These Kids Wear Crowns – Break It Up
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These Kids Wear Crowns don’t get the royal treatment when they get off the road and head home to Chilliwack.“We don’t expect that,” says lead singer Alex Johnson. “We’re pretty grounded and don’t get all big-headed about these things.” The band includes Johnson, guitarists Joshua ‘Gypsy’ McDaniel and Joe Porter, bassist Alan Poettcker, synth player Matt Vink and drummer Josh Mitchinson. Since getting signed onto a label in 2009, the busy band has been literally living the rock and roll dream.“It’s been fast and fun and filled with new experiences,” Johnson says. “Everything has been taken up a notch.”For MySpace purposes they’re called “power pop” or “party core” emphasizing the huge energy they put out on stage.Their world suddenly became a blur of stark contrasts last year, from the white-hot glare of television lights, or the gruelling hours in studio or travelling, to jumping on stage for screaming fans who dive into mosh pits. So when they get some free time, some of the boys like to just chill out in the ‘Wack, the way they always did growing up in Chilliwack. Four of the members are Sardis secondary grads: Johnson, Poettcker, Vink and Porter.“We like to come home and be home, and not live the tour life,” says Johnson. The charismatic front man says he’ll sometimes get a break by helping out his mom with some yard work up in Ryder Lake, or checking out Major Leagues 2.“There’s been a lot of construction around town lately I notice,” he says. “Like the new Wal-Mart and that whole area. But aside from that I think Chilliwack is still the same.”It’s been a whirlwind for the boys in the past two years. TKWC caused a minor bidding war to break out between major record labels, Capitol Records/EMI and Universal after they were hand-picked out of obscurity to appear on MuchMusic’s TV show, Disband, in the second season.They cozied up to MuchMusic types and got a real sense of the business and how it works.EMI Music Canada president Deane Cameron has called the band “incredibly talented and innovative,” and said they were thrilled to have them in the EMI family.The best part of it all for Johnson?“Not having to change who we are to do what we want to do,” he says.What has it meant for the boys to be signed by Capitol/EMI?“Nothing has really changed. But now we have that financial backing and it’s boosted our confidence.”The Kids’ first full-length CD, Jumpstart, drops March 1, but Chilliwack fans will have to travel to Vancouver’s HMV store on Robson to see them perform live.Unfortunately they won’t be playing any hometown gigs to celebrate the CD release.“But we want to thank everyone for their support,” he says of fans, family and friends. “We’ll work on playing a show here after the tour. A lot of people are mad at us for not playing our hometown. We’re all stoked to do a show in Chilliwack, we just haven’t had the chance yet.”The band was thrilled to work with producers Garth Richardson (Hedley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine) and Matt Squire (Katy Perry, Panic At The Disco), on the catchy new album. Some of the tunes on their earlier self-titled EP were re-worked and re-mastered for the new disc. They’ve had a chance to tour the country with the likes of B.C. bands like Hedley, Lights and Faber Drive.“We all became good friends. They’re amazing people. I don’t know if it’s the Canadian in all of us or what but they were really cool. There were no horror stories for us on the road.”Catch TKWC Jumpstart CD launch, March 1, Downtown HMV at Robson and Burrard at 5 p.m. or HMV Metrotown March 5 at 3 p.m. for performance and autograph session.
