THINGS changed for KICKED-IN BICKIE TIN frontman Shaun Mills when he volunteered to help clean up after the devastating 2022 Moree floods.
A chance meeting with a flood victim who was already doing it tough before the rains came, inspired Mills to compose KICKED-IN BICKIE TIN’s latest single, Deep End, which explores themes of gratitude through adversity.
Mills was there to help an addled young man who had suffered much more than the floodwaters could throw at him.
And, in a way, the young man helped Mills.
“I received a call from a lady asking for help with the flood clean-up for a client she looked after,” Mills said.
“She warned me he had some mental health and drug problems. I was worried something bad might happen but he ended up being one of the sweetest guys I’d ever met.
“We had a chat about life, and he told me how he really wanted to go back in time and be a kid again, because these days were so tough.
“He didn’t even have a lounge or a couch. It really opened up my eyes and reminded me to appreciate my life.
“He was going through a lot. The flood only made things more difficult, but he was still so grateful to be where he was,” Mills said.
That chance meeting three years ago – a life-changing chat for both men – inspired Mills to compose Deep End, a track wrapped in the band’s trademark surfy, indie-punk sound.
Mills, on vocals and guitar, is joined by Zach Hauser on drums and backing vocals, and John Fing on bass.
The boys cut their teeth playing DIY shows before releasing their debut single, Floor, in 2022.
Floor immediately turned heads and floored quite a few fans, and a steady stream of singles through 2023 cemented KICKED-IN BICKIE TIN’s reputation as rising contenders in Australian music.
Their stand-alone single, Deep End, builds on the band’s signature mix of bright, catchy melodies and reflective lyrics that have built them a dedicated following since bursting on the scene three years ago.
Produced by Matt Cochran of Talk Heavy and mastered by Grammy-nominated audio engineer Will Yip, Deep End is equally joyous and melancholic, and a bittersweet reminder that sometimes, all people can do is keep swimming to get out of the deep end.
The track features plenty of infectious riffs and earwormy melodies as it explores finding gratitude and contentment while people struggle to keep their heads above water.
KICKED-IN BICKIE TIN will begin an east coast tour at Moree’s Amaroo Tavern this month.
Also performing will be Talk Heavy from Brisbane and Speira from the Sunshine Coast.
Despite being based far from major venues, KICKED-IN BICKIE TIN has built a robust following and has reached some major milestones along the way.
Benchmarks include four east coast tours already under their belt, Track of the Day notoriety on triple j Unearthed, sharing the stage with coastal punk rockers Beddy Rays at a sold-out show at The Triffid in Brisbane, and earning a NSW Parliament Community Recognition Statement.
To celebrate Deep End’s release, KICKED-IN BICKIE TIN will hit the road for an east coast tour of Queensland and New South Wales from late June.
Saturday, June 28: Amaroo Tavern, Moree (Free entry)
Friday, July 4: Finnian’s Tavern, Port Macquarie (Free entry)
Thursday, July 10: The Northern, Byron Bay (Free entry)
Friday, July 11: The Junk Bar, Brisbane (Ticketed)
Saturday, July 12: Solbar, Sunshine Coast (Ticketed)
