Black Kids

Infobox musical artist
Name = Black Kids

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Img_capt = Black Kids performing live at MTV UK in January 2008
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Jacksonville, Florida
Genre = Alternative rock
Indie rock
Indie pop
Years_active = 2006–present
Label = Columbia Records (US)
Almost Gold Recordings (UK)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.blackkidsmusic.com http://www.blackkidsmusic.com]
Current_members = Owen Holmes
Kevin Snow
Dawn Watley
Ali Youngblood
Reggie Youngblood
Past_members =

Black Kids are an American indie rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, fronted by singer/songwriter Reggie Youngblood. The band's debut EP, "Wizard of Ahhhs", was released to critical acclaim in 2007 and was followed by the "Partie Traumatic" album, which debuted at #5 on the UK Albums Chart in July 2008. "Rolling Stone" included Black Kids on their "Artists to Watch" list in 2007cite web | publisher = Rolling Stone | date = 2007-11-14 | author= Hoard, Christian | title = Artist to Watch: Black Kids | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17323882/artist_to_watch_black_kids | accessdate = 2007-11-19 ] , and they appeared on the BBC Top 10 Sound of 2008 poll.cite web | publisher = BBC | date = 2008-01-04 | author= BBC | title = Sound of 2008: The Top 10 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7163404.stm | accessdate = 2008-04-30 ]

History

Black Kids, consisting of Reggie Youngblood (vocals and guitar), Owen Holmes (bass guitar), Kevin Snow (drums and percussion), Dawn Watley (keyboards and backing vocals), and Reggie's sister Ali Youngblood (keyboards and backing vocals), formed in early 2006. 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",cite web | publisher = NME | date = 2007-09-02 | author= Miller, Alex| title = Black Kids Are Amazing | url=http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=15&title=the_new_love_is_all&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 | accessdate = 2007-10-05 ] "Vice",cite web | publisher = Vice Magazine | date = 2007-09-19 | author= Vice | title = Interview: Black Kids | url=http://vice.typepad.com/vice_magazine/2007/09/interview---bla.html | accessdate = 2007-10-05 ] "The Guardian",cite web | publisher The Guardian | date = 2007-09-26 | author= Lester, Paul | title = New band of the day No. 191: Black Kids | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/newbands/story/0,,2177564,00.html | accessdate = 2007-10-05 ] and "The Village Voice"cite web | publisher = The Village Voice | date = 2007-10-09 | author= Bowers, William| title = Provincializm: Siblings Gonna Work It Out | url=http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/music/archives/2007/10/provincializm_1.php | accessdate = 2007-10-10 ] . 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,cite web | publisher = Billboard.com | date = 2007-10-19 | author= Cohen, Jonathan | title = Update: Buzz Band Black Kids Inks Management Deal | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003659185 | accessdate = 2007-10-22 ] the company that manages Björk and Arcade Fire.cite web | publisher = Pitchfork Media | date = 2007-10-17 | author= Maher, Dave | title = Black Kids Have a Manager, Gigs, No Label Yet | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/46439-black-kids-have-a-manager-gigs-no-label-yet | accessdate = 2007-11-13 ] In October, the EP received a favorable review of 8.4 out of 10 from Pitchfork Media, including a "Best New Music" commendation.cite web | publisher = Pitchfork Media | date = 2007-10-05 | author= Hogan, Marc | title = Black Kids: Wizard of Ahhs EP: Pitchfork Record Review | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/46095-wizard-of-ahhhs-ep | accessdate = 2007-10-05 ]

Black Kids participated in the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City in October,cite web | publisher = Pitchfork Media | date = 2007-10-19 | author= Hogan, Marc | title = CMJ: Thursday (Marc Hogan) | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/46498-cmj-thursday-marc-hogan | accessdate = 2007-10-22 ] earning the band exposure in "The New York Times"cite web | publisher = New York Times | date = 2007-10-22 | author= Parales, Jon | title = Play Well, and May the Blog Buzz Be With You | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/arts/music/22cmj.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin | accessdate = 2007-10-22 ] and "USA Today".cite web | publisher = USA Today | date = 2007-10-22 | author= Matheson, Whitney | title = CMJ lessons: Ten bands to hear today | url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2007/10/cmj-lessons-ten.html | accessdate = 2007-11-01 ] In December the band travelled to London for a brief tour.cite web | publisher = Pitchfork | date = 2007-11-09 | author= Solarski, Matthew | title = Black Kids Add Dates | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47012-black-kids-add-dates | accessdate = 2007-11-09 ] "Rolling Stone" called them one of ten "Artists to Watch" in 2007cite web | publisher = Rolling Stone | date = 2007-11-14 | author= Hoard, Christian | title = Artist to Watch: Black Kids | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17323882/artist_to_watch_black_kids | accessdate = 2007-11-19 ] and the band was also included in the BBC Sound of 2008 poll.cite web | publisher = BBC | date = 2008-01-04 | author= BBC | title = Sound of 2008: The Top 10 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7163404.stm | accessdate = 2008-04-30 ]

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.cite web | publisher = Black Kids Myspace | date = 2008-01-08 | author= Black Kids | title = **SONS & DAUGHTERS TOUR + KATE NASH TOUR** | url=http://www.myspace.com/blackkidsrock | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] 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 Aprilcite web | publisher = Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival | date = 2008-01-21 | title = Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Announces Lineup | url=http://coachella.com/updates/news | accessdate = 2008-02-02 |author= Press Release] , Radio 1's Big Weekend in May [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/2008/artists/blackkids/] , Glastonbury Festival in June, and T in the Park cite web | publisher = T in the Park | date = 2008-02-15 | title = T Lineup Announced | url=http://www.tinthepark.com | accessdate = 2008-02-15 |author= Press Release] and Camp Bestival in Julycite web | publisher = NME | date = 2008-02-05 | title = Camp Bestival add more acts to lineup | url=http://www.nme.com/news/nme/34104 | accessdate = 2008-02-05 |author= NME] . They are currently scheduled for a headlining tour which will bring them to Europe from June to August, North America from September to October, and back to Europe in October and November.

While in the UK 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 followup 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.

Discography

Albums

References

External links

* [http://www.blackkidsmusic.com Official Black Kids website]
*MySpace-music|blackkidsrock|Black Kids
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Black+Kids Black Kids Last.fm profile]
*YouTube channel|blackkidsrick|Black Kids