July 10, 2023 | BOSTON HERALD
Let me say it one more time for everyone in the cheap seats: Take a black 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass S 442 with an orange racing stripe down the side and fill it with a disco ball, a bottle of cheap champagne, high heels, a Gibson SG, a James Brown bobblehead, a used tube of David Bowie’s eyeliner, a Beta copy of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and a whole mess of KISS and ABBA 8-tracks. Now crush the car into a pop song and you have “Dancing with Her Friends.”
- Jed Gottleib

February 16, 2020 | BOSTON HASSLE
The first time I first saw Sidewalk Driver, they were opening for Andrew WK at Brighton Musical Hall... Judging the band solely by appearance, I was expecting some sort of ironic glam metal parody in the vein of Steel Panther. While there is plenty of irony in Sidewalk Driver’s lyrics (Jenny Don’t Like the Boys is a longing love song about a guy willing to chop his dick off for a woman,) there is absolutely no irony involved in the pop aspect of their pop-rock sound. …I decided this was a band I need to see again… not only did I need to see the band again, but this is also an act I can take absolutely anyone to. The music is fun, the vibe is friendly, and Sidewalk Driver knows how to put on a show.
- Robert Mackenrodt

January 26, 2020 | BOSTON HERALD
Sidewalk Driver plays big, bold, unhinged rock ’n’ roll. Oh, sure, the band knows how to use nuance and dynamics to ensure its melodies never get crushed in the tornado of excess and enthusiasm. But see the quintet in concert and you’ll get swept up in glitter, glam and arena rock showmanship on a punk-at-the-local-club budget.
- Jed Gottlieb

April 4, 2018 | DAYKAMP MUSIC
Sidewalk Driver played TD Garden. I should probably mention that they opened for Bon Jovi. That part seems unimportant now. This is a band that has been bringing the joy of arena rock shows to small stages for years. That they’d eventually find their way into an actual arena shouldn’t have surprised anyone. It seemed almost inevitable, despite how intangible it may have felt at any given moment along the way. When opportunity presented itself they were magnificent. Just as they always are. Just on a bigger stage. In a bigger building. In front of more people. With the same amount of joy. Sidewalk Driver played TD Garden. Finally.
- Johnny Anguish

October 13, 2017 | STUDIO 52 / VANYALAND
Since the release of their most recent full-length record My Face at the top of 2015, Sidewalk Driver have been one of our favorite rock bands in Boston. It may be because the album is sheer perfection — a wonderful display of classic rock, inundated with catchy melodies and ripping guitar solos. Racking up a Boston Music Awards nomination almost every year since the start of the decade, they continue that trend this year with vocalist Tad McKitterick pulling one in for Male Vocalist of the Year. Sidewalk Driver’s eccentric live shows are the best way to experience their music through the raw energy they bring to every performance.
- Andrew Maroney

July 26, 2017 | KNOW YOUR SCENE
Sidewalk Driver brought the Glam. Frontman Tad McKitterick came to turn it up, and turn it up he did. Donning bedazzled head strips, (at least) six inch disco-glitter platforms and glowing suits, the lead singer wailed it out, invoking lipstick rockers of the past a la Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and the Walkers. The ‘Drivers’ power rock set had all the elements of a musical circus, a feast not just for the ears, very much for the eyes too...
- Raquel Friduchka

February 24, 2017 | AP News
Sidewalk Driver is Boston’s best glam rock outfit… but still has a cult audience.
- Jed Gottlieb

July 2, 2015 | HOWL MAGAZINE
We’d be hard-pressed to think of another hook-driven, hit machine better than Sidewalk Driver. This band is fun with a capital “F” and should be blasting pool-side all summer long. There isn’t a single bad song on their latest release My Face so we’re struggling to mention one. “Karaoke Guy (Monday Night)” is a hoot, but you got to love this band’s unique brand of electric power pop and their ability to embrace their inner weirdos with open arms.
- Victoria Wasylak

February 26, 2015 | DAYKAMP MUSIC
Sidewalk Driver’s magnum opus begins with the bang-bang combo of “Kidnapped” and “My Face.” These are two of my favorite songs, sans qualifiers, and no finer album opening salvo shall you find. “Call My Name” never fails to put a smile on my face. “Five Steps” is a mind-blowingly awesome, dirty birdie rocker with a hair metal heart. Sidewalk Driver works some Fat Albert funk into “Because I Want You.” “So Close” is expertly crafted pop. The live favorite “Karaoke Guy (Monday Night)” always brings the house down; the recorded version does the same. “We’re Going Down” and “Rock Star” tack on a couple more big rock tunes before “Ya Know” gently brings things to a perfect end. Are you convinced of My Face’s brilliance yet? I hope so.
- Johnny Anguish

February 4, 2015 | DAYKAMP MUSIC
Jed Gottlieb over at the Herald nailed it when he wrote “Sidewalk Driver eliminate the psychic space between audience and band with self-deprecating humor, simple love songs and humility.” Through all of the off-beat anthems and confetti bombast, Sidewalk Driver prove the heart of a really great show is having fun and sharing that fun with the sold out crowd that packed The Sinclair to see if this show can be even better than the last. It can. It was. I love this band.
- Johnny Anguish

January 19, 2015 | BOSTON HERALD
Bowie would have been impressed with McKitterick's makeup. Mott the Hoople would have loved their licks. Lady Gaga would have ripped off their stage show...
- Jed Gottlieb

January 18, 2015 | VANYALAND
'My Face' is a remarkably well-rounded rock and roll record that defies simple categorization. Its myriad sounds and personalities will take a while to fully digest, and there are layers here that warrant multiple listens to appreciate... In short: Boston has its first great rock record of 2015.
- Michael Marotta

January 15, 2015 | BROKE & AWESOME
The very first time I experienced Sidewalk Driver was at the Radio (RIP) 1st Anniversary which was probably close to 3 years ago. The Field Effect had played a super fun set, I may have had a beer or two and then I see this dude wearing platform shoes, sparkly light-up clothes, glitter make-up and a tiny top hat. That beacon of glam was Tad McKitterick - and damnit if he didn't have to voice of a rock 'n' roll angel.
- Doug Orey

January 14, 2015 | MOTIF MAGAZINE
With a sound that mixes the styles of Ziggy-Stardust-era Bowie, power pop pioneers Big Star and early ’80s arena rock, this eclectic act has a knack for being catchy and exuding a contagiously fun vibe. With impeccable quality from track to track, Sidewalk Driver’s 'My Face' is kicking the year off just right...
- Rob Duguay

January 13, 2015 | BOSTON HERALD
Boston rock fans think of Sidewalk Driver as a live band. They flock to see frontman Tad McKitterick’s tiny hats, tall boots and glitter gun. But subtract those little hats and what’s left? Amazing music, that’s what. Sidewalk Driver crammed rich melodies, sharp hooks and full-frontal rock guitar into every inch of its first LP in five years. Without [the] fun visuals, the focus tightens on ace songcraft, taut-but-dynamic arrangements and witty wordplay. ...to hear 10 straight tracks with so much brilliance knocked me on my keister.
- Jed Gottlieb

December 15, 2014 | VANYALAND
Every night before Sidewalk Driver hit the stage, frontman extraordinaire Tad ‎McKitterick undergoes a transformation from mild-mannered dude of chill to petal-winged, purple-scarred grand duke of glam rock. Now those powers of metamorphosis are being used to recruit the foundation of a sassed-out army in the Boston rock band’s new video for “Everybody Loves My Face”...
- Michael Marotta

December 15, 2014 | BISHOP AND ROOK
This song. Playing every time I enter a room. Quick question: can Tad teach me how to apply false eye lashes? Glamorous, fabulous, and anything but basic, Boston’s power pop rock band has released a new music video for the title track from their upcoming second full-length album, My Face. Follow Tad as he builds a glam army in a quest to take over the world. Or probably just to have some people to dance around him.
- Bishop & Rook

July 18, 2014 | BDCWIRE
The outlandish live antics of Sidewalk Driver are practically legendary and perhaps quintessential to anyone who considers themselves a true fan of the Boston Music Scene...
- Candace McDuffie

July 16, 2014 | DIG BOSTON
...without quality music to back it up, Sidewalk Driver could be easily dismissed as a gimmick. Tracks from their 2009 LP 'For All the Boys & Girls' reveal that’s not the case, as the band crafts emphatic power-pop with a rich sonic complexion, whether McKitterick is singing about summer camp teen romance on the soaring “Dancing With Her Friends” or going tongue-in-cheek with the sly “Jenny Don’t Really Like the Boys.” They’re ramping up the process of recording a follow up, but even when that drops, you’ll still need to buy a ticket to get the full experience.
- Martín Caballero

June 27, 2014 | THE BOSTON HERALD
One of our finest rock 'n' roll acts...
- Jed Gottlieb

April 6, 2014 | THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
The key to reaching beyond the gimmick and being a real band is having the right sound and when the Boston-based rock band Sidewalk Driver digs deep into its 1970s-esque beat, the sound is very, very right. Lead singer Tad McKitterick can be considered the gimmick — a flamboyant entertainer with full and colorful makeup, flashy costumes and the energy to endlessly strut from one end of the stage to another to keep the audience fully involved. Visually, it’s a David Lee Roth or a Davie Bowie experience. And what McKitterick does with his voice is equally as powerful as he pumps his vocals full of emotion and depth... Sidewalk Driver — which is working on its follow-up to debut album “For All the Boys & Girls” in 2009 — is anything but boring. Concerts are known for confetti showers adorning such signature songs as the guitar laden “Dancing with her Friends” and the opening hand clapping of “Radio.”
- Susan McDonald

July 26, 2013 | MUTINY ON THE MICROPHONE
Ahhhhhh, Sidewalk Driver. If you’ve never seen a Sidewalk Driver show, you are missing out... I love their album, For All the Boys & Girls... But, then you see them perform and it adds a whole different level to the music. There are costume changes. There are confetti showers... And as a band, Sidewalk Driver is so connected to each other on stage. They have a chemistry that is difficult to describe in words. It truly was a fabulous, glamorous show.
- Melissa John

December 6, 2011 | DAYKAMP MUSIC
Come showtime, Sidewalk Driver did what they do best: worked their glorious confetti and power chord magic to make the audience swoon. Isn’t that what they always do? Hell yes, it is. This band lives to entertain.
- Johnny Anguish

December 1, 2011 | THE PHOENIX
A thunderous rock anthem like "Dancing With Her Friends" was just born to fill up a big room, and tonight SIDEWALK DRIVER gets that chance as the colorful Boston glam n' glitter crew open for the B-52's at the House of Blues.
- Michael Marotta

November 30, 2011 | RYAN'S SMASHING LIFE
If you have never seen [Sidewalk Driver] you are missing out. Dollar for dollar, this is probably the best entertainment for your buck. McKitterick, besides being funny as hell, is probably one of the region's strongest vocalists. The best part? You never know what you'll get with a Sidewalk Driver show!
- Ryan Spaulding

October 8, 2011 | BOSTON HERALD
OK, Sidewalk Driver. Cool band, great live, deserving of all the usual accolades. But the take home message is what I knew it would be: “Dancing with Her Friends” might be the greatest song ever written (as good live as it is on record)...
- Jed Gottlieb

July 28, 2011 | DAYKAMP MUSIC
Sidewalk Driver are known for their over the top live performances. Anyone who has ever walked out of the club covered in glitter and confetti after one of their shows will tell you that. They’re one of those bands you’ll tell your kids about having seen back in the day. The thing that makes Sidewalk Driver truly special, though, is that they manage to back up all the glitz and glamor with great musicianship and songs so catchy no quarantine can contain them. For All The Boys And Girls is a non-stop barrage of clever lyrics and big rock hooks...
- Johnny Anguish

April 28, 2011 | DAYKAMP MUSIC
The morning after Semi-Final Night #1 of the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble I found myself in my kitchen trying to describe the night to my son. He’s 4 years old. For several minutes I told him about platform boots, confetti cannons, playing guitar behind your head, layers of outrageous costumes, facial adornments, winged shirts and glitter. I told my wife about the witty and outrageously infectious songs. “The singer, Tad, wore a little hat… and he shot confetti out of the hat!” I explained excitedly. There was a brief pause while my son took it all in... "Is this real?” ...Yup. It’s real. It’s called Sidewalk Driver...
- Johnny Anguish

April 15, 2011 | PLAYGROUND BOSTON
Congrats to Sidewalk Driver for their victory on the third night of the Preliminary Round of the 2011 Rock & Roll Rumble! Ripping solos, more glitter and confetti than a teenage birthday party, and one of the most commanding and captivating voices in the city propelled the band to the winner’s circle over one of the toughest lineups in the entire competition!
- Bryan Donoghue

April 10, 2011 | RYAN'S SMASHING LIFE
After months of noteworthy (often legendary) live performances here in New England, McKitterick and Sidewalk Driver played one of the most inspired sets in modern Rumble history on Saturday night before a sold-out crowd. The vote that advanced Sidewalk Driver, which seemed a forgone conclusion based on what had unfolded, allowed anxious Rumble buzzhounds to whisper it up about the forthcoming Semi-Final match-ups.
- Ryan Spaulding

March 31, 2011 | THE BOSTON GLOBE
Led by chrome-domed, platform-booted frontman Tad McKitterick, Sidewalk Driver is a band of cheeky culture vultures who like to name-check ABBA, Frank Black, and Baryshnikov in songs, but never forget to fuel their dance-floor fun with rock ’n’ roll fire — not to mention glitter-encrusted hooks galore. Call it glam, call it power pop, we’re calling it hard to beat.
- Jonathan Perry

December 20, 2010 | RYAN'S SMASHING LIFE
One of the best Live Acts in New England... We're a fan of the band and their hardworking and likable singer Tad McKitterick. Ignoring all the guitar and stage flair, folks; this guy could be the most talented male voice this city's live music scene's got to offer. Not convinced? You gotta see this band live!
- Ryan Spaulding

December 17, 2010 | THE WASHINGTON POST
From the tick-tock guitars of "Dancing With Her Friends" to the opening hand claps of "Radio," the band jubilantly regresses to the days of the Cars, the Sidewinders and the Real Kids.
- Mark Jenkins

August 18, 2010 | C.D. ON SONGS
What is up with these Sidewalk Driver kids? Are they going to ever take a break from writing these infectious and addictive songs? They haven't yet, so why start now? It's like they are all vampires and are just continually glamoring us every time we gaze into their (musical) eyes...
- C.D. Di Guardia

June 2, 2010 | BAND OVER BOSTON
What can be said about Sidewalk Driver that hasn’t been already? They’re pop royalty, but they don’t preach or issue decrees – they lead by example. Tight, chugging guitars, perfectly-placed harmonies, and an impeccable rhythm section set the stage for Tad’s skipping over, weaving through, and soaring high above.
- Cullen Corley

April, 2010 | NOT LAME
INSANELY AWESOME! Sidewalk Driver's "For All The Boys & Girls" is an album that you listen to and if you do not end up in a more happy, joy induced state, you may need medication to pull you out of your funk. With choruses of handclaps, armies of singalong melodies and a band bonhomie that makes the band your new band best friends... After 4 listens the last few weeks, it has been added to my Top 10 list for the year... Strains of "Ziggy"-era Bowie, late 70s new wavey pop combine to a modern rock strain that fans of Locksley and The Killers anthemically float in and out this highly textured music. All of it infused with endelible melodies, warm harmonies and the production values that picky pop fans will appreciate.
- Bruce Brodeen

December 23, 2009 | THE METRO - BOSTON
Sidewalk Driver's long-awaited debut LP perfectly channels their energetic live performances into a smartly crafted, deftly produced party platter. Bursting with flavors of glam rock and hook-filled pop that owe to the Cars, Elton John and the Pixies, there isn't a single skippable track on it.
- Selene Angier

December 10, 2009 | WEEKLY DIG
Sequins, capes, fake eyelashes: Tad McKitterick busts out these big guns, in addition to his octave-leaping pipes, as frontman for Sidewalk Driver. Their showmanship and epic balladry make them one of most legitimate glam acts in Boston.
- Hilary Hughes

August 28, 2009 | C.D. ON SONGS
A good chorus can and will get you everywhere. The chorus to Sidewalk Driver's "Dancing With Her Friends" might get them free admittance to Disney World, the upcoming Winter Classic and the Oval Office all at once... McKitterick sings like a man chemically dependent upon the chorus, an addiction he soon passes along.
- C.D. Di Guardia

July 30, 2009 | PLAYGROUND BOSTON
I think [Sidewalk Driver] might have had the most memorable set of the entire festival... words alone cannot possibly describe this spectacle... the band pulled off a jaw-dropping performance. They were tight, they were talented, and I loved hearing guitarist Jared Egan lay down some ridiculous solos as Tad McKitterick’s vocals soared, displaying his incredibly vast range. Sidewalk Driver’s final song was perhaps the most powerful moment of the week... Sidewalk Driver came out with one of the most moving, soulful, and absolutely beautiful versions of David Bowie’s “Rock n Roll Suicide” that has EVER been played - anywhere. I’ll stand by this broad statement, no question... The entire crowd - which had filled out since the beginning of the set - was stunned into silence for a good ten seconds after the close of the song before breaking out into an awestruck standing ovation. It was clear that I had just bore witness to one of the most heartrending performances I’ve ever seen, and I think all in attendance would most likely agree.
- Bryan Donoghue

July 14, 2007 | PERFORMER MAG: NORTHEAST
If The Great Bandini sounds like a magician’s name, then Tad McKitterick from headliner Sidewalk Driver was the lovely assistant — a large man in full showgirl costume complete with knee-high sparkling boots and purple plumage adorning his head. Even though he looked like a Moulin Rouge showgirl, McKitterick never had to strain or stretch to hit seemingly out-of-range notes in Sidewalk Driver’s sparkly glam throwbacks... The night ended in theatrics and glitter, leaving all satisfied.
- C.D. Di Guardia