Jan.
16, 2003
Kittie to Once Again Meow Chicago
By Randy J. Klodz
The young, and mostly female metal quartet Kittie will be returning to Chicago
on Jan. 21 in support of the 2001 release “Oracle” and the Nov.
2002 EP release “Safe,” hoping to raise the standard for live metal
performances a couple notches higher during a show at the House of Blues.
Hailing from London, Ontario, Canada, Kittie--who’s original line-up included
Morgan Lander (vocals and guitar), Fallon Bowman (guitar), Talena Atfield (bass)
and Mercedes Lander (drums)--made the rounds with their 2000 debut album “Spit.”
The album was backed by the popular singles “Brackish” and “Charlotte,”
as well as co-headlining stint on the second stage during OZZfest 2000, among
several other tours.
With the departure of Bowman and Atfield, Jeff Phillips and Jennifer Arroyo
have taken over guitar and bass duties, respectively, and will appear onstage
during this tour.
The now 21-year-old front woman Morgan Lander has spent the latter part of her
teens on the road touring and what she’s grown to like most about life
on the road is “the allure of really not knowing what’s going to
happen the next day,” she said.
Though the media and general public tended to focus a gender bias toward the
young females that comprise Kittie, Lander said that the tendency to stereotype
the members of Kittie based on their ages still took paramount.
“Initially there was a lot of skepticism with us just being so young and
being fresh faces on the scene and not really having the opportunity to build
a reputation for ourselves,” Lander said. “Critics would ask, ‘Oh,
they’re young, what can you really expect from them?”’
Fans of Chicago can expect and 85 or 90 minute set from Kittie and what promises
to be a strong bill at a popular venue. “Every time we’ve been there
it’s been absolutely amazing,“ Lander said. “Chicago’s
always been amazing to us and we’ve played at the House of Blues just
about every time that we’ve come around--and there’s usually a packed
house.”
Kittie released the EP “Safe” in late November. The EP contains
five live tracks, a version of the track “Safe” remixed by industrial-icons
KMFDM, as well as live video footage.
Biohazard, Eighteen Visions and Brand New Sin are scheduled to set the stage
for Kittie. Tickets for this all ages show are listed for $15 each. Showtime
is set for 6:45 p.m. The House of Blues is located at 329 N. Dearborn St., in
Chicago. Kittie’s current trek is scheduled to end Feb. 11, at the Huntridge
Theatre, in Nevada.
