Localized: Polytype & King Niko

King Niko

 

 

King Niko is an unbridled yet committed group of dudes who came together in 2009. It’s not uncommon to see lead singer Ransom Wydner fall off the stage during a show (unintentionally or intentionally)—just ask anyone who’s recently attended one of their live performances. These guys have heart. “[We] just wanna make the chicks dance,” says band founder Benny Moffatt, who claims this as the band’s mission statement since Day One, a concept that brought the band together. 

 

The band today consists of Wydner, Moffatt on lead guitar, Tim Rawcliffe on bass, Nate Leslie on drums and Reid Laitinen on synthesizer and keys. “Ben and Tim are like a cop buddy movie,” says Wydner—they’ve always stuck together. Just picture Leslie Nielsen and O.J. Simpson in Naked Gun, and that should make you understand. Before this wild five-piece came to fruition, Moffatt and Rawcliffe were in a jam band called Mother City. Moffatt was tired of seeing the same row of dudes at their shows standing in front and nodding their heads. He had seen Wydner perform already in his cousin’s band, All Things Glowing Brightly. Moffatt called the group of guys who would initially form the band together, and said what has become those famous words: “I just wanna be in a band that makes the chicks dance.” Andrew Sullivan and Zach Sloan left the band for personal reasons, and that gave Laitinen and Leslie a chance to take their spots. Wydner refers to Moffatt as the band’s “spiritual father.” In other words, he’s the most experienced guy in the group, and he’s also the most successful. “He’s actually done a song for a snowboarding video game,” says Wydner. So when Moffatt invited these guys to head in a new direction with a dance rock band, they had no reservations, and King Niko was born. The name of the band is a tribute to Nico Hidalgo, one of Salt Lake’s very own street taco vendors. If that’s not local and power to the people, then you tell me what is.

 

The band has been ardent from the start. “I love traveling,” says Wydner. These guys don’t just enjoy making music—they live to perform it live. “We want to dream big,” says Wydner. Their first show was lined up two weeks after the band organized, and they had zero songs written, but they pulled together five songs for a 20-minute set, and it was a success. “Our first year was wild and fast,” says Wydner. Corey O’Brien, music director at X96, is a big reason behind the band’s success and current exposure. When he heard the guys play early on, he told them, “I wanna help you guys out,” says Price. With O’Brien’s help, the band ended up opening for 30 Seconds to Mars, and holds the all-time record for the most plays on X96’s local showcase, Exposed. They also played at the Halloween Howl party at Utah State in 2009, and later on, they did Powellpallooza. Needless to say, from the beginning, these guys have been through the experiences that form strong bonds within a band. “Nothing’s sacred between us,” says Wydner. “That’s why we all have such good rapport with one another.” They even won City Weekly Music Awards Band of the Year in 2011. 

 

After all of these exciting moments, the band has still found trouble finding their true sound. “We’re finding what we like to sound like,” says Wydner. “The fact that we’re hard to categorize has been a criticism towards us for a while.” All that criticism can stop with the release of their new album, Oh Hey!, produced by Michael Sasich, the man behind production for local group Laserfang. The band wanted a grittier sound with simpler lyrics, for the sake of appeal. “Simple is easier to relate [to],” says Wydner. In terms of the album’s grit, Wydner says, “The chicks don’t have to dance clean.” When I listen to “Boss Fight” off the new album, I can definitely hear where dirty dancing could be encouraged. “Dance rock was being so overdone that we decided, ‘Let’s get a message in there, but be strong,’” says Moffatt. “‘Boss Fight’” is about how someone who loves you and understands you can be your greatest enemy,” says Wydner. The song features drilling guitars with industrial-like synths and harshly sung lyrics by Wydner. It’s sure to up the tension and energy wherever it’s played. The album, overall, has plenty to offer, with “20,000 Leagues Out of My League” being the one I enjoy the most. It starts off with Price speak-singing self-aware lyrics with a style that reminds me of late Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell. Those paced vocals soon turn to a shout that reveals the true heart and desperation of the band.

 

“These are seasoned songs,” says Moffatt. “We’re glad they’re complete, and we’re ready to close this chapter.” King Niko look forward to performing some of their new album live at Localized. After having accomplished so many notable local feats, playing for Localized is one of the last bits of recognition they’ve felt worthy of receiving. Leaving the day jobs behind and playing for a living is definitely something they desire. “We love our roots,” says Wydner. Moffatt sums it all up as he says, “But we wouldn’t mind being a crappy national band rather than just a great local band.”