The Kills at Terminal 5 8/8/2011 and 8/9/2011

“The Kills killed it!” is a phrase that may have sounded cliché to the many satisfied fans walking out of Terminal 5, but it is a phrase that cannot be argued.  After selling out Terminal 5 on a Friday night back in April well before the day of the show, the Kills returned to New York on their increasingly long tour supporting their newest album Blood Pressures.

This time around, The Kills made their stay in New York longer, playing Monday and Tuesday nights at Terminal 5, while making an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show in between.  I was present for all three events, and still find myself wanting more.

The song order didn’t change much between the two nights, but the shows they put on didn’t make that regrettable.  The Kills are only a two-person band, but have a far more powerful and explosive sound than you would imagine.  Jamie stays cool and confident, as he controls the drum-machine and plays guitar riffs that force you to move your head up and down.  Meanwhile, Alison moves around the stage in a mesmerizing manner, putting pure emotion into every word she sings.  At times, she moves with the seduction of a ghost, disappearing during a split second of blackness before reappearing across the stage during the next blast of light.  At other times, she would stand up on a barrier at the edge of the stage, silhouetted by the lights behind her for the fans to look up and admire her from ground level.  They were loud and powerful, but not in an overwhelming or distorted kind of way.  Despite playing so well and moving the crowd, Alison humbly said “thank you” to the audience after most songs, when in fact, the audience should have been thanking them.

Most of the songs they played were off of their latest two albums, Blood Pressures, and Midnight Boom, but they also opened both shows with the title song from their second album, No Wow, and played a couple of songs off their first album, Keep On Your Mean Side.  They also included a chilling cover of Marilyn Monroe’s “One More Silver Dollar.”  They started their encores off with “The Last Goodbye,” a slow and absolutely beautiful song, before exploding into three more songs.

It took a while for The Kills to come on stage, as they had two opening bands, and then an introduction by the Irish broadcaster/author BP Fallon, who performed his Third Man Records single release, which got the crowd fired up as The Kills came on right after him.  Joan Jett was in the VIP crowd both nights, as was Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood and Kirsten Dunst the first night.  Kate Moss, who recently married Jamie in the midst of The Kills tour, did not seem to be in the audience. 

When The Kills played on the set of Jimmy Fallon late Tuesday afternoon, it was a completely different environment; but they stuck to their game.  I was fortunate enough to watch them from the "band bench" platform on the side of the stage above Jamie, where I had a great view of the duo.  Alison was just as much in the zone as she was during the Terminal 5 shows, spinning on stage and moving her body to Jamie’s excellent riffs.  She also picked up a guitar herself for three songs each night at Terminal 5. 

Having seen The Kills play both from close up and further from the stage, I would recommend trying to get as close to the stage as possible if you can bear the tight crowd.  This band has really found its sound, and is so mesmerizing to watch live.  With all the effort they put into their shows, they deserve to be seen.


*** The Kills will be abroad for the rest of August before returning to North America in September for shows in Washington, Vancouver, Oregon, and California.  They will be abroad again during November, but keep an eye out for added shows in your area.


-JKS


(an original photograph by J.S.)
Check out their opening song "No Wow" (8/8/11)