The Royal Highness, a Danish group formed just 10 months ago, performs "Pay." UK band Captain debuts their single, "Frontline," a thunderous ode to bloody-mindedness. Canadian rockers the Novaks, refined by three years of playing barrooms, offer "Goodbye Rock and Roll Band" as their podcast performance. Jackson, Mississippi's King Elementary, recently signed to Capitol Records, submit "Hit the Mirror" and "Dear Scene, I Wish I Were Deaf" is the selection from Long Island natives Nightmare of You.

All five bands were also featured at the "BMI Presents..." showcase on September 15 during the CMJ Music Marathon held in New York City.

While podcasts are all the rage for music listeners seeking to escape the common path, some of the podcasts currently being distributed have not been authorized by songwriters and other copyright owners - and may be illegal. Not so with BMI podcasts. All mechanical and performance licenses are always secured by BMI prior to release, with the blessing of those who create and own the music. To ensure that its more than 300,000 songwriters and copyright owners are compensated for their work, BMI licenses distributors of podcasts.

All editions of the BMI "See It Hear First" podcast series are available for downloading at bmi.com/podcast. They may also be downloaded on iTunes as part of Apple's free podcast directory at bmi.com/itunes.

Podcast listeners can vote for their favorite artists to help them win a CD duplication package from Disc Makers, the leading CD manufacturer for the independent musician that offers special packages exclusively for BMI affiliates.]]> 2005-09-15T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/4024 Artists, King Elementary, Musical Styles, Rock, Musicworld, On The Scene Upon discovering rock ‘n’ roll, every teenager achingly longs to start a band. Rarely, however, does that band propel itself out of the garage fueled by the restlessness of youth, and into the realm of record labels nationwide. Jackson, Mississippi’s King Elementary are one of the lucky ones.

All four members are the ripe old age of eighteen. While most kids are on summer break, they’re practicing in their garage. While most kids are spending their weekends studying for tests and writing papers, they’re playing shows. Nothing about King Elementary is angst-ridden, awkward or uncertain — these are, by far, some of the most confident rock songs you’ll hear all year.

Their first demo tracks won the attention of acclaimed producer Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello). He was so taken by the band’s uninhibited energy and melodic sensibility, he asked if he could record King Elementary’s first album, and release it on his own Sweet Tea Records.

The result is Kudzu, an album that eclipses all the rock trends of the moment relying on sheer post-adolescent adrenaline to get the message across. Too young to drink, too cool to go to class, King Elementary draws on elements of power pop, hardcore, Southern rock and indie sounds to create the perfect soundtrack to youth’s reckless abandon. 

Each song sounds as if it’s ready to start a drunken brawl with you. With guitars braced and ready to pounce, singer/guitarist Morgan Jones’ vocals are a swaggering dare, encapsulating the exact moment when a fun little discussion turns brutal. The melodies trample a blurred line between exuberant (see the “ba da bops” on “Thief of Hearts” and “For the Birds”) and world-weary (“Hit the Mirror” and “Sand and Romance”).

King Elementary might be one of the luckiest crews of good southern boys on earth, but after one listen to Kudzu it all becomes clear…they’re just that good. 

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