Riddlin’ Kids, the ferociously melodic powerpunk band from Austin, Texas, are preparing to start touring in earnest in anticipation of the June 4 release of Hurry Up And Wait, their album debut on Aware/Columbia Records. They will be part of the Warped Tour starting mid-July; preceding the Warped dates, the group will tour with Mest and Dynamite Boys beginning in early April. The first single from their upcoming album is “I Feel Fine.” The music video for “I Feel Fine” is being filmed by Smith N Borin of Geneva Films on April 1 in Los Angeles.
Last summer, the band released Any Day Now, a four-song EP on Aware Records which has been available exclusively at Riddlin’ Kids live shows and through the Aware Records website (http://www.awarerecords.com). While out on the “Crouching Fish/Hidden Finger” Tour, with Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish and others last July, they sold nearly 100 copies of the EP on average per night, a remarkable feat for the opening band on a multi-band bill, let alone one that had never toured outside their home turf nor had any airplay. Since then, Riddlin’ Kids have toured with No Motiv, Lucky Boys Confusion, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Unwritten Law respectively.
Clint Baker (vocals, guitar), Dustin Stroud (lefty guitar, vocals), Mark Johnson (bass), and Dave Keel (drums) are the Riddlin’ Kids, a quartet of twentysomethings creating a steamroller sound filled with audacious guitar hooks, driving rhythms, acerbic lyrics and trenchant melodies. Riddlin’ Kids were spawned in the roiling punk rock scene of Austin and have shared local bills with the Ataris, Fenix TX, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Midtown, Good Riddens, Newfound Glory, and Alkaline Trio. Riddlin’ Kids were on-board the 1999 Warped Tour with Blink 182, Living End and Pennywise. The group members count the Descendants, Face To Face, Operation Ivy, Social Distortion, Nirvana, Metallica, Cypress Hill, Lagwagon, Slayer, and They Might Be Giants among their influences and inspirations.
Guitarists Clint Baker and Dustin Stroud worked delivering pizza to raise $6,000 to fund the band’s debut recording: a six-song EP which quickly began receiving airplay on Austin’s KROX and KLBJ radio stations. The band’s “demo” led to a deal with Aware Records.
Riddlin’ Kids Tour Dates
- April 6 – Spring, TX JavaJazz Coffeehouse – 3 Local TBA
- April 7 – Austin, TX Waterloo Park – w/Lit, Pushmonkey, Dishwalla, Custom, Dynamite Boy
- April 14 – Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- April 15 – Jacksonville Beach, FL Freebird Cafe – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy, and Local TBA
- April 16 – Orlando, FL The Social – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- April 17 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- April 18 – St. Petersburg, FL State Theatre – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- April 25 – Scottsdale, AZ Buzz – w/ Mest
- April 27 – Salt Lake City, UT X-Scape – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- April 28 – Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- April 29 – Omaha, NE The Ranch Bowl – w/Mest, Dynamite Boy, Local TBA
- April 30 – St. Louis, MO Mississippi Nights – w/ Mest, Dynamite Boy
- May 3 – Freeport, IL Klub Phenomenon – w/Mest, Dynamite Boy
- July 17 – Calgary Race City Speedway
- July 19 – Vancouver Thunderbird Stadium
- July 20 – Quincy, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
- July 22 – Billings, MT Oscar Park Amphitheater
- July 23 – Fargo, ND Fargo Dome Field
- July 24 – Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater Lot
- July 25 – Noblesville, IN Dear Creek Music Center
- July 26 – Cleveland, OH Nautica Stage
- July 27 – Tinley Park, IL World Music Theatre
- July 28 – Minneapolis, MN Metrodome Parking Lot
- July 30 – Sparta, KY or Kentucky Speedway or Detroit MI State Fairgrounds/Tiger Stadium
- July 31 – Nashville, TN Am South
- August 1 – Atlanta, GA Hi Fi Buys Amphitheatre
- August 2 – Orlando, FL Central Florida Fairgrounds
- August 3 – Miami, FL Pompono Field