Koo Koo Kanga Roo is a dance party of the senses. For the last 12 years, lifelong friends and collaborators Bryan and Neil have toured the globe delighting fans with their high-energy music, infectious positivity, and interactive live show. They cut their teeth on the road, playing everything from DIY basements and birthday parties, to sharing main-stages with a wide array of genre-defying acts like Yo Gabba Gabba, The Aquabats, and Frank Turner.
Of course, the global pandemic of 2020 threatened to put an end to the carefree fun that had come to define the band, but instead of putting the group on pause or looking for office jobs, Bryan and Neil doubled down and created their most triumphant and expansive album yet. Legendary Minneapolis producer Lazerbeak (Lizzo, Doomtree, Trampled By Turtles) was brought in to craft the bombastic beats that would create the foundation of the project. Together Bryan, Neil, and Beak set out to redefine the rules of what a “kids band” can sound like. With a friendship already built from their strong Twin Cities ties, the trio spent their lockdown sharing files and ideas remotely, determined to take on the heaviness of the year and create something they could hang their hopes on.
Slow Clap is the culmination of that year of writing and recording. Eleven meticulously crafted songs that are meant to be sung at the top of your lungs. Lazerbeak’s signature blend of hip-hop nostalgia, pulsing bass, and monstrous drums provide the backdrop for Bryan and Neil’s rapid-paced rhymes and catchy-as-all-heck hooks, all while showcasing some of the fellas most creative subject matter to date. “200 Worms” name checks the actual worms that live in Bryan’s backyard compost bin, while the breakneck speed of “Putt Putt Butt Butt” might just convince you to dance your way through that next game of mini golf. And then there’s the honey anthem “Sticky Icky, which manages to sincerely big-up all of the hard-working beekeepers of the world over throwback drum breaks and bellowing horn stabs. The guys brought their rap friends along for the ride too. Murs pops up on the summer anthem “Ice Cold Lemonade,” Doomtree’s Sims tags in for the slip-n-slide ode “Backyard Swimsuit,” and Mega Ran tiptoes through a show-stealing verse on “Midnight Milk.” If it sounds like everyone is having a total blast, it’s because they are.
With summer in their sights and a steadfast commitment to search out joy in even the most daunting circumstances, Koo Koo Kanga Roo are ready to plug in the speakers, flip on the strobe lights, and bring their unique style of inclusive dance party to your doorstep once again. Slow Clap is a testament to the friendship, trust, and fun-loving ideals that Bryan and Neil have been building upon for over a decade – and it’s guaranteed to make you move your butt.
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“Kind of like a really demented and even more nerdy version of They Might Be Giants, Koo Koo Kanga Roo want everything to be as dance-minded and light-hearted as possible.” -Dallas Observer
“they’re plowing new ground in this emerging category of kids entertainment” -Grand Forks Observer
“Koo Koo Kanga Roo is for anyone who wants to have a good laugh, dance and sing along with the band and be a part of a raucous, unpretentious community of merry-makers.”LaCrosse Tribune
“It was weird because I’m usually pretty cynical about everything but seeing them kind of felt like the first time I ever ate ice cream.” -Vice
“So drop the ego, cool guy, and get ready to dance.”Orlando Weekly
“Crap tons of animals and confetti.”City Pages