Interview with Jordan Hudkins of Rozwell Kid

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In a makeshift backstage area in the Off The Record record shop, which resembled a storage closet, Jordan, singer and shredder for West Virginia’s Rozwell Kid, sinks into a chair. “It was a very short trip [from Austin],” Jordan says, thankful for a drive that was shorter than a 24-hour drive from South By Southwest to work in West Virginia. “We didn’t kill each other,” he remembers, trying to make light of the terrible situation he was in. “It’s easier these days with smartphones. We all have fun and joke around,” when surviving on the road. The busy schedule of touring occupies the band to the point where they don’t have thoughts like “why haven’t I showered in a week,” Jordan adds. He is not the world’s biggest fan of showers anyway: “It’s annoying. I do it but it’s annoying.”

Taken by Michael White
Taken by Michael White

“Busy” is the keyword for Rozwell Kid in 2015. “We’re just trying to tour as much as we can,” Jordan reveals excitedly, “we’ve got a couple of cool releases coming out. One of them is coming out in March and the other’s in the Spring. After this tour, we’re doing South By South West and then a few dates in the Midwest.” After all of this, a new full-length will hopefully be demo’d for next year. The band has been working non-stop since they released the LP, Too Shabby, in November of 2014. Ever since they were featured in the 2013 Topshelf Records Sampler, their popularity has risen and therefore their schedule has been busier. “It’s really cool that [Topshelf Records] has such a loyal fanbase and that they share other bands on other labels with that fanbase.” Jordan appreciates the opportunity for Rozwell Kid to be on the sampler in 2013, as well as 2014 with the single, “Kangaroo Pocket.” Jordaa2096185852_10n says that a lot of people heard his band thanks to those samplers. I asked him what his “dream” opening slot on a tour package would be, to which he responded, “does Weird Al count?” Jordan later reveals his love for zany music like Weird Al and The Aquabats, two bands that he listened to frequently during his formative years. “I love The Aquabats,” Jordan reminisces his high school years that he spent listening to a band that wrote songs about two-headed cats and pizza parties. “I also think touring with Saves The Day would be sick too.” Help Rozwell Kid be big enough to open for Weird Al by listening to them here. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSSMG9yKqQA]

Michael White '15
Michael White '15
Michael left Parish Episcopal School after 8th grade to continue pursuing academic excellence at Jesuit. He loves to write; writing is his choice form of artistic expression, because there is nothing like reading meaningful words on paper. He also loves listening to all kinds of music (except country) and loves to share his passion with others, hence his participation in the Roundup. He likes lacrosse, reading, playing drums and serving the community. He also runs a music blog with fellow Juniors Jon Birondo, Drew Curran and Chris Ayres called Pretty Neat Grooves. You can find them at www.prettyneatgrooves.weebly.com
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