If there’s one thing kids are best at, it’s keeping it simple. Sometimes I find myself trying to create something and I just end up sitting and staring into space trying to come up with some new way to say what’s been said before, only to end up throwing it all out in the end. Over-thinking.

Tuesday night I arrived in Austin and packed myself into the sardine can that was Cheer Up Charlie’s and found myself being rocked to pieces by Residual Kid. It’s roaring fuzz and raw, grimey rock and roll. It’s simple and pure and it looks like the kids aren’t even trying. Like you and I might breathe, Residual Kid rocks.

I expect we’ll see a lot more to come from the young power trio. In school my teachers told me, “Keep it simple, stupid.” And I guess, for once, they were right.

Words and photos by Mitch Jones

Editor’s Note: The I Heart Local Music Crew is in Austin, TX, this week for SXSW.