| Kid Icarus | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Dunmore, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Summersteps Records |
| Associated acts | Suetta |
| Website | www.kid-icarus.com |
| Members | |
| Eric Schlittler Ted Baird Justin Marchegiani Jeff Gilotti |
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| Past members | |
| Thad Moyer Jeff Schlittler Cassie Rose (Kobeski) Jason Johnson Steve Guse Ken Stevens Psychatrone Rhonedakk |
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Kid Icarus is an American indie rock group based in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, born of a solo recording project by Eric Schlittler. The band has released five full-length albums: Maps of the Saints, Be My Echo, The Metal West, Imaginary Songs & Aluminum Hits and American Ghosts.
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After leaving the band Suetta, Eric Schlittler began producing cassette recordings using inexpensive home equipment.[1] Calling his project Kid Icarus after the 1987 Nintendo Entertainment System video game of the same name,[2][3] Schlittler recorded Maps of the Saints in 1998 and 1999.[4] The album contained lo-fi songs in the style of Guided by Voices,[4] as well as psychedelic tracks influenced by Roky Erickson, Scott Walker, and Syd Barrett.[5] Schlittler's next album, 2002's Be My Echo, included a mix of lo-fi rock and acoustic singer-songwriter music.[6] A remastered reissue of Maps of the Saints followed in 2003.[5] While Schlittler continued to write and record in his home studio,[2] Kid Icarus grew as a project to incorporate his friends and other musicians in northeastern Pennsylvania.[1] The Metal West, Kid Icarus's third album, was released in 2005, and marked Schlittler's first attempt at a hi-fi recording.[2][3] The album featured contributions from guitarist Justin Marchegiani,[2] bassist Ted Baird, drummer Thad Moyer, and keyboardist Chuck Keller.[3] Spin magazine writer Lane Brown compared Schlittler's vocals to Elliott Smith, and called the band "Pavement on psychedelics."[2] Mike Schiller of PopMatters described the album's lead track, "Beekeepers on the Edge of Town", as the "most obvious choice for a possible hit." Schiller added that the song sounded somewhat like The Hives, "if [singer] Howlin’ Pelle [Almqvist] was Dronin’ Pelle."[3] Kid Icarus released a split 7" single with the band Das Black Milk in 2009.[7]