My latest fix is Middle Kids, an Australian three piece whose sound I’ve been describing as indie garage/surf rock with a dash of country haze. In comparison terms, Francis meets Real Estate with a side of Wye Oak and a dash of Margaret Glaspy.

Their lead single “Edge of Town” introduced me to the band and settled into a serious rotation. A few weeks later, their EP released. Being so wrapped up in “Edge of Town,” I preemptively figured I'd give it a listen yet the lead single would remain the sole standout. As the album played through, though, each song reeled me in further. Come the end of the sixth track, my anticipated proclamation had changed.

This album wasn’t leaving me anytime soon.

In researching the band, I saw that they would be touring in Brooklyn on April 1st and bought a ticket. I was stoked to be able to see them at a small venue especially since they’d been garnering press and were planning to hit the road for larger summer festivals soon after the U.S. tour.

Last Saturday came the day where they played at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg. They put on a great show, technical issues considered. Throughout the night, the band battled feedback and vocals not coming through, which surprised me as a handful of friends I talked to prior to the show had raved about the great sound at Baby’s. Yet, the band played on with supreme professionalism, never bringing attention to the issues nor letting it overrule their set. They played with passion and spunk, Hannah Joy losing all inhibitions during “Fire in Your Eyes.” She moved in rapid baby steps with the mic cord slung over her left shoulder, knees flapping, body bobbing and arms winding in rhythmic fits. As if her vocals weren’t mesmerizing enough...

For “Doing it Right,” the band stepped back and Joy took to the guitar, playing an alternate version of the song originally crafted on piano. I was ecstatic to see a fellow attendee had captured it.

They closed out the night with a new song, leaving us all on the edge of anticipation for their full-length LP, which has yet to be announced.

In the meantime, I've got five other songs to rattle me hooked.

xxChris