Local Spotlight: We the Kings

You've heard their songs, you've probably even sung along to one of their catchy choruses, but what you may not know about Bradenton quartet We the Kings is that one of them could easily make a name for himself in the local carpet business. More on that later... We the Kings have just finished playing across the country on the Warped Tour and are getting set to rock the UK next month. But before heading across the pond, they will be stopping back home for a show at their biggest venue yet, Tropicana Field. Metromix caught up with the foursome and for an in-depth look at the boys behind the band.

Mmx: So tell me, what's it like, coming back to play Tampa again? You guys played the Warped Tour and now you get to play Tropicana Field.

Travis: I know. When we were on the Warped Tour we played it and the St Peterburg Warped Tour (stop) and it's kinda like one of those things where you're like 'wow this might be the biggest crowd we've ever played for' and then we got contacted that the Rays wanted to have us come and play, and we were all kinda taken a back for a little bit, and we're like "REALLY!??!" that's a lot more people than what we've played for than the Vans Warped Tour. But I think if you took everybody we've played for at the Vans Warped Tour in the entire tour, like all 43 dates and put them together...that would be kinda...it would all equate to this...a little bit, but I dunno, its gonna be an awesome opportunity for us and we're all really excited and kinda nervous of what's really gonna happen that day and if everything is gonna work out. In other words...just kinda speechless.

Mmx: You've gone to all these places around the country. When you go back home what are some places you look forward to going back to?

Danny: Um something we definitely look forward to when going home is the beach in general. Thats something you don't always get to see on tour. You see a lot of cities and stuff but like, you can just come back and lay on the beach.

Travis: I also like fishing too. Like uh, sometimes we try to fish, we're all really bad at it but sometimes we'll catch a sheeps head and uh Danny will fillet it, and he is an incredible cook and we'll eat it.
Yeah we'll play volleyball and chill on the beach, I know we like Duffy's on Anna Maria Island.

Hunter: Sandbar right on the water.... Decoy Ducks.

Travis: We're beach kids, definitely. Even though I have red hair and I get sun burned real often

Mmx: What does the world not know yet about We The Kings?

Hunter: We're the most mature people on theface of the earth.

Travis: Definitely. The most mature. Also, Danny is 100 percent the most motivated person in the world you will meet (laughing)

Mmx: Hey, who's been in a commercial here?

Travis: I have.

Mmx: And are you do you plan on going back to commercial work?

Travis: It was only just one commercial. It was for my dad's carpet store.

Hunter: He's sweating profusely

Travis: I know...uh...Georgia Carpet World where you'll never buy new carpet for less. Remember that.

Mmx: How did you crown yourself? Why did you call yoursleves "We The Kings?"

Travis: Uh, we all went to the same middle school where we all met as kids, and uh we ALL played t-ball. Actually mine and Hunter's team beat Danny's team everytime, which was unfortunate, but he and I were on the all star team...(laughing)...Danny didn't make the team either... But no, we all met in (King) middle school and uh, we named the band We The Kings. We wanted to keep a name that showed how long we'd been friends together and it wasn't a band that had been made by a label or a management company, so I think we're all just decent at our instruments and we all just love playing music.

Mmx:  So what's next, are you coming out with a new single, a new CD, anything else?

Travis:  Uh, well, touring is kinda costly. We got to the U.K. after this game and we play England, Scotland and Wales. And then we come back for a 2 month headlining tour in the US. Then we'll go to the next single which will hopefully be 'Secret Valentine.'  You know before anyone else, and I dunno, hopefully the success doesn't stop and we continue doing big things

We the Kings are:

• Travis Clark – lead vocals, guitar
• Hunter Thomsen – guitar, backup vocals
• Drew Thomsen – bass
• Danny Duncan – drums