Kids These Days

Meet the band:
Eric Goldhahn- Lead Vocals/Guitar (and apparently never turns his headlights on)
Dave Pritsky-Guitar/Vocals (doesn't eat bacon)
Korey Ottmuller-Bass/Vocals (never wears a shirt)
Dan Morgan- Drums (never covers his calves)

I enjoyed this bands Facebook page way too much, hence the inclusion of those random facts in parenthesis, they made me giggle as I was typing this. 

So here's the story: One morning a few weeks ago, my little sister Lindsay (when I say it like that she seems like she's actually little when in fact she's 20 and at least 5 inches taller than me) was staying with me for the weekend to go to a concert (Anarbor, The Downtown Fiction, Mayday Parade).  As with most mornings, I woke up and immediately checked Twitter to see that Kids These Days tweeted something about a free t-shirt in exchange for people writing reviews of their new EP "Manifest Destiny."  I jumped at the chance for 2 reasons: 1. I enjoy writing about bands and I genuinely enjoy their music. 2. Free t-shirt is always the best motivation (I no longer care about this fact at all, but the recent college graduate in me jumps at the chance for anything free.)

Kids These Days is a pop-punk/easycore band from South New Jersey whose music brought me right back to my early college years when I use to JAM OUT in the car to Punchline and Say Anything.  The guys have been into music ever since they can remember.  Dan began taking drum lessons at a young age, stuck with it all throughout middle and high school, and started playing in rock bands at the age of 15.  When Dave was 13 he received a hand me down electric guitar from his dad and taught himself how to play. 

I'm dying to learn how to play guitar, but I highly doubt that I could EVER teach myself how, even though it seems that so many people get started this way!  Frankly I find it unfair, ha.

The guys of Kids These Days named bands from The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, to Green Day and Weezer, to Bayside and Say Anything as their musical influences.  Dave says "Their lyrical writing abilities alone are stellar and they make great use of metaphors and writing techniques that aren't exactly the cookie cutter cliches that most songwriters use in their songs," of Max Bemis (Say Anything) and Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day).  They find inspiration in things like friends and family, nights out, and success- they say they write the best when they are having the most fun.  This is perfection:

"My personal motivation is that I just want to do something not to many people get to do.  I don't necessarily want fame, but I at least want to hit the road and know that I made some people happy with music.  Everyone has a chance to grow up and have a career and a family, but while we're still young I want to try to do something exciting and different."

As with every email I send, I asked the guys what their favorite band was, their answers warmed my heart.  The bands they named were Bayside, New Found Glory, Green Day, and Thrice.  Dave chose Green Day and said "I've always respected the fact that with every album they grew a little more than the last.  Some people call it selling out but I think that's bullshit, you have to grow or else you're obviously not learning anything."  Dan chose Thrice as his favorite because "they're incredible musicians and cross so many genres at once, they play in different keys and times, but still write great lyrics, catchy and heavy stuff all at once." 

 I loved EVERY SINGLE track on Manifest Destiny, my 2 favorites being On My Way and Fools Like Me.  Each song is made up of awesomely relatable lyrics set to melodies that make you want to turn the volume all the way up, jump on your bed, and play your best air guitar (at least that was my reaction).

"We're just 4 dudes who try to write music with no gimmicks; just 2 guitars, bass, and drums; making music that we like and hope other people will too!"  Guys, you're on the right track, I haven't stopped listening to your EP since I picked it up.

To like Kids These Days on Facebook click here

To follow @KidsthesedaysNJ on Twitter click here

To pick up their EP Manifest Destiny click here
     seriously, do it, it's worth the $5.94 many times over.

Big Cartel: www.ktdpoppunk.com

Band Camp: www.ktdpoppunk.bandcamp.com