Rant Room Recommends

Shawn Lightfoot and Laurel Lee tonight at London Bridge! (hey, that’s some nice incidental alliteration there, ain’t it?)

Go check out two Rant Room favorites, playing together on the same night at the same venue. That’s right, the great Shawn Lightfoot and Laurel Lee will both be playing tonight at London Bridge as part of Brother Lightfoot’s Tuesday Nights at London Bridge series. Making an all-too-infrequent appearance together, this is a show that should not be missed by anyone in this town with a pulse.

Tonight, London Bridge, 9:00P. Did I mention that there’s no cover? Now what’s your excuse you ham n’ egger?Turn in reviews of the show for extra credit.

Turn around, Bright Eyes…and walk right back off the fucking stage!

Did anyone catch Bright Eyes performance last night on The Tonight Show–singing about the “great Satan” and “Bethlehem”? Man, they’re awesome, dude! So cutting edge! Conor Oberst is like a modern day Bob Dylan…without the musical talent and songwriting ability!

Please, aren’t you sick of these fucking pseudo-hipster characters (or is it caricatures?) who take it upon themselves to shove their simplistic political views down your throat via their boring, shitty music? Now, I am not one of those people who is against celebrities sharing their political views. Rather, I am against talentless celebrities sharing their political views. Besides, the only thing more contrived than Conor Oberst’s music is his pose in the picture on the top left.

I wonder what Lester Bangs would have had to say about this clown had he lived to see him.

You Too?

I have run into an inordinate number of people who have taken it upon themselves to share with me their disgust with U2 frontman Bono. What seems to irk them is how he “goes around preaching and telling us to help save Africa and shit.” I never understood this. This is a bad thing? Would you prefer that the guy go around on a golden yacht and flash his millions in front of your broke ass? I would think that donating large sums of his money and trying to get the world together to help a country that really, really needs it (have you read the horrific stories coming out of Sudan alone?) would be a noble thing that would endear him to people. Instead it seems to have had the opposite effect. I look at Bono like I look at that girl at work who’s always trying to collect money for various Red Cross activities. Sure, you may try to avoid when you’re particularly strapped for cash, but do you hate her for trying to raise money for a good cause? Oh, but Charles Bukowski is a beloved hero to my generation. Don’t get me wrong, I love the literary contributions of Charles Bukowski—in fact they’re some of the best, most truly heartfelt stuff I’ve ever read. But the man was basically a drunken bum who ultimately contributed very little to society in his life. Oh well, I guess being a conscientious humanitarian is “so yesterday.” Get with the times, Bono! Start showing up at events with an entourage of ho’s and showcasing your bling a little more! Then, and only then, will you gain the respect and admiration of MY generation, asshole!

Rising from the Dead

I am in a phase where I am reading books that were the inspiration behind the old movie monsters. You see, before they were campy movie monsters, Dracula (Stoker), Frankenstein (Mary Shelly), and the Invisible Man (H.G. Wells) were literary classics with deep philosophical messages.  I just want to get to know our loveable monsters a little better—the way they should be remembered. Maybe it’s because I am sort of a loveable monster myself (sometimes without the loveable part) and I hope that people remember me the way I’d like to be remembered. But alas, I’ll probably just be remembered for some hokey shit…and that’s okay.

Maybe I, too, can rise from the dead.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

One of my all time heroes, Art Bell, host and founder of the international radio program Coast to Coast AM, sadly retired from broadcasting on July 1st of this year. Radio should forever be divided into two segments: before and after Art Bell. His open-minded, yet skeptical approach to such topics as remote viewing, space aliens, Bigfoot, ghosts, and almost all things supernatural and bizarre has revolutionized radio. His show was a scientific look into all of the strangest things you can think of. When you listened to him, you knew you were listening to a legend. For those of you who never got a chance to listen to him, I truly feel sorry for you. He will be missed.

Thanks for keeping me company on all of those late nights, Art.

Morrissey coming to Jacksonville?

According to Pitchfork Media, Morrissey has added a number of dates along the eastern seaboard to his upcoming tour, including a stop in my current city of residence, Jacksonville, FL, on July 17, 2007 for a show at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium.

Morocco Shrine? It’s going to be great to see Morrissey play on the same stage that, when last I saw it, Molly Hatchet was gracing with not one, but two renditions of “Flirtin’ with Disaster”.

I love Morrissey—he reeled me in when I first heard him so eloquently sing about kicking someone in the eye—but to be honest, he has been getting a little silly and embarrassing since the “You Are the Quarry” LP. Sorry, but the message songs just don’t translate quite as well when you’re a millionaire living in a mansion next to Johnny Depp in LA as opposed to an angry lower class Irishman residing in Thatcher’s London. While with the Smiths, no one was better than Moz at perfecting the fragile undertaking of conveying a political stance without ruining the actual song (with the possible exception of “Meat is Murder”). But Moz got a little silly with message laden songs from “Quarry” such as “America is not the World,” “I Have Forgiven Jesus,” and “You Know I Couldn’t Last.” A lot of the songs from the album felt very forced and, sadly, it was a little embarrassing to listen to. That never used to happen while listening to the Smiths or even solo Morrissey well into the nineties. The only decent songs on the album were actually written much before “Quarry” had come out and were songs that he had sung in concerts in the nineties but hadn’t been officially recorded in studio yet. To be fair, I haven’t listened to “Ringleader of the Tormentors” yet…mainly because I’m sort of afraid to. One bad album is one thing. But two at this stage in his life pretty much signifies the end. And who wants to see the end of Morrissey? Most of us are still grieving over the end of the Smiths.

So now Morrissey to Jacksonville? It almost seems unreal. I will definitely be there, but why do I have the suspicious feeling that we will be seeing this in the news in the coming months: Undisclosed Illness will Force Morrissey to Miss Upcoming Show at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium in Jacksonville, FL on July 17th. All Other Dates of the Tour will Remain Unaffected.

Meet the Black Kids!

The Black Kids are one of my personal favorite Indie bands and are becoming increasingly adored by many within the local music scene. The Jacksonville, FL based band’s unique brand of Euro-pop influenced harmony is fronted by star-in-the-making Reggie Youngblood’s provocative stage presence and voice that sounds slightly like that of Robert Smith. Having opened for phenomenal acts like Tilly and the Wall, the Black Kids can frequently be seen playing at area venues such as Jack Rabbits, TSI, and Cafe Eleven. Youngblood and bassist Owen Holmes recently granted Rich’s Rant Room an exclusive interview.

Black Kids are:
Reggie Youngblood—lead vocals/lead guitar
Owen Holmes—bass guitar
Kevin Snow—drums
Dawn Watley—backing vocals/keyboard/synthesizer
Ali Youngblood—backing vocals/keyboard/synthesizer
Black Kids MySpace Page

RDS3: Did this band form on a whim over a couple of beers or was it a long time coming? In other words, how did this band come to be?

RY: Oh no, not a whim over a few beers–it was formed and conceived very deliberately over many beers…via internet. Owen was studying abroad in Scotland and we were corresponding because our past efforts were spent. So, upon returning, Owen and I started Mata Hari with two other friends. But nobody cared, so we changed our name and added girls.

RDS3: Regarding the name of the band, during a couple of your concerts, I’ve heard someone scream “You’re not all black!” Do you know who it is that is shouting this? If so, is it a genuine heckler or a friend who is just giving you a good natured ribbing?

RY: I’ve not heard that person; if I had, I would probably fight them. FOR REAL.

RDS3: I guess it’s technically true, only two-fifths of the band is black.
If (I say when) you guys make it big nationally, are you worried that Jesse Jackson might complain that there isn’t enough African-American representation in the band, given its moniker?

RY: That did cross my mind, but I quickly dismissed it because: 1) If one thinks about it, there isn’t and shouldn’t be anything offensive about the combination of the words Black and Kids. and 2) Niggas. With. Attitudes.

Owen Holmes: I’ve never thought our name is self-referential; it’s not “The Black Kids,” as in “We are black kids.” It’s simply “Black Kids,” as in the concept of black kids, whatever you might take that to mean. That’s the way I see it, at least.

RDS3: When I listen to you guys, I detect sort of a mid-eighties Euro-pop sound. Is this a fair assessment or am I way off base?

RY: No, that’s more than fair.

RDS3: Who are your influences?

RY: I can’t front, I always wonder if I should be honest or try to think of puzzling answers to appear more profound; but the truth is, anyone with a pair of ears can tell that the other Kids and I are crazy for The Smiths, Pet Shop Boys, Momus, Magnetic Fields, New Order, Prince, Pulp, and a couple of Motown songs. Actually, I don’t think Owen likes any of the mentioned. Though he does admire (as do I) Funk Brother/Motown legend James Jamerson.

OH: Reginald is right; I don’t know anything about those bands, though I do like five songs by The Smiths.

RDS3: How often does Reggie get told that he sounds like Robert Smith?

RY: Reggie has been getting told that since 2001.

RDS3: Does he consider this a compliment?

RY: Reggie is somewhat ambivalent about it. He has reasoned that though he is not trying to sound like Robert Smith, the same Mr Smith has an excellent voice–and Reggie cannot complain about being compared to excellence.

RDS3: How does Reggie pull off sounding a little like Robert Smith and looking a bit like Phil Lynott (the deceased lead singer of Thin Lizzy, a band known mostly for “The Boys are Back in Town”) while managing to pull off an almost Morrissey-esque androgynously coy sex appeal in his stage presence?

RY: Prayer.

OH: Practice.

RDS3: Owen, did forming this band have anything to do with you
leaving The Julius Airwave?

OH: Only in the sense that after we started Black Kids, I found myself feeling overburdened, what with being in three musical projects. (Reggie and I also have a folksy act by the name of The Kettles.) That’s all — just not enough time.

RDS3: Are you still on good terms with Airwave and do you ever see
yourself playing with them again?

OH: Good terms? Absolutely. Play with them again? No. It was a good time, but I never considered myself a member of the band. I was a robot, playing the parts that Rick (the singer) told me to. Which is perfectly fine — Lords knows that when I have a band playing MY songs, everyone is going to play whatever the fuck I tell them to.

RDS3: Have you guys ever thought about incorporating the cowbell into your act?

RY: We did use it for our first couple of shows. We may use it again.

RDS3: Who is the Ringo of your band?

RY: Our drummer, Kevin. He is the most admired.

OH: Duh.

RDS3: “Hurricane Jane”** is the big hit right now it seems. Is there an interesting story behind that song?

RY: Not really, because I don’t write “true” songs. I am making this shit up. I am telling you stories. Yet, individual lines are inspired by different people I know. For instance, in Hurricane Jane, “You head-butt me, cos you thought it was cute” was culled from the fact that my friend Marissa thinks it perfectly acceptable and hilarious to head-butt (very hard) whoever she happens to be dancing with. Reggie no longer dances with
Marissa.

RDS3: In five years, The Black Kids will be:
A.) On Ryan Seacrest’s “American Top 40” countdown.
B.) Split over artistic differences.
C.) A moderately successful local band.
D.) On hiatus until Owen Holmes completes rehab.

RY: Sadly, probably B.

RDS3: Seriously, what are the long term goals of the band?

RY: Well, when we finish recording, what will either be an EP or mini-LP called “Wizard of Ahhs,” we would like to tour and maybe get cozy with an indie label who will let us do what we want. Or a major label who will pay us handsomely to do what THEY want. Either way.

RDS3: I don’t know anything about musical instruments really, so could you explain just exactly what that thing that Ali is playing is?

RY: Oh, it’s probably the most popular keyboard synth-thing available right now. It’s called a Micro Korg. It’s relatively cheap and makes more noises than one could possibly use.

RDS3: I think your best opening so far was for Tilly and the Wall at Jack Rabbits. If you could open for any current band you wanted to tonight, who would it be?

RY: The Knife. Or Klaxons. Or Stars.

OH: I’ll go with the boringly obvious, for those who know me: Belle and Sebastian.

RDS3: What if you could open for any band in history, which would it be?

RY: The Band.

OH: The Stones circa ’66.

RDS3: Are Dawn and Ali the best female backing vocal duo since those of Human League?

RY: Hardly.

OH: Obviously.

RDS3: Does everyone in the band secretly have a crush on drummer Kevin Snow?

RY: I can really only love and crush on myself. But everyone else, sure, they can’t get enough of Kevin Paul Snow. DJ Snow. Model, Kevin Snow.

OH: As Gareth Keenan would say, that’s like shitting on your own doorstep.

RDS3: If so, is that bound to form a Fleetwood Mac-like tension within the band?

RY: Christ, I hope so. Then we could make some serious records.

RDS3: I have been to about five of your shows now. Does that officially make me a groupie? If so, am I by far your ugliest groupie?

RY: No, that just means your ridden with hipster guilt and are duty bound to “support” the scene. Even if you were a groupie, I wouldn’t say you were ugly. Maybe homely or unfortunate looking–but never ugly, Richard.

RDS3: When you make it huge on the national scene, will you still give me exclusive interviews like this?

RY: Certainly.

RDS3: Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you. I love your sound…you guys really are an excellent band and I wish you all of the luck in the future.

RY: Yes, please.

OH: Thanks for your interest.

**To listen to “Huricane Jane” visit the Black Kids MySpace page.