Florida Men Bring (Even More) Heat to the Lone Star State
Even after a 600-mile trek to the other side of the country, Kairo still manages to PAN-handle a stage.
Josh Leemon has a lot of titles: student, veteran, and lead singer of an alternative rock band. Madeline Bullie
Imagine this. You just got the opportunity of a lifetime to sit in on a practice session for one of your favorite up-and-coming bands. Undeniably, you’re stoked! So, you hop in your car and drive over.
Unfortunately, the only person there when you show up is the lead singer/guitarist. He’s friendly, so you make small talk. The drummer shows up about 15 minutes later. You soon discover it’s his house and wonder, “How can you be late when practice is at your own house?” You find that odd, but brush it off, considering he’s a chill guy.
More time passes, and the second guitarist and bassist trickle in. “Alright, we can finally get started,” you prompt.
“Wait, we’re missing one more person.”
You glance down at your watch. It’s already been an hour and a half, but you’re in no rush, and, once again, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You won’t pass it up over something as minor as a straggler. So, you wait, and another hour passes.
At last, the final member waltzes through the door, plops down on a chair, and whips out his guitar. As if on cue, the other guys pull out guitars, too. A bit confused, you look around the room for the first time and find no other instruments; there are only guitars.
They all start playing at once, just a bunch of noise. The moment you’re about to give up and leave, it hits you like a baseball bat. Everything begins to meld seamlessly. It’s a beautiful wave of airy vocals, ethereal guitars, and the synchrony of five friends putting their heads together to make something beautiful. It’s Kairo.
Originating in Pensacola, Fla. (home of beautiful beaches, The Handlebar, and Mr. Pollo), Kairo (whose name is derived from a Japanese horror movie) is the brainchild of Josh Leemon, lead singer/guitarist, and Miles Turner, second guitarist.
“Me and him [Turner], we started this band together. We had two other people who we’ve now replaced with this lineup,” said Leemon.
The current quintet consists of Leemon and Turner, bassist C.J. Castillo (also the lead singer of Glazed Eyes), third guitarist Adam Hensley, and drummer Ryan Henderson. Turner was the original drummer but transitioned to playing guitar full-time when Henderson came along.
Regarding their sound, the members have cited many of the greats as references, such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Honeydip, to name a few. Their goal? To “fuse 90s alt-rock with shoegaze-type elements.”
With everything that goes on outside of making music, from going to school to building a physique to raising a kid, the band itself (as a unit) allows Kairo to express their innermost thoughts.
“Music is a very genuine thing, but I feel like I put a lot of emotions into the lyrics,” said Leemon. “There’s something for everything you’re going through… It’s a very sincere output of emotions. I’m very bad at communicating my feelings, so it’s the one outlet I’ve got that, hopefully, works.”
Now, while the story told at the beginning may have a few fanciful parts, most of it is fact-based, according to Castillo and Henderson, who’s also the lead singer/guitarist of a second band called Snow Halo. Practice sessions can get a bit hectic.
“Adam gets there about two hours late. C.J., about 30 minutes late. Me? [I’m] about 15 minutes late even though it’s at my house. Josh, early,” said Ryan. “It’s usually all of them playing guitar at the same time in my house when I’m trying not to bother my neighbors too much. It’s not great.”
If you ever get the chance, see these guys live. You won’t regret it. Even now, seeing how many people come to see them perform is a surreal experience. However, no matter how famous they get, the boys of Kairo will always be a band of buds who simply enjoy making music together, whether playing the same instrument or violently vomiting from overeating ice cream. Can it get much better than that?
See photos from Kairo’s show at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio on August 31, 2024, here.
Check out some of the music mentioned below!