You know when you accidentally stumble into a situation where there are three of you hanging out, and the other two people are so obviously besties that you feel like a tool every time you interject into their effortless conversation? That was me on the phone this week with Ali Youngblood and Dawn Watley, the female members of Black Kids, an indie band from Jacksonville, Florida, who stole the hearts of music bloggers worldwide when they released a frenetic, 15-minute EP this time last year for free via their MySpace page.

In the less than twelve months following, BK put together a solid debut album, Partie Traumatic, thus dispelling all that four-hit wonder hype, while hitting the tour circuit with the likes of Cut Copy and Kate Nash (FYI, according to the girls, the guys from Cut Copy were like fun older cousins they never asked for, and Kate was the perfect third to their dress-up dance parties). Contrary to rumors surrounding the band's origin, mom did not force frontman Reggie to let his little sister and her best friend into the group—rather, after a lifetime spent comparing them to famous sibs like the Cusacks, he was psyched to collaborate with Ali, who had been working on her own music projects for years. The fact that Dawn happened to be just the classically-trained keyboard player they were looking for (even if she was a wee bit tipsy when asked to perform an impromptu audition piece) was just icing on the cake.

"We're both kind of goofs," Ali explains when I ask what it's like being in a band with your best friend. "It's ideal. The boys have their laughs and we have our own fun." Which includes time spent sewing on the tour bus (adorable!) and sneaking away to check out other musicians of the moment, like The Virgins or MGMT. "You never really get enough time to hang with other bands," explains Ali. "It's like you spend five minutes talking, but the next time you see each other it's hugs and kisses all the way—well more hugs, because we're not French."

Both girls explode into an energetic fit of giggles and incomprehensible whispers; and thus I decide to take a polite hint and leave them to their fun.

Black Kids play Santos' Party House tomorrow night; their debut album is currently out on Columbia Records.

- Caroline Stanley

Similar Topics:debut albums, indie rock, live show, music

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