nations members, Nerve Damage and Homesick.
Jimmy Kyle (Chasing Ghosts)
"Yawayi Maniacs!
One of the reasons I’ve always loved Hardcore music was its history of inclusion and values, granted not all bands embody that ethos but many certainly do!
Nerve Damage would be one of my favourite bands with members who are mob notably my brother boy and frontman Shal Allen. ND for those not in the know are a hardcore band from up on the north coast of NSW on Yugambeh/Bundjalung.
Shal is not only a deadly musician and vocalist but also an accomplished visual artist working out of the acclaimed studio China Heights.
We’ve recently collaborated on a visual arts project for a soon-to-be-released record. Shal has his own distinct authentic style that reflects the coastal mobs where we grew up, Shal on the far north coast and myself from Thungutti Barri (Thunghutti Country) on the mid-north coast of NSW which is a couple of mobs down.
Shal and I both had a history involved in heavy music and tattoo culture so our recent unreleased collaboration will be something special!
If you haven’t checked out Nerve Damage or Shal’s other project Primitive Blast now's the time! Get ready to pick up the change and feel your legs twitch with anticipation with your best mule kick!"
"Another great First Nations Hardcore Band is Homesick based on Gadigal. This is Pete Jackson’s fronted assault on all this monarchy, colonisation and white nationalism. If you dig punk hardcore go get this Gadigal-based bands' records at the Resist store now!"
Balu!
Jimmy Kyle "
Homelands Unplugged and Homelands are both out now. Listen here.
Young Lions - Burn - 10 Year Anniversary Tour continues this week in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Tickets are on sale now here.
