Austin, TX's The Strange Boys evoke a wild-eyed, porcelain-skinned innocenc… Read Full Bio ↴Austin, TX's The Strange Boys evoke a wild-eyed, porcelain-skinned innocence that is capable of summoning the wayward spirit of Brian Jones. The mystery of the South couples with the mastery of rhythm to create a sound completely timeless and familiar, yet absolutely raw and avant-garde. Greg Enlow's syncopated, organ-driven grooves hark back to The Seeds' Pushing Too Hard while guitarist Ryan Sambol's voice wavers beyond comparison. Older brother Philip Sambol keeps the pulse with the aptly named Matt Hammer, who unmercifully pounds an old Ludwig set.

The Strange Boys began as a duo (Hammer and the younger Sambol) in 2003. The other two joined in 2005 and the band has been on tour non-stop ever since. Since 2003 the Boys have recorded a wealth of material which was passed around at shows and to friends, but never officially released. In 2007, Dusty Medical Records put out the Nothing EP, and in 2008, In The Red released the Woe Is You and Me single. Now, finally, the band's proper debut album is seeing the light of day. It's easy to imagine The Strange Boys And Girls Club, a sixteen-track beast, blasting out of any stereo system between The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators and Wire's Pink Flag.

The Strange Boys were the backing band for Mighty Hannibal (the '50s R&B recording artist); were main support for Roky Erickson and the Explosives at the Chaos in Tejas festival; have played South by Southwest the last four years, the Fuck Yeah Fest the last three years, Austin City Limits, Festival in Music Fest Northwest, and Bamalama (all in 2008); shared bills with Daniel Johnston, Black Lips, Reigning Sound, The King Khan and BBQ Show, Jay Reatard, Mika Miko, No Age, and BRMC; have toured with The Black Angels, Fucked Up, The Carrots, and Crystal Antlers[a/rtist]; and will tour with Darker My Love and Mika Miko in '09.î

In 2010, Indierockcafe.Com listed Austin indie band The Strange Boys Be Brave, LP on their "Best Albums of 2010 (So Far)" and "Artists and Bands" favorites list.

MLKs
The Strange Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

if what was thought
in my apartment
was thought out on the street
if what was loved
in your living room
was loved out on the street
if what was said
in my bed

was said out on the street
then i'm afraid that it would be
only you and me
so i'll stay where yoyu can see
will you do the same for me
if what was seen in the movie
was seen out on the street
if what was read in the book
was read out on the street
if you had heard what they were saying
then martin luther kings
then you would already know
that eeryone can come

but that i want to sit by you
do you wanna stand by me.

Overall Meaning

The Strange Boys's song MLKs is a reflective and introspective piece that delves into the idea of keeping things private versus sharing them with the world. The lyrics suggest that if everything that was private and personal were to be made public, there would be only two people left in the world - the singer and the person they are addressing. It's almost as if the songwriter is pondering whether or not they would be able to maintain a connection with this person if everything they valued and held dear was shared with the world.

The song touches upon various aspects of life, from what is "thought" in the privacy of one's home to what is "seen" in movies or "read" in books. It's like asking if what we see and feel in private would still hold the same value if it was shared with the rest of the world. The mention of Martin Luther King Jr. in the final lines is quite interesting, as it suggests that the songwriter is looking for a partner who shares the same values and beliefs. They want to be with someone who sees the world through their eyes and understands the importance of equality and justice.

Overall, The Strange Boys's MLKs is a deeply insightful song that urges listeners to reflect on the role of privacy in their lives, while also touching upon the themes of love, connection, and shared values.

Line by Line Meaning

if what was thought
If the private thoughts that we keep to ourselves

in my apartment
Inside the safety and security of our own homes

was thought out on the street
Were made public for everyone to hear

if what was loved
If our deepest feelings of affection

in your living room
We're expressed in the comfort of our own space

was loved out on the street
Were displayed openly for all to witness

if what was said
If the candid conversations we have

in my bed
In the intimacy of one-on-one interactions

was said out on the street
Were broadcasted in public for anyone to eavesdrop

then i'm afraid that it would be
In such a scenario, it would solely be

only you and me
The two of us against the world