Localized: Kid Theodore

On Friday, June 8th SLUG Magazine is hosting the first ever all-ages Localized at Kilby Court. The show will feature Kid Theodore, The Lionelle and opener Paul Jacobson. Door are at six, music starts at seven and it will end early enough that anyone over 21 will be able to attend the regular Localized at Urban Lounge.

Kid Theodore

Austin McBride – Keys, percussion, vocals
Cole Barnson – Guitar, bass, percussion, vocals
Ryan Darton – Bass, guitar, keys, percussion, trumpet, vocals
Chad Vigil – Drums
Brandon McBride – Vocals and everything else

It’s really hard not to like Kid Theodore. Their sweet and infectious brand of indie-pop has landed them innumerable shows at Kilby Court, granted them a spot at X96’s 4-Play concert series last summer and even taken them through Mexico and Canada. I spoke with the band, who will release their first full-length album, Hello Rainey, on June 8th. Each member of Kid Theodore describes the band’s sound very differently. Pulling a little from all of the band members’ answers, Kid Theodore’s sound could be described as a mix-tape constructed by David Bowie for a 1950s prom. Or, as Brandon McBride put it, “Just take any two genres that don’t fit together, and that’s how we sound.”

Kid Theodore’s influences are quite eclectic, and with nearly every member of the band being a multi-instrumentalist, each song is distinct and has its own personality. Ryan Darton said that every Kid Theodore song starts with one person writing it, “Then everyone else jumps on it and turns it into something new.” Kid Theodore’s instrumentation also sets them apart from the pack, as they use an upright bass and make liberal use of various types of percussion from cookie sheets to hand-claps. While most of the band’s members weren’t necessarily going out of their way to create an eclectic sound, Brandon McBride sought to become a master of such off-kilter instruments as the cookie sheet, bike bell and accordion to add a unique element to Kid Theodore’s sound.

All of the ececlecticism and songwriting talent in the world wouldn’t amount to much without a killer live show and Kid Theodore promises to deliver just that. “We put a lot of energy into our live show,” said Austin McBride, “I really think that’s where a lot of potentially great bands falter, but at our shows we sound exactly like we do on record.” With the members of Kid Theodore jumping from one instrument to another as various band members throw instruments behind their heads and bang kitchen supplies with unmatched fervor, a Kid Theodore show can’t be missed. Due to their dedication to their fans and their music, they’re likely to impress you no matter what kind of music you’re into.