Black Kids

If any band owned this summer’s festivals, it was Black Kids. With their irrepressibly happy thrash-pop they’ve charmed audiences across the UK, and their debut album Partie Traumatic has been transformed from a cult hit into a bone fide smash that’s rarely been off the Maxim office stereo. We spoke with the Kids’ laconic singer Reggie  Youngblood (pictured, centre) to find out how life as a sudden superstar affects you. It appeared to just make him even more laconic than usual…

How has your summer been? You’ve spent most of it in the UK and people have really taken to you?

They’re sweethearts in the UK. But, yeah, it’s all going the way I thought and then some. I thought it’d be the best and worst of my life. The demand doesn’t let up. We’re constantly doing something. We were doing little shows for 10 years so it’s good to do it full time.

Have you had any really good parties?

The thing about good parties is you can’t remember the details. I have a sneaking suspicion I’ve enjoyed myself. I can feel it in my bones.

What’s an average day on your tour like?

An average day? Usually someone wakes me up and I realise I’m holding everything up, then we get in a vehicle which takes us to a larger vehicle, and along the way I learn what we’re doing and where we’re going. It’s quite pathetic; I had to ask today what we’re going to be doing tomorrow. And people point a camera at us and we usually play a bit of music, then we act the fool. And that’s about it.

Is it a bit like reverting back to childhood being in a band? You’re being led along constantly being handed fun things to do to keep you occupied?

Yeah, it’s very nice! I don’t know. I’ve spent most of my adult life wishing I was five again, but not at the mercy of adults. A younger version of myself would enjoy this a lot more, that’s for sure. While I do have a great time, I do find myself looking forward to a nice bed and my book.

That’s not very rock’n’roll.

It’s not at all.  That’s why people are going to lose interest in us – we’re too tame!

Can’t you start on heroin?

We’ve had meetings about it but I don’t know – that’ll put us to sleep more, right? Speed might be
the answer.

You’re from Jacksonville, Florida – what is it like there?

It’s like a Navy/Baptist town, which sounds wretched, and it kind of is. It’s really stretched out so it’s hard for people of a like mind to get together, which hurts the scene I guess. There’s not much going on, so it was quite natural for me and my friends to do music to amuse ourselves. But because there was nothing going on, it fuelled our Anglophilia – when you’re growing up in a place where Southern Rock dominates then The Stone Roses and  The Smiths seem very exotic. Jacksonville is a hot Manchester!

But the essence of Manchester is its rain…

Yeah, we saw some sun in Manchester, but it wasn’t helping.

Your sister, Ali, is in the band on keyboards. Does she get on your nerves?

It’s fine. She doesn’t get on my nerves any more than anyone else does. Most people get on my nerves and vice versa so it’s fine.

What are the plans for your next album?

I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit. We accomplished what we wanted to do with Partie Traumatic, but I’ve got the next one on my mind. It won’t be a radical change in direction as I’m wary of that. I believe in transition. Sometimes bands are in a hurry to change themselves but I think you should keep it in check. We’ll see. We’re feeling things out, but I’ll be surprised if we stray away from pop.

Have you personally noticed any major increase in female attention since the band took off?

Not really, I think when people recognise us they tend to sneer at us and keep walking...