Roy Jurgens on July 10th, 2018

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Punch Punch Kick’s new video is a glorious tribute to the art of LARPing. (In case you were wondering, LARPing is Live Action Role Playing.)

So just how did a confectionery power-pop song like “Licking My Wounds” turn into a “Game of Thrones” type epic? Well, credit that to director Paul Emerson, who reached out to the band after hearing the single. The band was immediately sold on the LARP treatment and the green light was given.

Lead singer Phil McDonald explained how the shoot went down: “The budget was indie-level, so there was a ton of hard work put in on all sides to pull it off. We worked with a really amazing LARP group called Twin Mask, who are based here in Southern California. They were extremely helpful in getting everyone garbed up in the wardrobes and weapons you see in the video. Many of their members were at the shoot and gave some really incredible performances. They were also really supportive of other people that were there for the shoot that hadn’t gone LARPing before, giving them tips on sword fighting and things. We had a few friends and family members out there as well that wanted to join the fun.”

O’Melveny Park in Granada Hills served as an excellent filming location, as Emerson had shot there before and was convinced the area had a certain mystical feel to it.

The song itself has precious little to do with literal medieval combat, but the metaphor is apt. Loosely based upon the struggles of McDonald’s own personal relationship with his wife, the lyrics focus on the inherent struggles of maintaining a relationship in a modern world where time is scarce and quality time scarcer, and working to use those personal battles to make their union even stronger. 

“Licking My Wounds” is the debut single off Punch Punch Kick’s self-titled LP, which features 11 songs of poppy bliss, recalling the likes of the Posies, Jimmy Eats World and Weezer.

||| Watch: The video for “Licking My Wounds”