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Riot grrl femme fatales

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Kess Me, Keller! St Patrick’s Day thrills with Punka Presents & Ruby Rawbone

7th April 2018 By Davidkmk Leave a Comment

As a band we should never eat quality pies before a gig… The first time we ate some lovely Welsh pubgrub pies before a show and played to a couple of people with, um, a band that wasn’t really a good fit. On St Patrick’s Day we scoffed some of Bristol’s famed Pieminister products… and the PA blew up just a couple of songs into our set. Still, it wasn’t all that bad as we had a fun-packed Irish holiday all the same.

Punka Presents is a new series of gigs put on by Bristol’s Punka crew, who are tearing it up on Bristol’s LGBT nightlife scene. Promoter Stu had put in loads of effort putting the word out about the gig, which took place at The Trap venue below St Nick’s Market. With celebrated drag superstar Ruby Rawbone acting as compare the stage was set for a gig that went far beyond the humdrum run of the mill.

Local act Monocle were the first band on the bill and warmed up The Trap with some sonic pyrotechnics fronted by powerful female vocals from the energetic Becky. The were followed by Chang, who are getting a lot of attention with a musical mix that’s both absorbing and explosive in equal measure with involving grooves blending elements of neo-grunge, noise-rock and post-rock. It’s definitely a band to see if you like your rock music fresh.

Kiss Me, Killer had their photo taken by a chap called Marco Bardusco-Brazier, who’s making a documentary about the aforementioned Ruby Rawbone before we took off for pie and mash. Marco’s Instagram account can be found here and very colourful it is too.

Look, we got our photo taken by a documentary filmmaker who's been making a movie about the drag scene....
Look, we got our photo taken by a documentary filmmaker who’s been making a movie about the drag scene….

Notably, it was the first gig featuring deputy rhythm guitarist, Cooper Rose. Sadly, our lovely Cat had had to jet off to sunnier climes with work (and will soon be travelling again around Central America – alright for some). Cooper, or Coops as she’s often known, plays with our friends The Menstrual Cramps who are causing a stir across the UK with their feminism ‘n humour infused songs and have developed rapidly into an unstoppable live force. When not making videos for the Menstruals and DIY-recording with Logic Pro X, Cooper also performs with London’s unbelievably cool Bad Sidekick project. She also has one of those proper Instagram accounts with great poses, style, followers and whatnot. Northern and vegan, she chose Pieminister’s animal-free Kevin pie, which I think she very much enjoyed. I think we all enjoyed our pies. Pieminster know what they’re doing I think.

Everything was going swimmingly and the band was in a positive, party vibe mood for St Patrick’s Day, even though we had to feign our own terrible Irish accents in the absence of authentic Irish punk girl, Cat: ‘KESS ME, KELLER!’

We powered into Beware! EP favourite From the Inside and gave Rat Race a hammering before we realised something was up… Had Holly blanked in her lyrics for recently-written tune, Sliding Into My DMs? No, it was the mic, no, it was ALL the mics. Yep, the PA had failed completely… blown up… kaput… no funciona… muy jodido… t’be sure, t’be sure…

Kiss Me, Killer - featuring deputy guitarist Cooper Rose - with the majestic, Ruby Rawbone
Kiss Me, Killer – featuring deputy guitarist Cooper Rose – with the majestic, Ruby Rawbone

While Mr Soundman fiddled frantically with his equipment we bravely tried to fill the space with some improvised material, eventually easing into a completely new genre we made up on the spot – anarchojazz pornopunk – which wouldn’t have sounded out of place on the Vampiros Lesbos OST. Eeeking this twangy, sleazy wahwah-infused jam out as long as possible, and attempting a super-quiet version of our song Snooker so Holly could be heard without a mic, it was time to knock it on the head and call it a night…

Cheri Clouds managed to get some good shots of us, even if we weren’t on stage for very long:

KMK photographer and Cheri Clouds experiments with mixing flash and ambient light at the venue.
KMK photographer and Cheri Clouds experiments with mixing flash and ambient light as KMK take to the stage.
Cooper and her cool Squier Mustang weapon of choice.
Final refreshments before sheer punk rock carnage...
Final refreshments before sheer punk rock carnage…
David sported a new, modern, take on the paisley theme, this colourful number resembling a cosmology imagined by some ancient race of people.
David sported a new, modern, take on the paisley theme, this colourful number resembling a cosmology imagined by some ancient race of people.
Tuning up, ready to rock the Punka crowd the The Trap
David’s pink Gordon Smith guitar and AJ’s drumming as we jammed out some anarcho-jazz pornopunk following the demise of the poor PA
It was our first show with the unfeasibly creative, Cooper Rose of The Menstrual Cramps and London's Bad Sidekick.
It was our first show with the unfeasibly creative, Cooper Rose of The Menstrual Cramps and London’s Bad Sidekick.
Holly just minutes away from total PA failure!
Holly just minutes away from total PA failure!
No one over take pictures of the drummer? Well, they do now!
No one over take pictures of the drummer? Well, they do now!

Punka’s lovely Stu was deeply apologetic about the technical hitch, just one of those things, but was keen to have us back ASAP. And, yes, we’ll be playing another Punka Presents in June. Watch this space, people… Watch this space… We love Punka. They’re fabulous.

Filed Under: Gigs Tagged With: bristol, gigs, girls to the front, KMK, live music, punk, punk rock, riot grrrl

AJ drum depping for Drunken Butterfly at Bristol Dream Wife gig

19th March 2018 By Davidkmk Leave a Comment

KMK drummer AJ will by deputising on drums for seminal Bristol riot grrrl band, Drunken Butterfly who are supporting Dream Wife at the Exchange venue

Drunken Butterfly
Drunken Butterfly

Dream Wife is a punk band from Brighton who released debut album Dream Wife in January and have really been blowing up big time in the UK. Go check ’em out if you can still get tickets!

Filed Under: Fake News in Brief Tagged With: bristol, exchange bristol, gigs, girls to the front, punk, riotgrrrl

Kiss Me, Killer hit the Pig and Fiddle, Bath

5th March 2018 By Davidkmk Leave a Comment

It’s taken us over year but the band has finally made its debut in our neighbouring city of Bath at the popular Pig and Fiddle Pub. The gig was hosted by Cat Backlash of Bath DIY Punk Collective and we shared the bill with two storming punk rock juggernauts.

First on the bill were Bath-based Meekers who warmed up the crowd with an enjoyable slab of melodic punk rock. Accomplished bass and powerful drumming were backed by tuneful leads and washes of guitar. It’s just the kind of act you need to get a venue pumped for a night of live music.

The Pig and Fiddle’s main entrance becomes the ‘stage area’ on gig nights, which gives the bands plenty of space to move around and throw some serious shapes. The venue, lined with wooden panels, ephemera and interesting decor has a sort of small town Americana vibe and the images of the gig, from famed local gig photographers Cheri Clouds and Meg Manley Photography, looked great in this setting.

Martyrials' Sam (image: Meg Manley)
Martyrials’ Sam (image: Meg Manley)

The next band to take to the Pig and Fiddle’s massive la porte rug-come-stage was Wiltshire’s mighty Martyrials. This group has been causing a real stir on the UK DIY punk circuit with their searing keyboard-driven sounds. Lead singer and keys player Sam comes across like a The Nice-era Keith Emerson spliced with the Cardiacs’s William D. Drake fronting some mutant synthpop band, using and abusing his Roland machine with manic abandon. Dirty baselines were forged by Matt while drums were both caressed and pelted in equal measure by the enigmatic, emerald-haired Oana. It added up to a powerful package that got the punters rocking.

David KMK goes for a solo. (image: Cheri Clouds)
David KMK goes for a solo. (image: Cheri Clouds)
Rock and roll (image: Meg Manley)
Holly KMK takes to the mic Martyrials (image: Meg Manley)
Kiss Me, Killer at the Pig and Fiddle (image: Meg Manley)
Martyrials (image: Meg Manley)
Martyrials (image: Meg Manley)
Cat KMK (image: Meg Manley)
Cat KMK (image: Meg Manley)
Sammy from Martyrials (image: Meg Manley)
Blurry Cat Backlash dances in the mosh pit (image: Cheri Clouds)
Blurry Cat Backlash dances in the mosh pit
Irish riot grill Cat with her Telecaster
Irish riot grill Cat with her Telecaster (image: Cheri Clouds)
David shows off another psychedelic shirt. (image: Cheri Clouds)

Kiss Me, Killer were the headline act. Following the Martyrials would be tough, especially as poor Holly had been feeling under the weather but, a trooper as always, she made it to the gig anyway. A revamped set saw us open with EP banger From the Inside with its animalalistic, metalesque riffage and the crowd lapped it up before we powered into Rat Race‘s sludgy riff, poppier hooks and Arabic-scale psychedelia.

Kiss Me, Killer in action at the Pig and Fiddle, Bath (image: Meg Manley)
Kiss Me, Killer in action at the Pig and Fiddle, Bath (image: Meg Manley)

Nat KMK had come armed with his brutally-effective Barefaced bass cab, a bit of gear that really brings his clever playing alive, basslines weaving in and out of my Gordon Smith GS1, Cat’s Telecaster and AJ’s forceful drumming. We’d thrown ‘first ever song’ Narcissistic Tendencies into the set and, oops, it rather fell apart through lack of rehearsal but thankfully we’d got the crowd on our side by then…

The crowd enjoy KMK.
The crowd enjoy KMK (image: Meg Manley)

Newish song Tear Your Heart Out (Rip it to Pieces) with its meaty, chugging breakdown went down well and when the Pig and Fiddle audience demanded an encore we took a chance on Sliding Into My DMs, a new tune with Holly lyrics that take aim at creepin’ dudebros. It was rough and ready (‘I had no idea what was going on,’ claimed AJ) but the audience seemed to like it regardless. Job done.

Holly KMK rocks the Pig and Fiddle (Image: Meg Manley)
Holly KMK rocks the Pig and Fiddle (Image: Meg Manley)

Cat Backlash has rebranded Bath DIY Punk Collective into a new events management/music promotion outfit called VIBE REVOLUTIONS. If her new venture creates more gigs like this one local music fans will have a lot to look forward to.

Filed Under: Gigs Tagged With: bath, cat backlash, DIY, DIY punk, gigs, girls to the front, martyrials, meekers, punk, punk rock, uk punk scene

BIG NEWS: We are playing Rebellion 2018

30th January 2018 By Davidkmk Leave a Comment

Bristol’s Kiss Me, Killer will be making our way to Blackpool this summer for Rebellion 2018 and rocking the festival’s Introducing stage.

The world famous Rebellion has its roots in the Holidays in the Sun festival, which started back in 1996 in Blackpool but saw events all over Europe and beyond. Looking to showcase future punk as well as the classic favourites, 2007 saw the launch of the Rebellion festival. The event now takes in many subgenera of punk rock and m alternative.

The Nuns get covered...
The Nuns get covered at Griffstock 2017, our first festival appearance – now we’re off to Blackpool for Rebellion …

There’s also literary stages, art exhibitions, Acoustic music, poetry, clothing stalls, tattooists much more. Kiss Me, Killer will be taking our bmovie-riot-grrrl-come-hardcore sound to the The New Band Stage, which’ll be a real death in our cap!
The festival runs from Thursday 2nd August 2018 to Sunday 5th August 2018 so make sure you get your tickets and accommodation sorted sooner rather than later.

Filed Under: Band news Tagged With: bristol, DIY, festival, punk, punk rock, Rebellion 2018, riot grrl

KMK hit Wales with gigs in Newport and Cardiff

24th January 2018 By Davidkmk Leave a Comment

Kiss Me, Killer got 2018 up and running with two explosive gigs across the Severn Bridge, taking in Le Pub, Newport and The Moon, Cardiff, with with Welsh ska punk heroes 6foot7.

The Moon gig on 21 January saw the band play as part of the Welsh capital’s Free for All Festival and shared the bill with Oldham’s The Crashmats. The Moon is a great little venue and although the Sunday evening crowd was small those who’d braved the rain were treated to a blistering night of high-octane punk rock thrills.

The Crashmats played a storming set until their guitarist broke a string on his Les Paul. No matter, I stepped in by offering the pink ‘Barbie’ Gordon Smith GS1 that, when plugging it, sounded twice as loud, clear and potent. Never judge a small powder pink guitar by its looks. That axe is a monster.

Nat, David and Cat rocking out
David showcases yet more paisley while brandishing the pink Gordon Smith guitar
David showcases yet more paisley while brandishing the pink Gordon Smith guitar
Girls to the front! Holly brings riot grrrl power to Wales.
Girls to the front! Holly brings riot grrrl power to Wales.
Drummer AJ keeps the beat at the back.
Drummer AJ keeps the beat at the back.
Watching The Crashmats
Watching The Crashmats

The Newport gig on 6 January was the perfect way to put Christmas to bed and as well as ska punk thrills from 6foot7, local band Hippodrome served up some post-punky neo-psychadelia that I found vaguely reminiscent of The Brian Jonestown massacre and which is no bad thing. It was out first outing at Le Pub, which moved from another location a while back, and it a first class place to catch some live music, which great value grub and plenty of nice beers on tap, great sound, and plenty of space.Go see gigs there.

David's Gordon Smith GS2 or 'Cherry' as she is known.
David’s Gordon Smith GS2 or ‘Cherry’ as she is known.
Riot grrrl action!
Riot grrrl action!
The leopard print pick guard really set off Nat's bass.
The leopard print pick guard really set off Nat’s bass.
Holly hits the high notes
Holly hits the high notes
Nat tunes up his head-turning Phantom Guitarworks Bass
Nat tunes up his head-turning Phantom Guitarworks Bass
Punk as fuck I think you'll agree.
Punk as fuck I think you’ll agree.

Both gig featured a brand new Kiss Me, Killer song about hypermanic hypersexuality. In typical KMK style it’s mixes it up with post-punk intro, thundering old skool hardcore, the odd psych touch and our first ‘breakdown’.

Thank to Cheri for the fab photos as always. Hope to see you at one of the forthcoming gigs.

Filed Under: Gigs Tagged With: Cardiff, Free For All, gigs, girls to the front, Gordon smith guitars, Le Pub, live music, Newport, punk, punk rock, riot grrrl, wales

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Fake News in Brief

KMK to support the MARTYRIALS at The Louisiana, Bristol

KMK to support the MARTYRIALS at The Louisiana, Bristol

29th May 2018 By Davidkmk Leave a Comment

The band will be supporting the incendiary MARTYRIALS at Bristol’s iconic Louisiana venue on 17 August. MARTYRIALS is a high energy psychedelic synth-punk outfit pumping out and explosive blend of punk, glam and Rock and Roll. Punk ethics meet space-delay driven psychedelia like if the Ramones had synthesizers or if System of a Down met […]

Kiss Me, Killer to make Devon debut

It’s taken us a while but we’re finally playing Exeter at the famous Cavern club on 15 May. The gig, entitled, All in Riot Grrrl, will feature some of the best in punk rock from the West Country, including Bristol legends Drunken Butterfly and Bath’s top feminist anti-folk exponent, Yonic. Tickets are available for a […]

Bristol’s NITELIFE Magazine covers Hell Hath No Fury’s Menstruals gig

Go into any of Bristol hipper cafes, haunts and night spots and you’re sure to have seen, or even picked up, a copy of Nitelife Magazine, which showcases the best is the city’s nightlife. Nitelife has clearly cottoned on to the now exploding new wave of punk bands emerging both in Bristol and across the […]

AJ drum depping for Drunken Butterfly at Bristol Dream Wife gig

KMK drummer AJ will by deputising on drums for seminal Bristol riot grrrl band, Drunken Butterfly who are supporting Dream Wife at the Exchange venue Dream Wife is a punk band from Brighton who released debut album Dream Wife in January and have really been blowing up big time in the UK. Go check ’em […]

AJ and Cheri star in new video by The Menstrual Cramps

Kiss Me, Killer’s drummer AJ and ‘sixth-member’ Cheri have featured in The Menstrual Cramps all-new video for their song ‘I like that Top’. It’s an amazing piece of work so go watch immediately.

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The Zine

Punk superstars of Instagram

Punk superstars of Instagram

Recently we hit the big 600 follower mark on Instagram, the social network for people who can’t be arsed with words and just what an eyeful of pictures and videos. To mark this achievement here are some of our high-rating videos from the last year. Enjoy! Playing our eponymous song, Kiss me, Killer at the […]

Holly’s lyric sheets

Holly’s lyric sheets

Holly never knows when inspiration may strike when it comes to a good song. Here are some of her hand-written lyrics.

David’s top punk tunes

David’s top punk tunes

Kiss Me, Killer guitarist David lists a few of his favourite punk tunes in no particular order. From the Cradle to the Grave – [SUB][HUM][ANS] After buying of those bumper punk compilations as a 13 year old for no money I was looking for more. Taunton’s Our Price offered up a cassette, which cost £3 […]

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Recent articles

  • Kiss me, KIller’s 2020 Vision mini album out now on Grow Your Own Records
  • Bristol Punx Picnic 2019 is a sell-out
  • Kiss Me, Killer interview with The B-Side Talks at Rebellion Festival
  • Rebellion 2019: Kiss Me, Killer hit Pavilion Stage
  • New Kiss Me, Killer lineup hit’s The Plough Inn, Easton
  • KMK to support the MARTYRIALS at The Louisiana, Bristol
  • Grow Your Own Records’ Birds of a Feather Vol II compilation features Kiss, Me Killer
  • See our new Cooper Rose-produced KMK trailer!
  • Kiss Me, Killer to make Devon debut
  • Kiss Me, Killer hit London for Umlaut Records’ Dugstock II

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