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Concert Tue Dec 15 2009
Review: Cool Kids @ Reggies, 12/10/2009
Last Thursday was without a doubt the coldest day of the year thus far, with temperatures dipping into the teens and the wind chill well below zero. But Chicago hip hop outfit the Cool Kids didn't seem to mind, as they whipped a packed crowd into a frenzy with their signature bass heavy cuts and previewed new material at Reggies.
The duo first got attention with a slew of throwback retro jams like "Black Mags" and "Mikey Rocks" full of 80s era scratch and bass bumping sound back in 2007. Their lyrics are full of pop culture reference and sly snark, as Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks bounce and banter back and forth, clearly a perfect fit and balance for each other. They've come a long way from playing at Town Hall Pub, and Thursday night was a homecoming celebration of the long strange trip the duo has been on the past few years.
Reggies was packed to the brim, an intermingling groups of hip-hop fans and hipster folk scattered across the room, as the Cool Kids sauntered on stage to fanfare and cheers. The front of the stage was a tangle of arms reaching towards the duo, mostly female fans that were obviously fans of more than just the music. Clearly the duo is use to the adoration, and as a fight broke out down front, Chuck Inglish cut the track and simply stated at the ladies, "you shouldn't be fighting another girl, especially at a hip hop show."
Despite the minor interruption by overzealous fans, the set was smooth and fluid, a good balance of classic songs/crowd favorites with a sprinkling of new tunes. The Cool Kids are currently at work on their debut album (surprisingly they've only released mixtapes and EPs), and the new music showcased Thursday night was a bit more melodic, with female backing vocals and a smoother feel. The duo is clearly exploring a new skeleton for their sound outside of the usual thumping crunchy bass motif. The new tracks might have not been the most impressive live, but will surely lead to an interesting debut. The clear standout amongst the new material was "Bundle Up," which was no surprise given the fact its about wearing layers and coats during the cold Chicago winter, something everyone can relate to right now. The song is a glitchy fun romp, and it's a real shame it's not a single right now. "Bundle Up" could easily warm up the winter months and give fans something to play on repeat while waiting for the album to drop.
As the night wore on and the booze kept flowing, the dance floor swayed and moved, more fist appearing in the air and the crowd sang along, especially on "88" and "Black Mags." Another highlight of the night was "Pennies" when the guys remixed the song and then brought up opener Bun B to jump in on the second verse. The show started off strong and fierce, slowed down to showcase new material, and then picked the pace back up at the end, blowing it up with the crowd going nuts to end the night. Before leaving the stage, Chuck Inglish thanked everyone who came out and simply stated that after a weird one, it was the best show they've had this year. The boys may have had the hometown advantage, but no one can deny the infectious fun of a Cool Kids show.
