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Kitten roars during opening gig at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.

Concert Review: Kitten Live at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA, 06/13/2012

L.A.-based band Kitten captivated the crowd’s attention at Bottom of the Hill earlier this month in San Francisco. Playing as support to The Life & Times and Ume, Kitten proved to be quite the breath of fresh air.

Kitten’s lead singer, 17-year-old Chloe Chaidez, impressed with her unwavering energy throughout the band’s 45-minute set. She hit the stage unassumingly in pigtails and then within moments proceeded to be consumed by her band’s music that was pulsating off the walls of the venue.

Chaidez moved about the stage free of pretention and full of life. She owned every song in such a way that you really couldn’t help but to be enchanted by her stage presence, as well as her ethereal vocals, which at times reflected shades of The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan.

During “Chinatown,” a cut off the band’s 2010 EP Sunday School, Chaidez didn’t miss a beat as she danced, punched her fists in the air, and interacted with her bandmates throughout the song. 

Midway through the band’s set, Chaidez slowed down, only to pick up her guitar to play during their performance of The Smiths’ “Panic,” which is the lead track on last year’s Please, Please, Please: a tribute to The Smiths. The band’s impressive update of the song was a treat to the San Francisco crowd, as Chaidez told us afterwards that she believed it was the first time they had performed it live. 

The band’s performance of their current single, “Cut It Out,” was stunning. The song really shows the progression of the band’s musicality, while also incorporating a bit of ’80s new wave. Chaidez’s airy and distinctive vocals complimented the catchy, melodic tune and contributed to the song being a highlight of Kitten’s set.

Kitten’s live show packs quite the punch. Chaidez’s unrelenting energy and confidence rivals most lead singers on the music scene today. At no point during the set, did anything from the band feel forced. With Chaidez’s electrifying demeanor, believability and powerful vocals combined with intriguing and catchy songs, Kitten’s live show is a force to be reckoned with.

Kitten will be hitting the road next month with the Pomegranates. Their upcoming EP, Cut It Out, is set to be released on August 28. For more information on the band, check out their official website.



 

Summer tour dates

7/16 – Lexington, KY – Cosmic Charlie’s
7/18 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
7/20 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
7/21 – Orlando, FL – BackBooth
7/22 – St. Petersburg, FL – The Local 662
7/24 – Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade
7/26 – Washington, DC – DC9
7/27 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
7/28 – Boston, MA – TT the Bear’s Place
7/29 – Philadelphia, PA – MilkBoy
8/1 – Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
8/2 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
8/3 – Akron, OH – Musica
8/4 – Toledo, OH – The Ottawa Tavern

Photo credit: Kirsten Coachman

About Kirsten Coachman

Kirsten Coachman is a writer and editor from the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit her long-running music blog, Wait...WHAT, at waitwhatmusic.net. Follow Kirsten Coachman on Twitter: @KirsCoachman

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