Great. Just what Brooklyn needs more of, right? A pop-punk garagey all-girl band? Except while Care Bears on Fire have pre-teen marketability on their side, their music is what sells. And if you're wondering just how old these girls are, know that they've been at this for four years, so, in the wise words of gone-too-soon Aaliyah (never forget!), age ain't nothin' but number for them.
And while they're quick to discuss sparkles and stuffed animals (um, they ARE named after one), Care Bears On Fire keep their musical idols and tastes super sophisticated: Jack White, Patti Smith and Kim Gordon? Well, well, well. I don't even know who my idol was at that age... Britney, probably? A. J. McLean?
Watch Izzy, Sophie and Jenna's Buzzworthy "The Five" interview to find out what's really important things to CBOF: Monchichis, mascara, and raising praying mantises... the "fiercest" of which is named Michelle Obama. (What else would you name a truly fierce praying mantis?)
PS -- Don't know what a Monchichi is?? OMG!
(Credit: Phil Knott)
Care Bears On Fire's brand-new "Everybody Else" video is a scrolling vintage collage that looks kinda like a lost level of Contra. You remember Contra, don't you? More importantly, "Everybody Else" is the quintessential snot-nosed girl-punk anthem, from its snarling "1,2,3,4" count-off to its tattle-tale chorus.
Sophie (vox, guitar), Izzy (drums) and Jena (bass) started Care Bears On Fire four years ago. When they were in 5th grade. Are you doing the math? Now, on the brink of high school, they've become some of the most prominent players in what Spin Magazine calls the "New York kid-core scene."
The thing is -- and this is true of any uncommonly young band worth listening to -- they don't sound like kids. They sound like seasoned bad-asses putting new spit on old Joan Jett. Lighting off The Runaways' "Cherry Bomb" for a new generation. Check out the sweet-looking video for "Everybody Else," right here.
Pop-punk threesome Care Bears On Fire sound like the Donnas, list Pavement and the Pixies amongst their influences, and they have a singer/guitarist who greatly resembles Karen O. They play the same venues as Supergrass and fellow Brooklyn band TV On The Radio, yet their merch guy is eight years old, and they're not even old enough to remember the original Care Bears. And their collective age totals less than 40.
The band of seventh graders took a break from hating math homework to tell Metromix more about what inspired their hit "Met You On MySpace" and why old people creep them out.
