"Punchlines 2.0" - Keep This Up Bassist Chris Hicks Revisits The Track That Started It All

Keep This Up's Chris Hicks takes centre stage [photo: Keep This Up]

March 2021: a small Peterborough band called Keep This Up release their debut single, "Punchlines". Fast forward a few years - the band are steadily growing, albeit leaving the pop punk sound behind in favour of something heavier. But the question stands - what if they stuck with their old sound? Keep This Up bassist Chris Hicks answers this question with a revitalised, refreshed version of the track.

A swell introduces the track, before upbeat drums and guitars take over. A synth/keyboard adds a nice touch over the top, and the vocals deliver your typical pop punk sound. It might be out of Hicks' comfort zone, but he hides it well, carrying the track with power and professionalism.

It's hard listening to this track without directly comparing it to the 2021 original, but time and experience have been very kind here. Little may have been changed, but everything has been turned up a notch in terms of quality and production. It provides a nice window into an alternative trajectory for Hicks' band, one where the more traditional pop punk sound remained a staple.

Looking at it in a vacuum though, the track stands strong on its own merits. The guitars are tight, delivering that pop punk punch, and the instruments fit together perfectly.

By the time the final note rings out, you'll be woah-oh-ing along like it's nothing. And by the time you've turned the song off, you'll still be humming along, only this time subconsciously; the track succeeds in wiggling its way into your brain long after its finished. This is good, fun music, with an infectious melody to boot.

If one thing is certain, it's that time, effort and love have been poured in copiously by Hicks. The end result is a worthy successor to the original track.

"Punchlines 2.0" is out now [photo: Chris Hicks]

"Punchlines 2.0" is out NOW on streaming platforms