Kittie
Highline Ballroom, New York City, NY
August 30, 2011

Kittie, Canada’s first ladies of metal are back. This time they are unleashing their sixth full length studio album, “I’ve Failed You,” (released on Tuesday) showing fans and the metal community as a whole, just how much these Canucks have matured. The LocalBozo crew was able to see the raw power that is Kittie, live at a sold out Highline Ballroom on Tuesday night in celebration of the release of their new album.

Kittie may be an all-female metal act, but their fans are as diverse as they come. Both men and woman raised horns up high, and banged their heads to every blistering tune. Singer Morgan Lander belted out classics like “Spit,” and new tracks like “Empires (Part 2)” with intense fervor, leaving the house wanting more. And more is what they got.

Throughout Kittie’s album release party set, large pits filled the Highline Ballroom floor, with fans moshing and even busting out some old school slam dancing to their infectious metal grooves. Tara McLeod-guitar and Ivy Jenkins– bass guitar each stalked the stage, pulling out crazy riffs, while headbanging along with the crowd. If there is one thing you have to know about a live Kittie show, it is that each member sells their shit, and this crowd bought it, all.

No Mercy Metal produced this event, and did a stellar job at booking Kittie’s support acts. No Mercy founder, Tim No. 37 even took to the stage to introduce each act. And he did it with bold intensity, and love for each band. It is quite refreshing to see local production companies keep the scene alive, when so many have questioned the virility of live music New York City. Well it looks like question time is over.

One of the stand out support acts were Brooklyn’s own hardcore-thrashers, Alekhine’s Gun. The ‘Gun’ most definitely made the hometown crowd proud. Led by singer Jessica Pimentel (a.k.a The Crusher), Alekhine’s main goal of the show was audience inclusion while of course melting faces. As they ripped through songs like “Bardo” and “Vengeance” you could tell the crowd was getting the band to turn the energy all the way up.

Our crew has a soft spot for old school thrash metal. Luckly, Chicago outfit Diamond Plate were on the bill. This five piece may have only been kids in the 80s when thrash was at it’s peak, but they embody all that is right about thrash metal. Throughout their set we marveled at a barrage of crunching bass riffs, commanding vocals, and killer solos. Do yourself a favor and check out the first single from Diamond Plate’s debut album, “At The Mountains Of Madness.” All metal fans will hear something they can connect to and fall in love with.

Kittie was a band that up until this point, I had only heard on their albums, but after having the pleasure of seeing them live at Highline Ballroom, I can fully realize why they have such staying power on the metal circuit. Not only do they produce quality heavy music, but they love their fans and throughout the performance they made it a point to engage them at every turn. That is why the capacity crowd was awash in a sea of Kittie t-shirts, and endless chants of appreciation and respect.

- Jayson Rubin