A few months back I started reading a boatload of buzz about Black Kids, an unsigned indie rock five-piece out of Jacksonville, Florida, who were taking the music blogosphere by storm. (Most reactions were positive, while a few angry critics cried upstart.) So I listened to their catchy debut single, the ebullient "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You," for myself and I fell in love, too. Much to my frustration they were touring in Europe with Kate Nash at the time, but lucky for you, now they're back in the States and playing Mezzanine this Saturday night with Simian Mobile Disco and Aussie electro poppers, Cut Copy.

Listen to Wizards of Ahhhs, the four-song demo available for free download on their MySpace page, and you'll quickly see why their distinctive sound—which references everyone from The Cure to Arcade Fire, with some old school R&B thrown in for good measure—sucked me in. Lead singer Reggie Youngblood's lyrics, often autobiographical and chock full of sexual ambiguity, aim to make you laugh and break your heart all at once. Someone was paying attention during Morrissey 101.

Just do Youngblood a favor, and try to ignore some of the crazy hype before you venture out to see his band live: "The rate this is happening—if it were a dial, right now it'd be on about a 10, and I sort of prefer it to be on a 5 or a 6. You can't really ask people to lower their expectations, though, you just have to man up and focus on getting better."

You've lowered the bar; now prepare to cut a rug!

Mezzanine is located at 444 Jessie Street, (415) 625-8880; click here for a chance to win a pair of tickets.

- Caroline Stanley

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Similar Topics:indie rock, live show, music

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