"Big and Loud Seattle Rock Is Not Dead." That’s how KANDI CODED first announced their existence to the world in 2005. With their musical influences coming from northwest grunge, classic skate-punk, metal and loud rock, it is easy to see they mean it.
Today that proclamation still rings true. Their upcoming release, Fell For The Gift, is a punchy rock record with a heavy-handed backbeat; A homage to the sound of their Seattle heritage, balanced by thoughtful, raspy, melodic vocal layers, all capped off with a rousing version of Johnny Cash’s classic “Drive On.”
Kandi Coded began with Johnny and Jamie jamming in a typically dark, dreary, smoke-filled Seattle basement. Their local following earned them a spot on the 2005 US Warped tour, as well as bringing them to the attention of Endino. While working in the studio with Jack on their debut CD "Time Wasted Is Not Wasted Time" (2007) for Volcom Entertainment, their lead guitarist quit, and Jack ended up joining the band. The lineup was completed by Sam's arrival in 2008. Since then, Kandi Coded have played shows in the US, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and France including the Zumiez Couch tour in ‘08 and ’09, and toured with Valient Thorr, Riverboat Gamblers, The Bled, Tweak Bird, Emery and Turbonegro.
But Kandi Coded is much more than the sum of its parts, because these guys bring an awful lot to the table. Guitarist/lead vocalist and all-around creative force Jamie Lynn is a Northwest snowboarding legend whose oil paintings and graphics are now highly sought-after. Lynn, who is considered by the snowboarding community as the person responsible for crafting the style of sport, transcends the industry, maintaining perennial allure, disappearing for years at a time to paint and create music, only to return every now and again to show the youngsters how it’s done.
Lead guitarist/vocalist Jack Endino has been called "The Godfather of Grunge," making his name first as guitarist for Seattle's Skin Yard, then as a producer of literally hundreds of Punk, Indie and Metal albums including the original Nirvana “Bleach” and it’s recent 20th Anniversary deluxe reissue. To this day his work as a producer continues, his 350+ album discography now encompassing other Northwest artists (Mark Lanegan, TAD, Murder City Devils, Makers, Zeke), punk and metal bands (Flipper, 3 Inches of Blood, Skeleton Witch, Valient Thorr, High On Fire) and a wide variety of other acts from around the world (Brazilian band Titãs, Ireland’s Therapy?).
Drummer/vocalist Johnny Graziadei first made his name as the "youngest record label owner in the Bay Area," running the Sesha Press label in the late 80s, and is now one of the hardest-hitting drummers in Seattle. Bassist/vocalist Sam MacDonald played and toured extensively with his former band Reason For Ruin. Together, they are formidable.
With the imminent release of their new album "Fell For The Gift" on Volcom Entertainment, Kandi Coded kicks off the new year co-headlining the Blizzard Bizarre tour, ripping through mountain towns and slopes in Colorado, Washington, Utah, Montana and British Columbia Canada followed by appearances at Austin’s SXSW and a Summer US tour.
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