Small Black, big ambitions

With their lo-fi recordings of Casio keyboards and drum machine beats, you might think the members of Small Black would keep to their bedrooms.

But the Brooklyn recording duo will be revealing a bigger sound and a four-piece band as it tours cross-country for the first time with Washed Out and Pictureplane. The bands will play Washington's DC9 tomorrow.

"It's much bigger, and I think it's more fleshed-out and gives kind of new life to the songs," said singer/keyboardist/sampler Josh Kolinek of Small Black's live show. "It's pretty different in that we have live drums and a bassist. There's none of that on the record. We make [the songs] so we can kind of jam on them a bit and extend sections. It's different from the recorded versions, so you don't just see somebody regurgitate their record."

The band's dreamy and hazy self-titled debut EP was released last October independently but soon found a home on Jagjaguwar, the Bloomington, Ind., record label, also home to Bon Iver and Dinosaur Jr.

The headphone-friendly feel of the record was intended, but Kolinek promises a much livelier concert experience with Small Black.

"For live, I think it's all about the perfect experience and feeling some connection with the audience and vice versa," Kolinek said. "We try to really bring the energy level a lot higher live than maybe we do on the record because I think that's just what the setting requires."

And they'll have to bring a lot of energy — the band is pulling double duty at all its dates with Washed Out. Kolinek and company will play as Washed Out's backing band each night, in addition to a set of their own material.

"It's the first time I've ever done that, because I've always been the main voice," said Kolinek  about singing harmonies with Washed Out on this tour. "It's really kind of exciting to do that and not be in the center of the stage or something. It's fun to play a supporting role."

Until 2007, before Small Black was born, Kolinek and bandmate Ryan Heyner were in a group called Slowlands. After deciding to take a break to record as a duo, the two hung out at Kolinek's uncle's house and toyed with their newfound sound.

"[At my uncle's house we were] recording what kind of became the EP and just experimenting with figuring out what sounds we were kind of interested in and what direction we wanted to go," Kolinek said. "One day we decided we didn't want to use our guitars anymore. And I think when we made that decision, [the band] became what it is now."

Kolinek's musical journey came full circle when he gained more of an interest in samples and keyboards after college.

"I guess [music] was kind of the only thing I ever thought about as a kid," he said. "I always wanted to be in a band since I was 8 or 9 years old. It's funny because the Casio keyboard that we use a lot [in Small Black] is definitely the first instrument I ever played in a band. We definitely went back to the same place that we came from."

After writing songs with the other members of Slowlands, Kolinek and Heyner wanted to get back to the basics.

"I guess Ryan and I got really interested in non-linear songwriting," Kolinek said. "And not being chained to guitars and guitar chords and writing a song in that way. With this band we can make a song out of any sound. And that's usually how they start, us being excited about this keyboard sound or this drum beat.

"As far as the murkiness and the haziness, I've always loved very dreamy music and so does Ryan," Kolinek said. "I think a lot of our musical influences are based off of a love of that. [With Small Black] we really wanted to get back to what our influences were."

Small Black will play at DC9 tomorrow. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $8. The show is ages 18 and up.

rhiggins@umdbk.com