Depending on your taste in radio stations, you likely have heard Chilliwack, BC’s own group, These Kids Wear Crowns. Their song Break It Up has become a staple on Canadian stations. The band recently stopped at Southcentre Mall for a promotional acoustic set and autograph signing.

"We have never done anything in Alberta before, no radio or anything, so this tour has been nice. We have some strong support here.  Calgary and Edmonton are some of our biggest markets for sales and radio play. So we are excited to be here and meet some fans," guitarist Joshua "Gypsy" McDaniel told GayCalgary & Edmonton Magazine.

McDaniel and singer Alex Johnson sat down before the show to talk about the new album Jumpstart. The band is rounded out by bassist Alan Porter, keyboardist Matt Vink, guitarist Joe Porter and drummer Josh Mitchinson.

"We started back when we wrote the EP. Some songs, whether a verse or chorus or guitar riff, came together. We had planned on just releasing another EP after our first one. We had some songs we were finishing up and we needed something else to come out and keep the buzz going. We went down to Dallas and all six of us spent three weeks there on the border of ghetto and safety. It was one of those hotels that is under a bridge. We did six songs, came up and started having discussions with labels and signed with EMI," Johnson explained.

"From there we decided to just do a full length. We went down to LA to work with Matt Squire who wasn’t jazzed at first to work with us because he didn’t like the name. We showed up and really had a great first two days.... Once we got to know each other he came out with Jumpstart. I don’t think he wanted to just give it away to anyone, it was cool that he heard that we could do that song. It was something we could have written, it is damn good but if felt very natural."

Gypsy added, "It sounded like a These Kids song. After a couple of listens we really felt it could be a hit if you infused some These Kids into the song. Originally it was a dance track, no guitars and a different key. We adapted it and added some stuff and boom, the song we have today."

Any time a band uses the word "kids" or "boys" in their name, it seems that it makes them a target for sarcasm when the band members age.

"We had the band Good Night Medic which had folded positively and didn’t know where we were going to go musically," Alex recalled.  "One day we were trying to figure out what to call ourselves. It was a two day debate, we would come up with a name and then find on MySpace other names that were too close. We wrote down words on paper to brainstorm and then Matt sent us a text with the name. We slept on it, still felt good in the morning so we went with it.  The concern did come up in a few conversations. We wondered if it was a good idea or bad idea but ultimately the name screams what we want the band to be - to be fun and represent us - and it does."

"It is more about being youthful and having fun," added Gypsy.  "Doesn’t matter if you are 50 you still want to be young and do what you want to do, at the time you want to do it, as loud as you feel like it.  If a kid in college doesn’t want to say his favorite band is These Kids Wear Crowns because of  the kid thing, well we are a partycore band anyways. It is about having a really awesome time, a house party in a band."

Gathered in the centre court of Southcentre were eager teenage girls, a large part of their fan base. Reading the comments on the YouTube video for Break It Up is amusing as commentary focuses on things like Alex’s eyes. He admitted it was a little strange to have people commenting on the band’s looks.

"We have this thing we use for the music video called a ring light and it makes everyone look good, so it’s not me. It sits on the front of the camera and gives you that vampire look that is so in. It is weird to have such a focus on my body parts but it is a compliment. It is better than we could use less of your eyes... just a suggestion. I do close my eyes a lot when I perform live because I can’t focus if they are open, I can’t remember the lyrics to the songs so I keep my eyes closed a lot, which is different than the video. Maybe I should keep my eyes open more, is that your suggestion?" he joked.

"It is quite a dedicated fan base. That is what we like about the teens and the girls...they are so dedicated. We have done our best to make it feel like you are part of something if you are into our music, we try and push the feeling at our shows that it isn’t a show for you to watch, you are coming to a party and we are all going to have a good time. That inclusiveness that we really try to promote just makes people enjoy it more. What keeps a band going on the road is the merchandise that is purchased at shows really gets you wanting to tour because it is profitable or at least affordable. There are not a lot of people over 19 that are into buying a CD when you can buy two drinks, and I can’t blame them."

"It is hard because when you are 17 you care a lot what everyone thinks and you don’t want to get really into something and excited," offers Gypsy.  "We find that with the younger kids they get super into a band and love it.  That kind of passion is hard to do when you are older."

These Kids Wear Crowns have hit the ground running. Though a band less than 2 years, they have toured with Canadian acts like Faber Drive and Hedley.  It has been a great learning experience said Gypsy.

"We are big learners by being friends with someone who knows how to do it and hanging out with them. We try things out our way and adapt. We have gained a lot. Who knows what we wouldn’t know if we hadn’t gone on those tours."

"We always try to do our best whether it’s a show on the west coast with Faber Drive or a cross-country tour with Hedley. It is super awesome for a band like us to go with someone with a high amount of exposure," says Alex. "It was nice to tour with Hedley and watch them, just watching them do their soundcheck was a great experience. Seeing how they deal with their fans, everything from A to Z we watch and get what we can from them."