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Last Updated:
Apr 29th, 2008 - 12:06:10 |
Black Kids
Not In Kansas Anymore
It only takes one great (or horrible) song to go down in history. With a terrific four-track demo, Wizard Of Ahhhs, Jacksonville, Florida five-piece Black Kids are one of the most buzzed about bands of 2008, touring with the beloved cult Melbourne electro-disco act Cut Copy on the strength of word of mouth. Although the band’s drummer, Kevin Snow, explains that the group has had an album’s worth of material for quite some time (they just completed their upcoming full-length, Partie Neurotic), maybe offering four magnificent tracks for free on Myspace benefited the band with a "less is more" strategy.
The cuts are instant dance parties, reminiscent of The Cure’s early-‘80s days. With pouting lead singer Reggie Youngblood wearing his heart on his sleeve, songs like the jealous jingle “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” are winning people over. Kevin Snow tells RDW more:
I read you guys were Sunday school kids.
Yeah, we grew up in the church, it’s sorta the norm out here in the Bible Belt.
Did you guys get a chance to travel outside of Florida before Black Kids?
We did with the first band I was in with Reggie. It’s hard to admit now, but we were in a ska band and we had these really rough, no money at all miniature tours. It was pretty much the southeast; we made it to California once but the shows were terrible
What was the ska band’s name?
It was called Honey Locusts. Being teenagers in the church, it was a right of passage to have a Christian band — all our friends were like, “Let’s start a band and sing about god!” [Laughs].
How was it growing up in the Bible Belt? I always wonder if I would’ve bought into the crazy religion stuff or been like, “I think this is bullshit.”
Yeah, exactly, there’s definitely, like, the range and we were obviously kinda on the edge. I guess we were pushing buttons 'cuz the leaders of the church weren’t happy that we were playing in this Christian rock band, and then we bleached our hair and all that stuff, so we were pissing everyone off.
From his lyrics, Reggie comes off a little like a ladies man …
[Laughs]. In reality, he’s had tough luck with the ladies, but he manages to turn that into some fantastic songs.
Is Reggie Youngblood his real name?
It’s his real name and actually I found his full name to be more marketable, Reginald Constantino Youngblood. His dad is an ex-boxer and I believe he named him after Reggie Jackson and his sister Ali was named after Muhammad Ali … Is this the alt-weekly in Detroit?
Yes.
Owen [bassist] and I used to work at the alternative weekly in Jacksonville, Folio Weekly. Owen was the journalist and I was the graphic designer, that’s the job we quit to pursue Black Kids.
Oh, so you know the alt-weekly struggle …
In our situation, the really creative, interesting ideas tended to get struck down because it was a very conservative city. Even the alt-weekly couldn’t get away with a lot of things because you’re in danger of pissing off the clients who buy ads — it was frustrating.
I read that the two white guys in the group were uncomfortable with the band name, has that changed?
[Laughs]. Well, no, not too much, but I guess it's been a while that I’ve been in a situation where I felt awkward. I’m certainly proud of our band name — I love it. | RDW
Black Kids • 5/8 • Magic Stick
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