Two months on the road can take its toil on a band, but if Black Kids’ are feeling the strain, they certainly don’t show it. Their excellent showcase at London’s intimate ICA venue suggests they’ve honed their performance after their mildly disappointing performance at the Water Rats, and their joyous hyperactive nursery-school-disco-pop has finally got the sound mix to do it justice. Their non-EP material for the most part remains comparatively underwhelming (which doesn’t bode well for their upcoming debut) but the hits are delivered with the same wonderful charm as their recorded incarnations, the 50’s “doop doop” coda of “I’ve Underestimated My Charm” and the synth-tastic brashness of “Hit The Heartbrakes” particular standouts. But once again, it’s the sublime “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You,” a nostalgically lo-fi cheerleader singalong sounding like a Cure cover of The Go! Team, that truly captures the carefree 80's spirit the band are aiming for. Like the equally hyped Vampire Weekend, they’re no means the revelation some quarters are making them out to be, but hey, they’re a hell of a lot of fun.(Photo: Max Tollworthy (Flickr))
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