By Tai Saint Louis
Throwback group The Cool Kids embarked on a promotional tour in Hawaii on Friday (May 2) in support of their forthcoming debut EP The Bake Sale.
Boasting 10 tracks including “Black Mags,” “Mikey Rocks,” and “88,” the EP will be released exclusively via iTunes on May 20, three weeks ahead the EP’s in-store date, June 10, on Chocolate Industries.
Chocolate Industries is the indie label which is also home to Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox) and UK emcee Lady Sovereign.
Starting July 19, The Cool Kids will bring their promo tour to a larger stage when they embark on the 2008 Rock The Bells Festival.
The Chicago-based 80’s throwback duo, comprised of Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish, will share the stage with some of the best live acts in Hip-Hop, including A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, Rakim, De La Soul, Method Man and Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface, Immortal Technique and Dead Prez, many of whom will also be promoting 2008 releases.
Also joining the Rock The Bells line-up, in the festival’s first international foray, are Kid Sister, Spankrock, Santogold, Jay Electronica, and Wale, all recognized alongside The Cool Kids as heading up the new so-called "electro" Hip-Hop movement.
The Cool Kids will also take advantage of this tour to promote socio-political causes close to their hearts.
In an effort to raise awareness among their fans, they have invited peta2, the Youth branch of animal rights organization Peta, to join them along their promotional stops.
Chuck and Mikey even recently recorded a promotional video for peta2 in support of the organizations “fur-free pledge” initiative.
The Cool Kids will also hit the stage in Chicago on May 21, as part of the Darfur Now College Tour and documentary.
Upcoming Cool Kids tour dates:
05-07 Middletown, CT - Wesleyan University
05-09 Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin-Madison
05-10 Northfield, MN - Carleton College
05-16 Galesburg, IL - Knox College
05-17 Chicago, IL - University of Chicago
05-21 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub (Darfur Now College Tour)
05-25 Detroit, MI - Detroit Electronic Music Festival
05-31 Evanston, IL - Northwestern University
06-05 Cincinnati, OH - Cue Club
06-06 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
06-07 Philadelphia, PA - The Roots Picnic
06-08 Washington, DC - Black Cat
06-19-21 Pori, Finland - RMJ Festival
06-23-27 Arendal, Norway - Hove Festival
07-03-06 London, England - O2 Wireless Festival
07-11-13 Frauenfeld, Switzerland - Openair Frauenfeld
07-20 Toronto, Ontario - Rock the Bells Tour
07-26 Boston, MA - Rock the Bells Tour
07-27 New York, NY - Rock the Bells Tour
08-01 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-02 Miami, FL - Rock the Bells Tour
08-03 Philadelphia, PA - Rock the Bells Tour
08-09 Denver, CO - Rock the Bells Tour