PHOTOS: BLK JKS at the Pike Room by Andrew Bender

MCB knows the coolest thing going on around town on this past Tuesday night that you weren't at. South African indie rockers BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) absolutely KILLED IT at the Pike Room up in Pontiac. While you were at home watching TV, or were actually out next door at Owl City or down the road at Kings of Leon, MCB's Drew Bender was on hand to witness and document the debut appearance of a band that Rolling Stone has called an artist to watch, and others have called the 'end to world music.'

Even though the crowd at the Pike Room was maybe 50 people at most, and made up of youngsters and oldsters alike, those in attendance were entranced by BLK JKS rocking combination of noise, guitar rock, sick drumming, and lyrics in English and Zulu. Having just launched their debut full-length album 'After Robots' on Indiana label Secretly Canadian, BLK JKS are making their way across the US. Combining indie noise rock, Afro pop, and some killer riffs and lyrics, these Johannesberg, South Africa musicians seem to be easily destroying any notion that if it doesn't come from the US or Britain that it must be some kind of 'world music.' Their live performance made their studio album seem tame by comparison. Taking a page from TV on the Radio, Wilco, and the Smiths, BLK JKS prove that in the era of the tubal interwebs that artists half a world away can combine such influences with their own sensibilities. I originally heard their debut EP Mystery and was instantly hooked. If you haven't checked out the BLK JKS yet, the only question I have is, "What the hell is stopping you??!" I got a chance to talk to BLK JKS bassist Molefi Makananise after the show and apart from being a helluva a nice guy and a solid bass player he gave a little insight into where the band's at right now. Molefi said that although they're currently living on the road, their home base in the US has been in New York. But, he told me, recording After Robots in Bloomington, IN gave them some quiet to focus on the album. Even though it seems crucial these days for young bands to tour incessantly to build their fanbase (unless they have a major label and radio airtime) and gain exposure, a number of folks have jumped on the BLK JKS bandwagon early. Which is a good thing as these young musicians are going places. When I mentioned that I enjoyed hearing the live performance and asked about the improvisational aspects, Molefi told me that he loves the spontaneity of live performance and to him that is freedom. Hmmm...musical improvisation=freedom. I just can't top that.

Check out BLK JKS here or stream their new album from our friends over at Jambase.com here

WERD!!

-drew