Black Kids come home to Freebird

The Black Kids put on a dancing-good-time for a sold-out show at Freebird Live Sept. 19; the homecoming performance entertained a mixture of family, old friends, and new fans.

“It was hot and sweaty but oh so good,” UNF alumnus Gemi Butler said.

Keyboardist Ali Youngblood agreed.

“It was like a big family reunion,” she said. “Then we all did the electric slide.”

The band toured across Europe playing several sold-out shows in the process, but Youngblood didn’t see it as just another crowd.

“Tonight was really special,” drummer and UNF alumnus Kevin Snow said. “So much has happened, and seeing friends and family was so worth the energy,”

The band played through its entire set list and when the crowd prodded the Black Kids for ‘one more song,’ the band returned to the stage and played its hit single “Im Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You.”

Both the upper and lower levels of the venue were filled with sweaty, excited fans who indie danced their way to the floor as the band closed the show.

“I want to say thanks to everybody for coming out and dancing,” keyboardist Dawn Watley said.

The Black Kids formed in 2006 and played local venues like TSI before a whirlwind of blog chatter and critical acclaim catapaulted them to a major label deal with Columbia Records.

E-mail Jonathan Morales at news@unfspinnaker.com.