Kids on TV
Encyclopedia
Kids on TV are a punk-house
queercore
band based in Toronto
.
The group consists of John Caffery on bass and vocals, Minus Smile on drums, electronics and vocals, Wolf on guitar and vocals, and Roxy on keyboard and vocals. The band is known for performing outside of the usual venues, such as bars, and have appeared at steambaths and film festivals, among other places. In 2005, they collaborated with Boy George
on a remix of their song "Breakdance Hunx". That same year, their remix of the song "Bitchsy" by Lesbians On Ecstasy
appeared on Giggles In The Dark, an LP devoted to remixes of Lesbians On Ecstasy's songs by various artists. Kids on TV's version features Maggie MacDonald
(of the bands The Hidden Cameras
and Republic of Safety
) as well as samples
from the song "All Women Are Bitches
" by Fifth Column, which had originally inspired the Lesbians On Ecstasy song.
The group also makes films which have been screened at various film festivals throughout North America. As well, John Caffery appears in John Cameron Mitchell
's 2006 film Shortbus
.
Kids on TV collaborated with Ohbijou
for a concert on the CBC Radio One
series Fuse
in early 2007.
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
queercore
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
band based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
The group consists of John Caffery on bass and vocals, Minus Smile on drums, electronics and vocals, Wolf on guitar and vocals, and Roxy on keyboard and vocals. The band is known for performing outside of the usual venues, such as bars, and have appeared at steambaths and film festivals, among other places. In 2005, they collaborated with Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
on a remix of their song "Breakdance Hunx". That same year, their remix of the song "Bitchsy" by Lesbians On Ecstasy
Lesbians on Ecstasy
Lesbians on Ecstasy is an electronic band from Montreal, Quebec.The band toured across Canada and the U.S. with Le Tigre before the release of their first recording.The first album, the self-titled Lesbians on Ecstasy was released on October 26, 2004...
appeared on Giggles In The Dark, an LP devoted to remixes of Lesbians On Ecstasy's songs by various artists. Kids on TV's version features Maggie MacDonald
Maggie MacDonald
Maggie MacDonald is a writer, playwright and musician who lives in Toronto, Ontario.-Early life and education:MacDonald grew up in Cornwall, Ontario, where she became active in the local independent rock music scene. She put on shows and creating a fanzine called Saucy, which gained attention...
(of the bands The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music"...
and Republic of Safety
Republic of Safety
Republic of Safety was a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally consisting of vocalist Maggie MacDonald, guitarist Jonny Dovercourt, bassists Kat Gligorijevic and Kate McGee and drummer Evan Davies...
) as well as samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from the song "All Women Are Bitches
All Women Are Bitches
All Women Are Bitches is a song by the Toronto band Fifth Column.The lyrics were written by Caroline Azar and G.B. Jones and the music was composed by Fifth Column. The single was produced by Walter Sobczak at Wellesley Sound Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The cover featured photos from the G.B...
" by Fifth Column, which had originally inspired the Lesbians On Ecstasy song.
The group also makes films which have been screened at various film festivals throughout North America. As well, John Caffery appears in John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell is an American writer, actor, and director. He is best known for his motion pictures Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus and Rabbit Hole.- Early life:...
's 2006 film Shortbus
Shortbus
Shortbus is a 2006 comedy-drama film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. The plot revolves around a sexually diverse ensemble of colorful characters trying desperately to connect in New York City. The characters converge in a weekly Brooklyn artistic/sexual salon loosely inspired by...
.
Kids on TV collaborated with Ohbijou
Ohbijou
-Biography:Ohbijou began as the solo project of Brantford singer-songwriter Casey Mecija . Through the process of songwriting and composition, Casey discovered a need for the musical support of her sister Jennifer Mecija , whom Casey invited to assist with her early performances...
for a concert on the CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
series Fuse
Fuse (radio program)
Fuse is a Canadian radio program, which airs on CBC Radio One and on CBC Radio 3's satellite radio channel. From March 25, 2007 to August 2008, the program was also aired on CBC Radio 2, becoming the only program which has aired on all three networks...
in early 2007.
Compilations
- "36 Pills" on Toronto is Great, Blocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording Club is a Canadian co-operative of musicians, which serves as both a collaborative artist community and a record label for its member artists.The label's name may also be cited graphically as □□□□□□ rather than the word "Blocks"...
LP, 2004 - "Bitchsy" on Giggles In The Dark, Lesbians On EcstasyLesbians on EcstasyLesbians on Ecstasy is an electronic band from Montreal, Quebec.The band toured across Canada and the U.S. with Le Tigre before the release of their first recording.The first album, the self-titled Lesbians on Ecstasy was released on October 26, 2004...
remixes, Alien8 RecordingsAlien8 RecordingsAlien8 Recordings is an independent record label founded in 1996 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The music label was founded by Sean O'Hara and Gary Worsley...
vinyl LP, 2005 - "Breakdance Hunx (Market Value Mix)" on Girl Monster, Chicks On Speed Records vinyl EP, 2006
- "Breakdance Hunx (PSBEUYS PNP Mix)" on Friends in BellwoodsFriends in BellwoodsFriends in Bellwoods is a compilation album, released in 2007. It was the first release on Out of This Spark, through a distribution deal with Sonic Unyon Records. The album is named for a house on Bellwoods Avenue in Toronto, shared by two members of the band Ohbijou, which NOW has written "might...
, Out of This SparkOut of this SparkOut of this Spark is an independent record label founded in the fall of 2006 by Stuart Duncan in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The label is an artist-focused label that works to release fun, exciting and innovative music, with a focus a facilitating the distribution of music to the masses for musicians...
, 2007 - "Poison" on Friends in Bellwoods 2, Out of This SparkOut of this SparkOut of this Spark is an independent record label founded in the fall of 2006 by Stuart Duncan in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The label is an artist-focused label that works to release fun, exciting and innovative music, with a focus a facilitating the distribution of music to the masses for musicians...
, 2009
Albums
- Mixing Business With PleasureMixing Business with PleasureMixing Business With Pleasure is the first full-length album by Kids on TV, released in 2007 on Blocks Recording Club.-Track listing:# "Breakdance Hunx "# "A Song for Holly Woodlawn"# "Cockwolves"...
, Blocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording Club is a Canadian co-operative of musicians, which serves as both a collaborative artist community and a record label for its member artists.The label's name may also be cited graphically as □□□□□□ rather than the word "Blocks"...
, 2007 - Pantheon, Blocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording Club is a Canadian co-operative of musicians, which serves as both a collaborative artist community and a record label for its member artists.The label's name may also be cited graphically as □□□□□□ rather than the word "Blocks"...
, end of 2010