Black Kites

The Final Songs

2012-02-14T00:34:00.001-05:00

After coming home from Europe, we wrote three final songs and thought it a shame to not share them with the world. So, approaching the eve of our demise, here they are for you to enjoy:

<a href="http://blackkites.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-three-songs">The Last Three Songs by Black Kites</a>

One foot in the grave

2012-01-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

So the details are finally in; we have a place, a time, and a list of bands for our final show.

This show marks the end of two bands, actually, as Troublemaker will be calling it a day as well. I do encourage everyone with any interest to come out and share in the experience with us, I'm sure it will be a memorable event.

The Long Goodbye

2011-12-21T11:46:00.000-05:00

Come March of 2012, Black Kites will have cause to acknowledge two important milestones; the first is that the band will have been together for four years, and the second is that March will mark the end of Black Kites. "Why? WHY?!" approximately eight people will type furiously into their keyboards. Well, our lives have changed quite a lot since we started this band in pretty significant ways. What came so naturally and easy to us once does not come so easily anymore and, as we are men unafraid to appraise a situation for what it is, we have decided to put to rest this part of our lives and march bravely into the future.

I think it's important to note that we accomplished quite a lot for a group of three dudes from New Jersey. We recorded a healthy chunk of music, we played (perhaps literally) a million shows, we toured all over one quadrant of this country and almost all of western Europe, and we met some pretty incredible people along the way; people who gave us more help and support than was ever called for, and given unasked. So for those eight people who are shaken and upset, think fondly of our times together and make some plans to be with us at the end.

Now, details are shaky as of now, but we plan to play a final show in March with a healthy host of bands that have been with us for the long-haul. We plan to have a zine with us at the show which will contain a discography CD that includes the last three songs we have written. We plan to make long-winded speeches onstage about the importance of friendship and cooperative effort and the everyday "fight" to secure some small place of comfort in this fucked up world...

But all that comes later, and we'll know more as soon as the moments of importance are upon us.

Until those moments...

Love and Respect,
Jay and Black Kites

(yes we're all still vegan and straight-edge, by the way)

I'm afraid to die, but I'm not dead yet

2011-10-12T02:23:00.000-04:00

True, Black Kites has been uncharacteristically inactive over the past month or so, but we've already put together two very, very heavy songs in preparation for yet another release that I'll offhandedly slate for release in the spring.

By the way, I'll be uploading some of the photos I took over in Europe to my own blog thing in the next week or so; keep an eye out.

http://itsanuglyworld.blogspot.com/

Leipzig, Hohenstein-Ernsthal, and finally home

2011-08-22T13:28:00.002-04:00

After waking up in Dresden and eating a very casual breakfast with our brave promoter, Bjorn, and some other Conni-ites, we set a leisurely pace for Leipzig. You see, tour was almost over and we were in no hurry to go anywhere fast. Germany welcomed us back by raining a bunch, but that did not stop us from going for a refreshing swim in the Markkleeberger See. There were some naked shenanigans, but they were quickly silenced by Robert's food rage. In order to calm him we headed for Zoro, a squat that happens to have a super-nice vegan restaurant. Now, I lack the kind of epicurean feelings for food that many punks have, but the restaurant, Zest, served some truly incredible stuff. We ate, all in all, far too much, but what the hell; tour.

Finally we strolled over to the venue, located in another sizable squat. There we ate even more incredible food, loaded in, and hung out. 200 people ended up coming out to see Ghostlimb and Black Kites including our old pals from Zann. I thought the show was fantastic and had fun hanging out. Shout outs to my Zann dudes, the cooks, and Leo.

The next morning we headed back to the Markkleeberger See where things were decidedly more sexy than the day before. Europe is weird like that some times. Then we ate at Zest, again. It was great, again. Then we headed to our last show on the top of some mountain in the middle of nowhere. It felt distinctly like an Ohio Agricultural Fair. But we played and had fun and then tour was over. Then we barely went to bed and spent a bunch of time in planes, etc... But that's unimportant.

Tour was incredible. Thanks to all the friends we had before that helped us and all the friends we made who helped us. Y'all were too fucking kind. We love you. Let's hang out again!

Laval, Toulose, Marseille, Ljubljana, Prague, Dresden

2011-08-19T04:43:00.002-04:00

So there is often no easily accessible wifi over here or time in which to use it; hence the lack of frequent updates. Post-Ieper we drove to Laval in France where we met up with new friends, Birds in Row, a band you will no doubt be hearing about in the next six months or so. We played in a basement(!) on a floor(!) and it felt good. Stayed with Birds' front-dude Bart at his parents' pad. The next day was a hefty 8 hour drive through the toll-happy French countryside to Toulose. It was fairly brutal, but we were happy to be greeted at the venue with delicious food and friendly French folks out for a show. Shout-out to Pablo, who shares a mutual friend with me in Sergio del Grosso from the Bronx, NY. That night we slept in another parent-pad and enjoyed the company of some French tough-guy enthusiasts. Check out their band ARKAUS if you're into that kind of thing.

The next morning began an odyssey across southern Europe: we awoke in Toulose, drove to the French Riviera where we swam in the Mediterranean at Narbonne, then hopped in the van, drove to Marseilles where we played a basement once used by the French Resistance in WWII (there was still radio equipment mounted into the wall), then we got right in the van and drove straight through to Venezia where we got our tourist on pretty hard, then back into the van to Koper, Slovenia where we swam in the wonderful Adriatic, and then, finally, into the van for a final time for a drive to Ljubljana where we played a cool squat and finally, finally got to sleep. Shout outs to my boys Lukow and Rog (maybe Rok?) and Sanja for being super accomodating and making great dinner.

The next day we awoke feeling well rested and drove through absolutely stunning surroundings to Prague where we played a really cool show and hung out pretty hard. Prague is, in fact, as beautiful as everyone says it is. Despite the group getting separated in a peak tourist location, we did manage to find one another and return, once again, to the van.

Yesterday it was a quick drive from Prague to Dresden with a short interruption by the German Border Police, but we told them to fuck off and they did. Well, not exactly, but we did escape unscathed. We were supposed to play AZ Conni, another squat, but their summer construction is not yet finished and so our brave promoter, Born, moved the show to a practice studio across town. Luckily it effected the draw not one iota and we played perhaps my favorite show of tour.

Now I head to breakfast to eat something and prepare for Leipzig tonight, Hohenstein-Ernsthal tomorrow, and then home the day after that...

Nurnberg, Darmstadt, Muhlheim, Ieper

2011-08-12T18:31:00.002-04:00

So it's been awhile since we had reliable access to internet AND time in which to write an update; apologies. The past few days have been pretty excellent and we're stoked to be hanging in Europe. Nurnberg show was in a massive old building that was part of the medieval city wall. Thanks very much to our new friend Verina for putting us up in her apartment and letting us hang hard.

Darmstadt was in a massive old mansion that was donated to the punx by a generous old lady, or so the story went. We finally got to play on a floor again and shredded hard. Copious amounts of food was made available to us which we were grateful for.

Muhlheim was in an AZ (autonomous zone aka squat) and was awesome. The space was cool and the food was incredible! The chef (who's name I forgot) even gave us a bunch of Apfelkuchen to take on the road. I love tour. That night found us back at Rik's in Antwerp. Love that guy.

Tonight was Ieper. We played on a big stage in front of a ton of people. Other cool bands like Touche Amore and Soul Control played as well. Many heavy hangs were had, new friends made, Jeff pitted to Sheer Terror and Strife (who were awesome, by the way).

It kind of goes without saying that we're having the time of our lives here and don't want to stop. Europe, on the whole, has been super supportive and generous to us. It does make the US seem amateurish in a lot of ways... not to be too critical of my home, but there's something incredibly refreshing about spending time in a place where people aren't entirely burnt out and jaded. No need to dwell, life is good.

Karlsrühe, Deutschland

2011-08-09T12:15:00.002-04:00

First of all, shout outs to two Germans who we gave the blog address to last night. Sorry we forgot your names! Enjoy the tunes!

So anyway last night was a bigger show with The Carrier and All Teeth from the US. It was definitely not our typical show, but we still had a lot of fun. Lukas made some excellent vegan schnitzel that we ate all of. I think that the audience enjoyed Jeff's onstage humor and I was told that my onstage German isn't too bad. All in all a good time. Thanks to Marco and Max for putting us up and making Frühstuck for us.

In Nürnberg now, Jeff and I hard-styled on Hitler's podium. You know, the one from Triumph of the Will? Pictures later.

Tschüss!

Aachen, Deutschland

2011-08-08T04:13:00.002-04:00

Last night we played in an old air-raid shelter in the middle of Aachen that has been transformed by the punx into an "Autonomous Zone", aka a punk venue/hang-out center. Our friend Mark from Trainwreck (best band) booked the show and did a great job taking care of us. We were fortunate enough to play with Millions of Them again.

Other friends who we met in Nijmegen traveled down to Aachen to hang out and see the show which I thought was pretty cool. Shout outs to Jake and Curtis and Sasha and Jurven.

Tour moves smoothly forward and we are all still having the time of our lives. Every show has been rewarding in one way or another and we've met many, many friendly, supportive people.

More days

2011-08-07T13:51:00.004-04:00

So, we also went to the UK which was pretty exciting. We had to take a ferry over the English channel to get there and pretend we didn't now each other (fuck the border). I got to see the famed cliffs of Dover which were, indeed, white and tall. We drove to Brighton and I got to see my good pals Marcos, Rosie, and Eli. We played in the upstairs stage room of a pub and the show was great. Many thanks to promoter Jay for putting it together.

The next day we drove north to Manchester which, frankly, reminded me a bit of Manchester, New Hampshire... still, the show was cool and many thanks to Thom for putting it together. We stayed in a cool punk house with people from all over the UK and the world. I had fun talking philosophy and life with Eli and a British version of Derek Ludovici. We also learned a lot about Finnish life from some ladies who also happened to be crashing there. Finland sounds pretty EFFING cool.

London was the next day and was our best show in the UK; lots of people came out and we played pretty darn well. We saw the sights of London "Japanese style" as Robert says (jump out of the van, take picture, jump back in van). Then we stayed up way too late while Jeff showed videos of himself wrestling to some Brits. Their commentary was hilarious.

The next day we were off to the Channel tunnel where we drove onto a train, took the train under the channel, and then drove off in France. All in all it took 30 minutes; pretty darn impressive. We headed over to Antwerp in Belgium where we met up with our pal Rik who booked us a cool gig. Played with Millions of Them (Rik's band) and then stayed in his BALLER apartment. Seriously, it was beautiful. Today we walked around Antwerp which is a beautiful city with Rik, Hans, and Elise and took in the sights. It was our first really touristy day of tour. I am posting to this now from an old bomb shelter in Aachen, Germany where we will play tonight. Life is cool right now.

Days...

2011-08-06T04:59:00.003-04:00

Okay, we haven't had too much time to be updating blog entries, apologies everyone. Nijmegen was totally awesome. If you're ever in then area, stop by the Onderboek and hang out with my dude Jurven and my girl Abril and some other cool folks. They made excellent lentils for us and put us up in their awesome squat. Holland is a beautiful country.

More later, suckers.

Day 3 - Hamburg

2011-08-02T05:25:00.003-04:00

We awoke in Berlin for a third or maybe fourth time; it was beginning to be hard to tell. After a quick Brotchen run, we went to see the Wall which is a mere three blocks from Robert's store. The wall seems pretty emasculated in 2011. It's hard to put oneself in that point in history and feel what Germans felt back then. Then we walked around for a bit, marveling at all the dogs running around off-leash; very cool. Black Kites rode the S-Bahn into Alexanderplatz and walked around a bit. I believe a picture of Tom holding Karl Marx's hand was taken. It's posted above. Anyway, after all this touristy schnick-schnack we jumped in the van and hit the autobahn which was choked with traffic. The German countryside looks like Ohio/Indiana and Vermont/New Hampshire blended together. The best of what America has to offer!

Eventually we rolled into Hamburg and up to the squat we performed in; Rote Flora. Now I've played some punk-ass muddafuckin' places in my days, but never as punk as this. I think I took a picture or two, I'll show y'all later. You can google that if you want, it's crazy. It's also funny that it's in the middle of a neighborhood that's experienced extreme gentrification, so you have all these swank cafes surrounding a massive, crumbling, graffiti-covered, punk squat.

We played with American friends 1994 and Algernon Cadwallader which was neat. The show was fun and I think we felt pretty darn good about the performance. Then we slept in a beautiful apartment in the red-light district.

Nijmegen today; it'll be Operation Market Garden all over again.

Day 2

2011-07-31T19:23:00.003-04:00

We overslept by quite a lot. It rained heavily in Berlin today and, while it's a welcome change from 107 degree days, I do prefer a little sunshine. Today was all business; we picked up our backline, our van, and played our first show of tour.

1. Our van is a late model Mercedes Sprinter. Robert apologized for it being "kind of crappy". I'm all like, "motherfucker please! Have you seen the shit I usually tour in?" It has power windows!

2. Our backline is pretty siqq.

3. 80 people came to our show and we got paid hundreds of euros. People apologized to us for it being poorly attended... European DIY is truly a different world.

Even though I was playing a show in a foreign country, many people I knew showed up. Matt from Swallowed Up rolled in with a small crew that included our friend Mascha from Bochum. I ran into this dude Ralph who I met in about 2004. The world is a truly small place. It's strange that seeing people that you know from elsewhere can cause such excitement and wonder. Tomorrow we actually leave Berlin and start a run of 20 shows all over Europe. I can't wait.

Day 1

2011-07-30T17:05:00.002-04:00

We met at JFK airport in the afternoon and prepared ourselves for the coming journey. Jeff said something exceedingly funny in line for the security checkpoint which I have now forgotten. Tom paid about 8 million dollars for a first class seat while Jeff and I had to suffer in the back of the plane. We did not sleep. We ate the most pathetic excuse for a "strictly vegetarian" meal that I've ever tasted. So it goes.

Then we finally got to Berlin where Robert met us in his Lamborghini. We had trouble fitting all of our bags inside, but we finally managed and Robert took us to HCHQ in Berlin, Bis Aufs Messer. There I sampled the new Black Kites//Convulsions split LP and it looks and sounds fantastisch!I was happy to hold it in my hands. We also met and hung with The Ghost Limbs. They seem like a fine group of people.

Lessons learned so far; my German is worse than it was last time I was here. Vegan Pizza in Berlin, don't do it. Things start in earnest tomorrow when we pick up unser Touringmaschine.

Enjoy the picture of our, "very casual hang." as Colman would say.

XXX
JAY

Thanks, New Jersey

2011-07-25T16:32:00.001-04:00

Album art and interviews

2011-07-01T10:23:00.002-04:00

Well first things first, here's the cover of our upcoming split LP with Convulsions. I, for one, am very into how it came out. All congratulations are due to Harry from Convulsions for that.

In addition, Black Kites has conducted a few interviews with people all over the world. We're happy that people are interested in things that we might have to say. You can check them out at the following places:

Philadelphia

Czech Republic

Russia (click the hyperlink that says Black Kites June 2011)

Summer Plans

2011-06-19T17:09:00.002-04:00

Greetings friend,

Well things around the Black Kites farm have been fairly active; after a slow winter, we've reengaged ourselves by recording a new record, playing some great shows in and around the tristate, and honing our skills for the big BK Euro Adventure 2011.

Speaking of that new record, here's the low-down. We are releasing a split LP with Rhode Island's prodigious sons Convulsions. I have heard their material for this split and it is some of the most inventive and bizarre hardcore I've heard in a long time. Comparisons are almost always a waste of time, but Botch, Neurosis, and Converge all come to mind when listening. Our side of the split is my favorite material of ours to date and you may sample two of those songs at our bandcamp, HERE.

Before we head to Europe for our three weeks with Robert and Ghostlimb, you may see us play a fantastic all-day show in Asbury Park; yes it's true, it's RTF Fest again and this one's even bigger and wilder. The lineup speaks for itself, I think:

See you on the road friends,
Jay

A little taste of what's to come...

2011-03-03T13:39:00.001-05:00

Black Kites New Songs by Black Kites

Black Kites at 33rpm

2011-01-21T02:04:00.000-05:00

Masochistx2 by Chugbleach

Some video

2011-01-13T19:47:00.002-05:00

Here's a video of us opening for 108 at DBA in Brooklyn on the 8th. We had a lot of fun and I know we all really enjoyed 108's set.

Thanks very much to our friends for always being there with us for the past THREE years. That's pretty strange to think about. May the next three be as productive and exciting as the last.

http://hate5six.com/player.php?album=1509237

Black Kites // Ghostlimb European Tour 2011

2010-12-22T14:17:00.001-05:00

31.07.2011 - GER - BERLIN / TBC
01.08.2011
02.08.2011
03.08.2011
04.08.2011
05.08.2011
06.08.2011
07.08.2011
08.08.2011
09.08.2011
10.08.2011
11.08.2011
12.08.2011 Bel confirm
13.08.2011
14.08.2011
15.08.2011
16.08.2011
17.08.2011
18.08.2011
19.08.2011
20.08.2011 GER - Hohenstein Ernsthal - Voice of Art Festival

Convulsions // Black Kites

2010-12-07T21:40:00.001-05:00

That's what we're working on. That's what we're doing.

Black kites, DAAC, grand rapids michigan, 8/31/10

2010-09-08T00:45:00.000-04:00

Oh, and by the way:

Our Tour 2010

2010-09-08T00:04:00.005-04:00

Well friends and fellows, we are home from tour. Or, at least, two of us are. I'm still on the road with Zann. But since tour is finished I thought it a good idea to do a wrap up of sorts. For me, personally, tour was perfect start to finish. People came to all the shows, we played with good bands, people supported us and Zann by throwing us some bills, I got to eat great food, I got to spend time with some good friends and make some new ones... All in all, a total success.

I was in a very bad way, emotionally the day I left, and by the time I went to sleep that night in Bethlehem I felt on top of the world. Touring can be tiring, boring, and stressful, but I can't imagine doing anything else with my time. And these days, I only seem to be happy when I'm on the road.

So let's move on to the shoutouts and whatnot:

-Chris and Monica Z for being such great, supportive people. For letting 9 people stay at their house for three nights. For feeding us copious amounts of great food.

-Michigan for being such a solid state. I got to see Rorick, Jeremy, Oily Menace dudes, Ryan, Alex, and other good people. GR was a great show, the show of tour for me. Please please checkout this band: Cloud Rat

-Niko and the New Yorker and Chicago.

-Dave and Protestant.

-Alex and Grin and Bear it.

-James Downing.

-Derek Black.

And of course to anyone who bought something from either of the bands or came and watched or said they enjoyed our set, it really does mean the world.

Lyrics

2010-08-09T13:34:00.003-04:00

Here are the lyrics from our first two releases. Lyrics from the new LP will be up soon. Thanks for caring.

"Advancement To Ruins" LP

Taking My Time

Please don't worry about me
I'll be fine going at this pace
I know that you want the best
but I'm not ready for that yet.
I'm not trying to worry you
Just taking my time.
Let me make mistakes and I'll learn from them
And I'm sure I'll fall but I'll learn from them
I haven't given up
Just taking my time

Advancement To Ruins

Selfish reasons don't excuse the scars we leave on everything
From creatures to earth
And we're the advanced ones?
Advancement to destroy
advancement to ruins
in the name of convenience
for selfish people with easy ways out
No work, no more, no interaction
I'm getting lazy
Social life, so yesterday
Health is just a swallow away
Some more fuel just off these shores
Look at how far we've come
Society will be its own suicide
But we just sit back with eyes glued to the screen
Revel in this idea of "how far we've come"
How long can this last?

Sick Tradition

A hunger for greed fed by corporations
You don't consider lives or what you're supporting
There is no reason
compassion or political.
Just follow tradition of selfishness
Is taste really worth a living beings life?
Its just selfish
Its just disgusting
Through this cage I see the life I should have had
No blood at my feet
Its filled with freedom
A hunger for greed will bring the end

Laundry Room

I wish I knew what she wanted from the start
I've got a tongue and friends who'd love a good story
So now that you made headlines what am I left with?
A head full of questions and years of regret
So now that you made headlines I've got to ask it
Are you happy now?
Is it what you wanted?
Is it what you hoped for?
Now you're a story for his bar room friends
and I feel like I've wasted years
Take this string from your finger
and tie it around my neck
because I don't want to see.
Now you're a story for all of his friends
and I'm the joke thats been out told
"If I could treat you like shit then you'd love me forever"
Good hearts aren't dead
They're fucking worthless

Sly Fox in a Town of Idiots

I can't be reading this right
You're giving him a second chance?
Unleashing him on kids he's already harmed
What makes you think it won't happen again?
Those kids will never have a second chance
And we just don't learn
How many times until enough is enough?
How many lives will you allow him to ruin?
And how do you sleep at night if you can even look at the man whos ruined lives
and think "lets give him back the job."
The job he used to gain the trust of a student.
To turn around and abuse the kid who thought he found a sanctuary
What about him?
what about my friend? Where is his second chance?

February 2nd

Repetition beating down
Taking its toll on me
One season ends
nothing will change
stress is still stress
no matter the name
Wake up each morning
with a choice pre-made
Go through the motions
afraid of change
Can someone please tell me
what day is it?
They have all blended together
they are all the same
And they train us so you can train us
and what do we get?
Nothing
They set this trap and we've fallen

Twelve Infants

These words you say
these thoughts conveyed
Disgusting
Pose the question
nature/nurture?
Pass the blame
Am I the one whos in the wrong?
Could I be the rarity?
Do I act unnatural?
Now beauty is ripped apart
objectified by heartless
Act like this is right
act like this is natural
Use words of reduction to turn people to objects
My words are not progressive
they are not even learned
so tell me who is natural
and who's desensitized
Are we just slaves to lust?

Pipe Dream Revolution

Get your hand off your back, you haven't done a thing
Is this what you call progression?
Step outside these basement walls, you haven't done a thing
We've got a long way to go
Don't get me wrong
I'd love to see this world
show a little bit
of compassion
But I refuse to think of this as progress
Revolution/just pipe dreams/when preaching/to choirs

I Keep Getting Uglier

Tell her what she needs, what to buy, whats the price
because she doesn't fit your standards
and when she does
raise them again
because you can't afford a customer
So what if you're breaking her down?
As long as you get your paycheck
We'll keep giving you money
just keep telling me I'm ugly
You've got all the answers to questions we've never asked
Some day we'll have enough
Some day we'll all scream
Fuck your impossible standards
We are all beautiful

Reminder

Waking up in disappointment
calloused thoughts, desperate solutions
Another day with no solutions
another day I'm feeling hopeless
Searching for something more
as this world keeps pushing down
No breaks and nothings simple
just reminders of what I've failed
They say that this is just a phase
something that we all outgrow
Well, years gone by and I'm still screaming
it always comes down to this
Breathe in/out
Close my eyes
try to relax
Stuck, I'm stuck

You Me Us

I've watched it all fall down
and you want to tell me that I am wrong
about everything that I've witnessed?
How do you manage to stay so blind to
the way you effect everyone around?
Just a sinking ship with a mind of her own
and no compassion to those that she drowns
Another burning bridge I should not cross
Another mistake I'm sure to make
You're killing you, you're killing me, you're killing us
I've watched it all fall down
All the while falling with it
Just a sinking ship taking me down with it
Sink.

"I Won't Accept What We've Become" cassette/split 12" with Swallowed Up

25

Married by age twenty five and/dead/by
the time that you've learned to live your/life/is
this what you wanted/Is this what you need?
I won't be content with a life of regrets
Life has become a race of who can die first
But I can't keep up. I wouldn't if I could
And I may hate this place but I'm not rushing to die
And this way of life will have you fall in line
With a standard that has left so many broken and worn out, taken before their time

All The Wrong Places

We are slaves to feelings
Animals/for false hope
A cure for loneliness?
While we should fix ourselves we search forsomeone else
Temporary results flawed while taking what you get
Settling for complacency will leave us stagnant
While we lose all respect from those important
I deserve so much more
you deserve so much more

Costume

Similarities have hit too close
to home for me to feel comfortable
Why are we even screaming when we
have traits way too similar to what we claim
to hate
What sets us apart from their outside world
Why are we even screaming when we
have nothing/nothing left to say
Are we just what we claim
to be different from?
You could have fooled me with
same thoughts, different costume
I won't accept what we've become

Body Parts

TOM: Am I condemned to repeat the mistakes
of my father before me?
And die alone
Are we body parts?
That accept this programming?
That accept this history?
I don't want this
i don't need this
Your history won't define me
Your history won't confine me

JEFF: Bloodline infect
Hatred, reject
I don't want this
I don't need this
Your history won't define me
Your history won't confine me

Childhood Friends Grown Up

Rotting, lifeless human being
One step from an early grave
Steal from those you claim to love
Nothing matters anymore
So refresh my memory,
what am I missing out on?
"You've got to try this"
I'm fine with ignorance

How Are You

Possessions take possession
When we measure happiness in inches
Do you feel accomplishment?
How will you feel tomorrow?
Empty? Forgotten? Misused? Confused?
Useless? Depressed? Lied to? Mediocre at best

Room to Grow

Try hard and maybe you'll have a decent future
Bullshit, you couldn't care less
You're in the wrong job
What, do you think they care
about you or your future?
This is a lesson in lowering self worth
No heart and no feelings, you have no purpose here
Why do you even bother just wasting time
when there are those with so much less
who deserve what you've got.
We all need room to grow
You've set this bar so low
No, thank you
for what you've done for my future
No, thank you
Nothing, just paid, while we're behind

New Music

2010-07-29T01:53:00.003-04:00

Hello friends,

Our new LP is now available through Protagonist Records, HERE.

We played a very cool show last weekend in honor of Pat Gerity's birthday and the last Seasick/Zhenia Golov performances for a long time. It was truly something special. We shared the "stage" with some of our best friends in the world and nothing, not even the police or the rain, could put a damper on the collective good mood that night. Here is some video of our set:

Soon I will collect all of our lyrics on this blog, as many people have asked about them over the past few months. I appreciate your interest in what we have to say.

Tour with Zann upcoming, details soon.

With love,

Jay

Hey, check this out...

2010-05-06T00:50:00.005-04:00

We have finished our new LP. It will be out soon on Protagonist Records. That's the front cover above. Interesting, right?

I recommend that you pick up a copy of our split with Swallowed Up when you get the chance. It looks very nice and sounds quite good as well. The Stolen Sleeves folks (Matt, Fritz, and Kristen) did a wonderful job. Thanks are due to Andrew especially for funding this release!

After the release of our new LP, we will be playing shows through the summer and then touring with Zann from Germany through the great heartland of America. More about that soon, I'm sure.

10 months later...

2010-04-06T11:36:00.004-04:00

So it has been about 10 months since we last updated this blog...not that the updates were piling on before anyway. However, after realizing I read our friends in Gods and Queens blog fairly regularly I thought I might give this thing a shot again. Plus, there actually is some news to post!

First, we just had a cassette come out on RTF Records who has decided to do a tape or two a month. The cassette is called "I Won't Accept What We've Become" and is limited to 100. Its also sold out, sorry. Check out other RTF releases anyway. Here is the cover of the tape anyway...

If you missed your chance to get the tape, fortunately the songs will be released on a split 12" with an amazing band out of Brooklyn, Swallowed Up. This is coming out on Hydrogen Man Records. Unfortunately, Swallowed Up just broke up but we're trying to talk them into playing a last show for the release of this record. The records just came in and pre orders will be shipped shortly. You can gets this at Hyrdrogen Man's webstore

And finally for releases, our second LP, entitled "Songs Written While Things Were Changing" should be coming out very soon on Protagonist Music in the next month or so. The cover art is being finished up right now and then it will all be sent out to be pressed. Personally, I think these are our best songs to date (but what band doesn't say this when a new album is coming out?). No pictures to show yet, but check out Protagonist Music

As far as releases, thats it for now. We have a bunch of shows coming up. Since this entry is probably already too long and boring I'll just direct you to our myspace for now. Thanks to anyone who read this...I will try to update it regularly.

Tour update #1

2009-07-13T16:54:00.002-04:00

Hello again, friends.

Today is day three of our nine day tour across one quarter of the US. Things have gone well so far. The van still runs, there's a picture of Rob, the bus, and a Flying J above.

Tonight we play Grand Rapids, tomorrow Milwaukee. Nothing of interest has happened yet, all in due time...

-Jay

Things of note

2009-06-17T03:14:00.002-04:00

We just finished a weekend with Trainwreck and Comadre. Wonderful people doing wonderful things whom I hope that you will support.

Our future holds for us a show or two. On the 20th of this very month we return to Edison to rage with good friends Suburban Scum and Soul Control. Come hang out in the bus with us.

We leave for tour on the 11th of July. Dates are as follows:

11 - Pittsburgh

12 - Lakewood, OH

13 - Grand Rapids, MI

14 - Milwaukee, WI

15 - Chicago, IL

16 - Dayton, OH

17 - Lancaster, PA

18 - Richmond, VA

19 - Shamong, NJ

On the 25th, we enter Steve Roche's studio to record for two upcoming split records that we're very excited about. One split 7" with our friends in Fleshtemple. Another split 12" with our good friends Swallowed Up. We've been playing a few of the songs out now and I personally am looking forward to hearing them recorded.

Mosh naked,

Jay

3 Shows this weekend...

2009-04-14T11:25:00.005-04:00

Blue font. On top of the two that were previously posted, we're playing an awesome show Saturday. Check it out.

Saturday - April 18th, 2009@ The Stelton Church - 334 Plainfield Avenue. Edison, NJ 08817$10 // Doors @ 6 PM

TRASH TALK (One of two off dates)

LET DOWN (Last New Jersey show? Probably)

SWAMP THING (RVA)

DISASTER (xSean's other bandx)

NEW SCARS (Nickfit)

BLACK KITES (New LP out on RTF Records.)

I can't get the flier to not get cut off...you get the idea though.

2009-04-01T13:35:00.001-04:00

Real quick, if you want a shirt like this, send $10.00 to jaywiggin@gmail.com or find us at one of our shows. Sized YL to L in either heather gray or yellow. I ship fast, don't worry.

2009-03-24T10:26:00.002-04:00

yes, we are a funny looking trio of people......

April is shaping up, here's what's going on:

April 7th @ the breadbox, new brunswick, nj:
end of year
black kites
black teeth
torchbearer

April 16th @ 538 Johnson, brooklyn, ny:
moutheater
swallowed up
black kites
more tba

April 17th @ america, new brunswick, nj:
black kites
moutheater
valens
flesh temple
mi barrio

April 25th @ charm ciy space, baltimore, md:
black kites
zhenia golov
lotus fucker
cringe

Here we go...

2009-03-02T22:11:00.001-05:00

I was sitting around in my living room with Rob today and he mentioned that he had set up a blogspot for Zhenia Golov in an effort to avoid myspace. I was, in a word, inspired. This is a blogspot for the New Jersey band Black Kites. It will function a lot like the blog thing that's on our myspace. I'll also put some songs up as well, if I can figure it out.

March 5, 2009 we are playing in New Brunswick with our good friends Fleshtemple and Seasick and Divisions who are on tour from Florida. Fleshtemple are some of my favorite dudes around and they'll be releasing their first 7", which is a certified rager, at this show.

March 6, 2009 we are playing in Clifton with our good friends Fleshtemple and Troublemaker. The venue is called Dingbats. I hear bikers hang there, so come in (faux) leather.

March 14, 2009 we are playing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with Sinaloa who are on tour. I think it should be a good time. I'll update this when I figure out where it is in Lancaster we're playing.

March 15, 2009 will be our record release show in Pine Brook with a bunch of cool bands. It's at the Gardensk8 skate park. It's an excellent venue and I hope a lot of people come out. We'll have our records available of course. There are probably 40 or so of the clear left. I think that we will have some kind of record release cover available. We will also have t-shirts available for the first time in our nearly year long existence as a band.

In the works: new songs for various planned splits, maybe some more shirts, new covers, etc...

XXX