Radio Free Alice have explored themes of isolation and confusion in the lively new single ‘Kick In The Shins’. Check it out below.
The track is the latest from the new wave/post-punk band since they dropped two singles last year, ‘Toyota Camry’ and ‘Rule 31’, before following them up with ‘Lunch Money’, their first new music of 2026.
Out now via Atlantic, the new release is borne of two songs the band were working on, and ultimately put together. It is led by upbeat, summer-inspired guitar melodies, paired with Noah Learmonth’s distinctive, charismatic vocals.
“In echo park they really did me in/ They tied me up to some public bins/ I said the cavern club is now a Morrisons/ So here’s a twisted arm/ Here’s a kick in the shins,” he sings, building towards the chorus.
“And the only time that they kick him around/ He’s crying out loud cus he’s never been found/ I’ve been hearing his voice from under the ground/ Crying out loud cus you’re never around.”
“‘Kick In The Shins’ is a fusion of two songs that never felt all the way complete,” Learmonth explained.
“We loved the verse of one of them and the chorus of the other, and it worked when we combined the two. At its core, it explores the feeling of being confused by the culture around you, and the isolation that often comes with that confusion.”
With the song, the band continue their work with Ewan Pearson (Depeche Mode, Metronomy) and Peter Katis (Interpol, The National).
Following multiple sold-out shows across 2025, this year alone has already seen Radio Free Alice join Geese for their sold-out February tour of Australia, and make their debut at New York’s Governor’s Ball.
They continue their run of festival dates this summer, including a slot at Tramlines in Sheffield on Friday (July 24) and Truck Festival in Abingdon on Saturday (July 25).
From there, they will play at Y Not in Derbyshire at the end of the month, before slots at Boardmasters, Way Out West, Reading Festival and more in August. Live shows wrap up with a stop at Riot Fest in Chicago on September 18. Visit here for tickets and more information.
Last year, Radio Free Alice made their way onto the NME 100 list, and were described as “revitalising the distinct ’80s basslines and sharp guitar riffs of The Smiths and Joy Division”.
“Melbourne’s Radio Free Alice have staked their claim as a rising force,” the entry added. “From the slick and sexy ‘Spain’ to the riveting ‘On The Ground’, they’ve displayed their strength in transforming nostalgic, gritty post-punk sounds into something much more sleek and concise. The band are due to spend some time in the UK, where new music is soon to come…”
