Black Kids: Hype Survival

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months, you can’t help but have heard of Black Kids. Unlike some other tips for 2008 who are just vacuous hype and hot air (no mention, Adele), Black Kids have the tunes and the talent to match the plaudits. In fact, we’re willing to hedge a bet that they could develop into something very special indeed. Gigwise duly caught up with Kevin and Reggie from the band at London’s ULU at the tail end of their recent UK promotional stint to discuss all.

“In the beginning it was awkward, especially for those of us who weren’t black,” says drummer Kevin Snow with a cautious smile creeping across his lips. “There were times when real black kids would ask us what our band name was and Owen and I would just avoid the question and say ‘oh, you won’t have heard of us’.”

Incredibly, ‘In the beginning’ was only six months ago, when soaring, doo-wop-pop rockers Black Kids were content playing local indie discos in their hometown Jacksonville. Back then few people would have heard of them but now it’s all changed - they’re managed by Scott Rodger (He of Arcade Fire fame), signed to Almost Gold Records (an indie spin-off of major label Mercury), touring with the likes of Sons & Daughters and Kate Nash. And all this before going in to the studio next month to record they’re debut album with Bernard Butler. A lot can happen in six months.

Explaining their roots, charismatic frontman Reggie reveals the band started out at Sunday School; “I think the first time I noticed those guys was when we all had to bow our heads for prayer and I was there just head up, looking around, and I saw one kid over there, head up, looking around, and we just thought, let’s start a band.”

Reflecting upon their fellow Florida bands, including Limp Bizkit, Reggie affirms “It’s a very diverse scene. There’s this really dirty rap duo called Heavy Flow. They’re just the filthiest girls I’ve ever met; they have a song called ‘a blowjob is still a job, and I’m gonna work my ass off’!” (you heard it here first Gigwise readers).

“Also there’s a group called Buffalo Star and they’re really great: it’s kind of a small scene of four people and we’re all in these bands really,” he continues, cutting a sideways glance at Kevin that suggests they could be making it all up.

After too long playing the backing tracks on an ipod, Reggie got his little sister Ali to join, and with her came best friend Dawn. “It’s cool in a way, because I don’t think we would hang around otherwise,” says Reggie, glancing over at his sister. “I was aware that my sister was more talented than I was and I thought, how can I use that to my advantage? So we brought her into the fold, discovered her friend was a pianist and basically manipulated that situation to our advantage.”

Indeed, they’ve done well with manipulating things. When good friend and local gig promoter Brendan needed a band to play the local Athens Pop Fest (not to be confused with AthFest) he knew who to turn to. “We went to it and played about two o’clock in the afternoon, and it was a tiny venue: really low-key,” says Kevin, carefully squeezing any glamour out of the affair.