Their name is Kids & Animals, and they come from Seattle, WA. Their main influence is apparent by just one listen to the song "46th Street":

Hear that? They totally love Modest Mouse. This is a live performance, the mix is a little shakey, but they're not bad. They have a couple more songs available via MySpace too. They're a little loose, it's not perfect, but maybe the reason I like it is because they sound like the band I would've wanted to have when I was a kid and first started listening to Modest Mouse and Built to Spill and all that. Or maybe I just like it 'cause they have a lot of cute pictures of animals where the album art would go.

They're playing the Skylark Cafe January 4th with Black Whales, who I love and adore (and who have a free EP available at blackwhales.com).

The talk of the town?
Mad Rad is that talk that seems to be all over town. The day, Monday; the place, Flowers on the Ave: I hear two pretty ladies going on and on about the wonderfulness of the local trio. The day, Wednesday; the place, Mecca Cafe on Queen Anne: I get into a heated conversation about Mad Rad with an old friend and hiphop producer. I say yes; he says no. I say P Smoov (Mad Rad's beat man) is the real deal; he says P Smoov is not the real deal. I present Rik Rude's mixtape as evidence of P Smoov's realness; he denies Rik Rude's realness altogether. We part on more or less friendly terms. The day, Thursday; the place, All City Coffee in Pioneer Square: Two baristas begin talking up Mad Rad. Both are of the opinion that the trio are the it, the now, the happening. One of the baristas orders me to go to their next show. It's a must that I do this. So much passion. Such commitment. How long will this fever last?