Get To Know: The Blacks
Because sometimes chicks rock harder than guys.
The Blacks are the 7-10 split of bands. Dividing their time between San Francisco and New York City, members Luisa Black, Gavin Black and JDK Blacker came together to create the hard-hitting harmonies that make them such a treat to see. Luisa Black’s stripped-down guitar coupled with Gavin Black’s full-sounding drums offer the straight rock sound. JDK Blacker is another story. Being the tambourine player in a band can seem like a cop-out job, saved for the Yoko of the band who has no talent and no personality. JDK takes that stereotype and sets it ablaze. The ferocity in which he shakes his tambourine and moves about the stage demands attention. He’s not just adding some sound, he’s adding some flavor. With Luisa acting as the straight man, JDK acting as the wild card and Gavin acting as the percussive intimidator The Blacks dominate any setting you could put them in.
The Blacks’s debut album Nom de Guerre came out in 2007 and it’s the perfect predecessor to their live act. The band’s pervasive energy flows through every track. Combining the gritty sound of distortion with the strong vocals of Luisa Black makes the perfect drug for any rock addict. It’s a little Karen O with the old-school sound of 70’s punk and a dash of classic NYC rock n’ roll. Their latest release, The Seven Inch, whose album artwork features a male bunny receiving fellatio from his female counterpart, came out in October 2008. Only released on seven inch vinyl, it features the two covers “Never Say Never” by Romeo Void and the Amy Winehouse tune “Back to Black.” Adopting a more electric rock boogie to their cover of “Back to Black” creates less of a mournful swing and more a snappy chant against the man who broke this girl’s heart. Both tracks really diverge from the originals and The Blacks make them their own with their unique style. Their two new original singles “Gravitas” and “Ammunition” are available for free on RCRD LBL.com.
Their single “Raincoat” off of Nom de Guerre features JDK’s out of control tambourine and Luisa’s sultry yet tough vocals. The overdriven guitar gives it this surfer rock vibe and the tight drum rolls by Gavin Black push the song forward into a churning frenzy. If Iggy Pop was born in the 80s, did way less drugs, and somehow turned out to be a woman at birth he would have definitely written “Raincoat.”
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Jan 13, 2009 @ 7:00 am
