User:Deod/Kids These Days (Band)
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Kids These Days (Band) Kids These Days not only hails from Chicago, Illinois, they also embody nearly all of it's notable music scenes in one 8 person ensemble with a chemistry that only took the rest of the world a year to discover. Their hybrid genre of jazz, soul, alternative, and rap has infinite amounts of crossover appeal. Macie Stewart (keys and vocals), Nico Segal (trumpet), John Paul "J.P." Floyd (trombone), Rajiv Halim (saxophone), Greg Landfair Jr. (drums), Liam Cunningham (guitar and vocals), Lane Beckstrom (bass guitar), and Vic Mensah (rap vocals) officially formed the band in the spring of 2009. Jam sessions between friends tended to flow into creation, and as talented music students in the Chicago Public School system, they sought out additions to their unit to help them mold and perfect their sound. After a much more wildly received first show than expected, the band continued to play shows across the Chicagoland area for bigger and bigger crowds. "We took any gig we could get," said trumpet player Segal, "playing at peoples parties, lofts, whatever." After meeting their manager Demo Salazar at a show, things picked up considerably. An EP was recorded, music videos were shot, and word started to get out about the fresh new band from Chicago. Within a year, the band had been noticed by numerous underground music sites and was starting to book larger gigs. By summer of 2011, the Kids had played Milwaukee Summerfest, Lollapalooza, and many more large festivals. As their EP "Hard Times" was released on iTunes, their international appeal became known and such artists as Jay-Z, Questlove, #SMKTD