Milwaukee's Citizen King highlights Splash festival
For all the two-bit bands that come through this city begging for support, very few even feel an ounce of loyalty or respect for the city of Milwaukee and its music fans. Citizen King, however, is proud of Milwaukee just as Milwaukee is proud of it. Lead singer and sometimes bassist Matt Sims is not only from Milwaukee, he's a Marquette graduate, too. Sims spoke to the Tribune about pride in the Milwaukee scene, Citizen King's new fan club-only LP and the band's similarities to kryptonite. "The Milwaukee scene is really rad," Sims said. "A lot of talented people are pooling together - new deejays, electronic musicians. And we still play parties, too - we'll never be past that. We'll never stop playing for our friends." After the completion of Citizen King's recent West Coast tour, Sims said he has taken on a fondness for national attention, though he still prefers playing back home. The tour, in support of the band's 5-song EP, Count the Days, included a stop at Austin's annual schmooze-fest, the South X Southwest festival. It was a complete success and landed the band a record deal with a subsidiary of MCA Records, 510. Unfortunately for Citizen King, 510 and MCA couldn't see eye-to-eye on economic and creative levels and parted ways. Disgruntled by the limbo state they were in, Citizen King released Sydney Hih on its own label, King Cast. It's a 15-song release of outtakes and instrumentals from the last four years. Named after the band's old practice space on Third Street and Juneau Avenue, Sydney Hih is a compilation of good songs, nostalgia and creative explorations. "We had such a good time there and the record represents a running change in our career, but it's not an indication of where we're at right now," Sims said. "It's really to tide over the fans who have been waiting around for something new." Fortunately, MCA has kept Citizen King on the roster and will release its next record within the year.
New kings on the block "Actually, we don't really care about having a major label," Sims said. "I mean, the money does help, but MCA wants us to be another New Kids On the Block. If they don't like our stuff, they can do what they want with us." "As long as we have total artistic control, we don't care about record labels either way," he continued. "If record labels are Superman, we're definitely the kryptonite." Citizen King has been working on its new record for the past five months, the longest it has ever spent on one release. Sims described it as "dancy," incorporating more samples, electronics and triggered drums than ever before. Co-produced by New Orleans native Trina Schumacher, the recording was definitely influenced by the rhythm and eclecticism of New Orleans, and it has a much more focused feel, Sims said. "We're emptying our music out - space is a beautiful thing," Sims said. "It's different and I think we're really gonna grow from this. There's still an aggressiveness, but it's really danceable - we want people to groove to it."
Summer = tour Proud of the burgeoning dance scene in the Midwest, Sims said it is getting bigger as quickly as it is consolidating. Gearing up for a Midwest tour of colleges and smaller towns this summer, Sims said the band can't wait for "festival weather" and the new attitude summer brings. "We love playing outdoors and at festivals" Sims said. "We love playing at Marquette, too." Citizen King plays at 7 p.m. Saturday in the AMU Cafe as part of Splash '97.
By Patrick Ford - Tribune Staff