STREAMING AUDIO INTERVIEW

Just like Spank Rock, Chicago’s Cool Kids are destined to go from blog darling to crossover success story quicker than you can say “I heard them first”. The duo first attracted attention with two expert club tracks, ’88 and I Rock. Both recall classic rap while still sounding wholly new, a quality that’s sure to shine through on their upcoming debut EP The Bake Sale.

MCs Mikey and Chuck met, appropriately, on MySpace, both with impressive studio smarts and a shared disdain for by-numbers hip hop. They originally intended to work as a production unit, but were soon writing rhymes as well. The internet hype promptly followed, although in this case it was justified. Black Mags – a low-slung, streamlined banger about bicycle worship – solidified the Cool Kids’ place on the cool list. 2007 couldn’t have been busier for the hot new things: a US tour with MIA (at her request, no less), numerous festival appearances, magazine covers and, of course, putting together that much-anticipated EP.

Cool Kids are coming to Australia for the first time on their Bringing Back ’88 tour, which sees them joining the Laneway Festival. You’re about to start hearing their name a whole lot more. Here ITM’s Jack Tregoning speaks to Mikey about their dream run.

Catch Cool Kids on the cusp of world domination (then boast about it later) at the following dates:

22 February – Perth, The Manor
23 February – Melbourne, Miss Libertine
24 Feb – Melbourne, Laneway Festival (sold out)
28 Feb – Adelaide, sideshow presented with SoCo Cargo party
29 Feb – Sydney, Oxford Arts Factory
1 March – Brisbane, Laneway Festival
1 March – Brisbane sideshow, Barsoma
2 March – Sydney Laneway Festival

And check out the video for Black Mags...