Kooked Out is here for the good times.

Founded by guitarist and vocalist John Fiore out of the Massachusetts town of Stoneham, Kooked Out’s animated and eclectic rock and roll –  a combination of indie, surf-pop, alternative, punk, reggae, and whatever else sounds good in the band’s colorful musical cauldron – belies its sleepy small suburban town origins.

In its early years, the band, named after Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker’s viral video interview from 2013, experienced several incarnations and various lineup changes until drummer and vocalist Chris Laskey joined in, crystallizing Fiore’s vision and solidifying Kooked Out’s sonic gameplan. Since then, the two have relentlessly toured up and down the East Coast as a duo, trio, and quartet in their vibrant hippie bus known affectionately as “The Kooky Bus.” With a tireless and ambitious live calendar, the band could as easily be found busking and hosting impromptu pop-up shows around the streets of Boston the afternoon before playing across the city’s rock club circuit by night. For Kooked Out, there is no slowing down.

The kaleidoscopic sound of the band has evolved naturally throughout the years and draws influences from almost every genre and decade of music from the 1930s to present day, crafting a unique mix of styles and sounds that have developed Kooked Out a cult-like following in the skate and surf communities. Leaning heavily into the music of the ’50s, ’60s and early 2000s, Kooked Out’s genre-spanning sound has become a calling card, both on record and live on stage, appropriate for a creative outlet that lists its top influences as Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Dick Dale, The Black Keys, Cage The Elephant, and Blink-182.

In 2022, Kooked Out self-released its emphatic debut album, Vis Viva. The response to the record – as well as the band advancing to the semi’s of the 2023 Rock And Roll Rumble, and a growing organic fanbase in their native New England – led to its re-release on cassette in Summer 2023.

Playing and writing all the material on Vis Viva, Fiore and Laskey have harnessed the energy of their live show and captured it in the studio, allowing every listener to join in and feel like they’re at a frenzied Kooked Out live show. Set against a backdrop of the outdoors and summer freedom, Vis Viva plays out like a mix tape a friend passed along, an adrenalized spirit of care-free ethos, all while weaving in tales of their own struggles and successes, touching upon lyrical themes of nostalgia, mental health, love, addiction, spirituality, a little bit of angst, and some good old fashioned fun.

Band Members:

John Fiore  - Guitar / Vocals
Chris Laskey- Drums / Vocals