Black Kids

All Music Guide:

Once again demonstrating the power of the Internet in breaking new bands, in a matter of months the Black Kids came from obscurity to become one of the most talked-about bands at the 2007 CMJ Music Marathon, all on the basis of four songs posted on the band's MySpace page and a lot of buzz among music bloggers. Hailing from Jacksonville, FL, the Black Kids consist of Reggie Youngblood on guitar and lead vocals, Ali Youngblood and Dawn Watley on keyboards and backing vocals, Owen Holmes on bass, and Kevin Snow on drums. Reggie and Ali, who are brother and sister, met the other three members of the group while attending the same Sunday-school classes as kids (Reggie points out that in the often-conservative South, Sunday school is a great place to socialize with the opposite sex), and in 2006 they got together to form a band.

Combining bouncy '60s-style pop, '80s new wave atmospherics, and upbeat dance grooves played with a playful, organic spirit, the Black Kids had earned a loyal local following when they posted their four-song EP, Wizard of Ahhhs, on their MySpace page in August 2007. The witty, hook-laden tunes impressed music fans in Florida and Georgia who had seen the Black Kids' live shows (in particular a fabled appearance at the 2007 Popfest in Athens, GA), and several bloggers began writing up the band. Word spread like wildfire across the Internet, and "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" and "Hurricane Jane" were being hailed as potential hit singles. After Vice magazine, New Musical Express, and Pitchfork Media began talking up the band, the Black Kids' appearances at the CMJ Music Marathon in October 2007 found them turning away hundreds of curious music fans and winning rapturous notices in the music press, all without the benefit of a record deal. Not long after the CMJ appearances, the Black Kids signed a management deal with Quest Management, and were booked to play their first tour of England while weighing offers from several record labels. After signing with Columbia Records in the States and Almost Gold Recordings for distribution in regions outside North America, they recorded their debut, Partie Traumatic, produced by former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. The album was officially released in July of 2008.

Wikipedia:

Black Kids is an American Indie rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. The band's debut EP, Wizard of Ahhhs, received favorable critical response in 2007, and was followed by the Partie Traumatic album, which debuted at #5 on the UK Albums Chart in July 2008.Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page).

History[edit]

Black Kids formed in Jacksonville in 2006. The lineup consists of siblings Reggie Youngblood (lead vocals and guitar) and Ali Youngblood (keyboards and backing vocals), Owen Holmes (bass guitar), Kevin Snow (drums), and Dawn Watley (keyboards and backing vocals). Although they initially performed only in Jacksonville, they received national attention after a breakout performance at the Athens Popfest in Athens, Georgia on August 11, 2007, which led to a sudden flurry of coverage in the music press, including NME, Vice, The Guardian, and The Village Voice. The same month, Black Kids' demo EP, Wizard of Ahhhs, was released via free download on their MySpace page. Soon after, Black Kids began working with Quest Management, the company that manages Björk and Arcade Fire. In October, the EP received a favorable review of 8.4 out of 10 from Pitchfork Media, including a "Best New Music" commendation.

Black Kids participated in the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City in October, earning the band exposure in The New York Times and USA Today. In December the band traveled to London for a brief tour. Rolling Stone called them one of ten "Artists to Watch" for 2008 and the band was also included in the BBC Sound of 2008 poll.

Black Kids toured the United Kingdom in early 2008, including the Vice Live Tour with Friendly Fires and Ipso Facto, a Sons and Daughters tour, and a Kate Nash tour. In April and May, Black Kids toured the United States as an opening act for Cut Copy. The band played the summer festival circuit in the U.S. and the UK, including the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, Radio 1's Big Weekend in May [1], Glastonbury Festival in June, and T in the Park and Camp Bestival in July. Black Kids then headlined an international tour in the U.S. and Europe from June to November.

While in the UK in early 2008 the band recorded their debut album, Partie Traumatic, with producer Bernard Butler, former guitarist of Suede. Their first single, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You", was released in the UK on April 7 and debuted at #11 on the UK Singles Chart. "Hurricane Jane", the follow-up single, was released in the UK on June 23, where it charted at #36. The album Partie Traumatic was released on July 7 in the UK on Almost Gold Recordings, debuting at #5, and was released two weeks later in the US on Columbia Records, debuting at #127.

In 2009 Black Kids performed at the Big Day Out festivals in New Zealand and Australia. They have also toured with Kaiser Chiefs in the U.K. and Mates of State in the U.S. Their song "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You," was used in a trailer for the movie "Fame", and is featured on the soundtrack of the 2009 film Jennifer's Body. "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" was also offered as an iTunes Free Download in July 2008. It is also featured in FIFA 09, and was performed on Glee on May 10, 2011. Hurricane Jane was also on the playlist of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.

They are currently writing songs for their second album. The band played new songs on their Mini-Tour along Florida as seen on their setlist. The new songs are possible related or at least contain the words 'Trippin', 'Smokes', 'Castles', 'Rude Boys' and 'Weird Hearts'. On a session for XPN2, Owen Holmes, their bassist, acting out as Gospel Music, his solo project, told that the band is still having fun together as friends and enjoying their spare time a little bit, but still, they are writing songs for their sophomore album. In April, their drummer, Kevin Snow, tweeted that "a second album is in the works, hoping we'll be finished soon."

In August 2013 the band started to tour again in Brazil and on the East Coast of the United States. They played "Clocks" and "Wake Up", two new songs. They stated that the album they were recording in 2010 was scrapped, and that they started recording again in early 2013. The new album will hopefully be released in spring 2014.Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page).

Television appearances[edit]

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Contents

Honors[edit]

Albums[edit]

Wizard of Ahhhs[edit]

Partie Traumatic[edit]

Songs[edit]

"I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You"[edit]

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