To call Kitten a pop band would be a
disservice to them and their music. It's
far from pop. Kitten has built their
reputation as daring risk-takers, emerging as one of the most buzzed about
bands in the music scene today as evidenced by
their dynamic stage presence and wall-to-wall sound of relentless waves
of industrial and moody, synthesized post-punk.
They're led by the spark plug of a lead singer Chloe Chaidez and after
five years, three EPs and non-stop touring with the likes of Paramore, Charli
XCX and Joy Formidable, Kitten are finally releasing their highly-anticipated
debut album June 24th via Elektra Records
And to celebrate the release of
their self-titled debut record, Kitten played at The El Rey for their record
release show to a packed house of loyal fans.
But for those simmering fans charged and waiting to explode,
Chloe, dressed in a soft oriental gown, started off slow with the brooding
"Why Wait" set to hypnotic beats.
It certainly set the mood. With saturated red and blue spotlights softly
painted on mesmerized faces; the crowd seemingly knowing this was, in a sense,
the calm before the storm. They didn't' have to wait long.
Chloe, soon enough, charged into "Japanese
Eyes" off their 2012 Cut It Out EP and on cue, her loyal fans erupted in
unison as El Rey's stage barrier, or lack there of, was there to keep the crowd at bay or
keep Chloe contained (by the end of the night neither held true.) It's as though Chloe has been harnessing this
raw energy up until the curtains opened and, like a switch she turns on at will, escapes in bouts
of nervous energy.
With the crowd barely containing
themselves, there was no turning back. Kitten continued the volcanic barrage
with tracks off their new self-released album. Songs "Sensible" and
"Like A Stranger" are lush, electro assaults layering driving drums with
igniting choruses while "Cut It Out" and "I'll Be Your
Girl" revel in soaring melodies laced with a seductive beat as Chloe's
vocals barely rise above a tender whisper. I'm sure many fans were jealous when Chloe plucked a lucky fan from the crowd, brought her onstage and serenaded her to the seductive tune of "I'll Be Your Girl."
But even though Kitten's raw and
electrifying performance brought down the house, it was the more tender songs
that hit the hardest. There's an honesty
revealed in Chloe's voice that can turn on a dime to confidence yet still sound
delicate. Chloe, left alone onstage with only an acoustic guitar, performed
"Apples and Cigarettes" and
"Kill The Light," effortlessly transforming herself from a
commanding and booming onstage-presence to a vulnerable and fragile artist in one
quick lighting cue.
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| KITTEN performs during their album release party at The El Rey. photos by picksysticks |
The high-octane "Kitten With
A Whip," a mainstay towards the end of all Kitten shows (and surprisingly
not on their debut album) gave the
biggest jolt to the sold-out crowd.
Chloe took to the side stage, greeted by fans with outstretched arms as
she climbed the rafters and then stage-dived into the crowd below whom gently
brought her back to the stage. That's
when all hell broke loose. Fans stormed
the stage, overtaking security and brought the party onstage to Kitten. It was a fitting end to this special record release show. Certainly a roller-coaster ride from
beginning to end, Kitten's ride continues when their debut album is released
Tuesday, June 24th. They'll be
performing a much more toned downed set at Amoeba Hollywood that same day at 6pm for a
free show and signing CDs afterwards.
El Rey
setlist - June 21, 2014: Why I Wait / Japanese Eyes /
Sensible / Cut It Out / Like a Stranger / G# / Take My Breath Away (Berlin
Cover) / I'll Be Your Girl / Apples and Cigarettes (acoustic) / Sex Drive /
Chinatown / Cathedral / Kitten with a Whip /
Encore: Kill The Light / Doubt /
Sugar / Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House cover)
"Like A Stranger" by KITTEN.
.
