It breaks my heart to report word from Tricycle Records that San Francisco-New York trio The Blacks are breaking up, with a farewell performance at the Rickshaw Stop on Thursday, June 18th. Making the final show extra bittersweet, it’ll also double as the “guitar noir” band’s record release party for their second album, Tiger Songs.
Knowing the band’s electrified live show, their final performance is sure to be more wake than funeral. To that end, the group promises “the biggest tambourine experiment yet”–referring to their mayhem-fueling habit of distributing tambourines to crowds to perform along with them. Before the final show, you can learn more about the band by listening to our feature podcast on The Blacks from late 2007.
Tickets for the band’s final show, with The Red Verse and The Ferocious Few, can be picked up at RickshawStop.com. The band has created the following Frequently Asked Questions regarding their dissolution.
Hi Blacks people.
Rumors of our demise are completely true. After two and half years of delivering garage rock to the people, The Blacks are packing it in and will be playing our final show together next month, Thursday June 18 at the Rickshaw Stop. You may want to prepare for this. We’re promising the biggest tambourine experiment yet and maybe even a Blacks love-fueled fist fight on stage–anything could happen. Wear your blackest.
You probably have a few questions for us, so we’ve created a Blacks FAQ to help explain things. Show details follow. We can’t wait to see you and hope you’ll come shake your faces off at our last show.
1. Why is the band breaking up?
JDK Blacker is quitting so we decided to disband. It wouldn’t be the same without him. It wasn’t even a question.
2. Why would JDK quit now, at the height of his tambourine powers?
It’s complicated. After the tremendous hometown reception we got at the end of our US tour, he kind of felt like he’d peaked and had achieved everything he’d set out to as a member of The Blacks.
3. Are you mad?
No. We totally support his decision although we find ourselves crying spontaneously at the sound of garage rock songs.
4. What are the individual members of The Blacks going to do now?
JDK is working on lots of art projects and Gavin is considering law school. Luisa has immortalized The Blacks in a horror film she’s writing and plans to take her revenge by starting a new band.
5. Don’t you have a new record coming out?
Yes and it’s cool. We’re mixing it as we speak and releasing it on Tricycle Records. It’ll be available at the show and on iTunes.
6. I don’t know what to say.
Us either. Except we’ve loved every minute of it and will miss you horribly.
Yours in rock,
The Bs
