I Love Black Kids

Don't get me wrong, I love White kids, Asian kids, and Hispanic kids as well, but the band, Black Kids, is certainly one of my favorite. Right now, if you haven't heard of them, you're probably imagining a band with all African-American members but here are the Black Kids:


While brother and sister, Ali and Reggie Youngblood, are black, the rest of the ensemble is white. Their questionable name leaves not only fans confused but used to leave the white members a little confused as well. Reggie explains, " For a while, when a stranger asked about the band, they'd just say, 'Oh, you haven't heard of us.'"

Name aside, the band is quite spectacular. Their music is catchy and they're definitely a lovable group. Although they originated in Jacksonville, Florida, they have a European vibe which explains their success both domestic and abroad. The danceable, indie-pop vibe of their music keeps their fans moving for hours. Named one of Rolling Stone's 10 Artists to Watch in 2008, there is no slowing down this quintet. More in love with their passion than fame, they released their EP, Wizard of Ahhhs, for free on their myspace. While the band will continue a European tour for most of the summer, they will return for the Lollapalooza Festival on August 1st. Their first full length studio album, Partie Traumatic, was released on July 7, 2008 on Columbia Records. Although Partie Traumatic will not be free, it will be well worth the money.

"I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" -Black Kids



Not bad for a band that's only been together for two years.

Lollapalooza

With headliners like Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West and Gnarls Barkley, Lollapalooza 2008 is destined to be one of the best music festivals of the summer. From August 1st through the 3rd, 120 bands will rock seven stages in Grant Park, Chicago. Boasting mainstream and underground artists from genres as disparate as hip-hop and electronica, Lollapalooza has it all. Unlike many summer festivals, there are no campgrounds, but that doesn't stop the hordes of fans from coming each year. Given the urban location of the festival, there are tons of hotels in the area, allowing fans to check out the Windy City while enjoying some of the best acts of the summer. Although the early bird tickets are already sold out, you can still buy a three-day advance pass for $190. And even better, if you're still slightly prepubescent, vertically challenged and could pass for an 11-year-old, you can get in free.