REVIEW: THE KILLS AT BRISTOL ANSON ROOMS (02/06/11)
Even the most devoted Kills fan arrived at Bristol Anson Rooms with trepidation on this Thursday evening. Kills gigs are well known for their intensity and tonight is hot, hot like the sun. Nevertheless, Jamie Hince strolls onto stage with a cheeky grin closely followed by the stunning Allison Mosshart and both look cool as a cucumber juxtaposed with the steaming crowd.
Opening with No Wow from the 2005 album of the same name, the band thump through the number at an unrelenting pace at such a volume I truly believed I would get a nosebleed. Wonderful stuff. Future Starts Slow, a steady paced piece from the new album, follows closely, not as well received by the audience but a deserved surge in energy occurs during Heart is a Beating Drum also from Blood Pressures.
Mosshart is a generous performer, flinging herself into each song and locking eyes with doting fans, one or two of whom have clearly taken their outfit inspiration from the style Bible of VV and Motel. The restrained sexual tension (staged) between the two is played upon during Kissy Kissy, pulling their mics close in their trademark stance, we get a taste of the blues rock styling of the divine Keep On Your Mean side, often lost in the cooler studio beats the Kills produce lately. The dynamic is so strong that we forget the dark vein of this song, the chorus focuses on stabbing someone in the mouth, but this is softened by the rich vocal Mosshart brings to the humping guitar of Hince.
As the gig gathers a frantic pace around URA Fever, even causing outbreaks of po-going among the younger attendees, a break in sound during DNA doesn’t deter the fans and merely allows some quiet time to adorn the twosome with adoration and appropriate statements of affirmation. Satellite stomps into life slowing the pace but strong and significant of their new direction, The Kills have the confidence and mastery of their art well enough to take a crowd on twists and turns during a boiling Thursday night. Tape Song bursts to life, well worth seeing live for the shot of vitality it is given, the same with Sour Cherry, which makes this reviewers day indeed and pours out of Mosshart with such venom it makes one wonder who the target of this song could be. Baby Says drops the pace and gives a few minutes respite from the thrashing crowd, while growing to a very distorted and musically heavy crescendo, brave, and it all works out.
The encore begins with another bold choice in The Last Goodbye, Mosshart standing like a little girl at a school recital giving light to her well honed vocal talents, often unappreciated but worthy of praise as she swings from shouting growl to soft purr. Pots and Pans sees the very welcome appearance of VV on drums, pounding away with that smooth blues vibe, Johnny Cash would have been proud. And Fried My Little Brains form the Unsorted album closes a breath taking set, the audience sing along, drinks are thrown and we all leave gasping for air in one way or another.
Words: Helen Brown
Photo: Steve Palmer
