Sunday 09/12/07 Black Kids, Soko @ Nambucca, London

London’s Holloway Road on a wet and windy Sunday evening isn’t exactly the most welcoming of places in the world but sat on the floor of Nambucca while being introduced to the kooky Parisian charms of Soko Gigwise could be mistaken for feeling like they’re at one of the summer’s more arty festivals – it’s all very gentiles.

It’s difficult to know what to make of our French friend. Playing a solo show with just ukulele and keyboard (She is normally supported by a full band) she comes across as a real life Phoebe Buffet with song titles such as ‘I Hate Your Dog’, ‘Baby Cat’ and ‘I Think I’m Pregnant’. There’s definitely the influence of Daniel Johnson throughout with very little attention paid to the music, all simple beats and strums, and nursery rhyme like storytelling but beneath the simplicity the words cut deep with an emotional wit. Shy and bumbling throughout there is something charming about Soko in her innocent persona that makes her music no matter how absurd beautifully arresting.

Those of us sitting are forced to stand as the audience swells in anticipation for the arrival of Black Kids. Many in the crowd will no doubt be hear on the back of the word of mouth hype that has built around the Jacksonville quintet since the release of their superb demo ‘Wizards Of Ahhhs’. It is doubtful that any band is worthy of such attention so early on but there is no doubt that Black Kids are already a good live prospect.

Starting with ‘Listen To Your Body Tonight’ and ‘I’ve Underestimated My Charm Again’ the signatures are all there – rousing soft-rock solos from front man Reggie Youngblood and Do-whop harmonies the Pippettes would kill for from the keys duo of Ali Youngblood and Dawn Watley. Its tight without being a clinical recreation of the band’s recorded output and on ‘Hurricane Jane’ Youngblood comes into his own as a front man, his breathy laid back vocal on the picked solo transforming into a soaring plead in the chorus.

The double whammy of ‘Hit The Heartbrakes’ leading into ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’ is the moment when you realise that Black Kids are the real deal, the later being the kind of joyous sing-a-long that really draws you in to loving them. They close the set with the messier but equally epic sounding ‘Look At Me When I Rock With You’ with the final note coinciding with a simple “Thank you” from Reggie Youngblood.

There is no doubt that the hype surrounding Black Kids is preposterous but there is also no doubt that they are a very promising new band and worthy of your attention.