Hailing from Jacksonville Florida the Black Kids are made up of siblings Reggie (guitars & vocals) & Ali Youngblood (keys & vocals), Owen Homes (bass), Kevin Snow (drums) & Dawn Watley (keys & vocals).
The bands first release, a free download, the EP Wizard of Ahhs created a huge internet buzz before finally getting signed by Columbia records in May 2008. According to the Academy website there are less than ten tickets available for tonight's show, which considering the recent mini heat wave & touring so close to the Glastonbury festival is an achievement in itself & shows the huge interest the band have generated in such a short time.
The stage at the Carling Academy 2 is very small which will unfortunately limit the movement of the band tonight.
Opening track is the album title 'Partie Traumatic', the front row crowd are shouting "Reggie" continuously, as he points to ceiling repeatedly. Reggie tells us "Hello Sheffield! We are from Jacksonville, Florida & this is our first time here."
EP track 'Hit the Heartbrakes' gets a rapturous response from the sell out audience, the constant chanting between Reggie & Ali very reminiscent of The Go Team! Whilst the long keyboard notes remind me of very early Simple Minds & other new wave bands from the early eighties, helping fuel the current eighties sound revival.
Hurricane Jane gets a good response after Reggie says "I have wanted to come to Sheffield for such a long time, some of my favourite bands are from here, Def Leppard!" Whilst he performs a very brief quick guitar solo, "Pulp too!" Someone in the crowd shouts "Human League."
Reggie tells us "We've got a couple left make the most of it!" As the debut single 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' gets the crowd moving even more and the room is starting to get really hot and sweaty. As Ali & Watley chant "Dance Dance Dance" The crowd made up of all ages from teenagers to the more mature are lapping it up ands everyone is dancing too, even a small mosh pit has developed at the front of the stage. Then it is into the samba beats & high hat cymbals of the final song tonight as a crazy strobe light show kicks off as 'Look At Me' is played out, Reggie shouts "Cheers Sheffield!" then the hall lights are turned back on.
Black Kids are playing most of the major festivals this year including Glastonbury, O2 wireless, The Carling Weekend, Latitude, and Oxygen. They are also on tour in the UK for most of June, July, and August. Catch them if you can, they could well be one of the best festival band performances this year.
Set List
Partie Traumatic
Hit the Heartbrakes
Limousine
I've Underestimated my Charm Again
Love Me Already
Hurricane Jane
Listen to Your Body
I'm Makin Eyes
My Christian Name
I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
Look At Me
article by: Gary Stafford
photos by: Gary Stafford
published: 12/06/2008 12:36
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.