Killola, Sweet & Tangy Ear Candy

Killola: March 30 @ The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY

California rock band Killola took the stage at Webster Hall this past Tuesday. They were greeted by their hardcore, enthusiastically loyal following. For those who haven't had the live Killola experience, they're the human equivalent of Twizzlers and raspberry margarita's ... sweet, swirly and with one hell of a kick.

Frontwoman Lisa Rieffel, a zesty little morsel, rock, rolled and vamped around the stage while belting out song after song. One would imagine she's what you'd get if you combined cheerleader Barbie, rock star Barbie and the Kiss Paul Stanley doll, err, I mean action figure from back in the day, not old gray chest haired Paul ... I mean not the distinguished mature gentleman Paul. What? Did I wander off into questionable comparison territory again?! Y'all know how I get! Sharing the stage with Rieffel, though more sedately, Mike Ball (guitar), Johnny Dunn (bass) and Dan Gordy (drums) holding things down solidly and looking all the world like they were kids in a candy store with a free pass.

They ripped through a set that consisted of several songs from their last album, I Am The Messer, a couple of songs from the debut Louder, Louder and a few new songs ... their new record, Let's Get Associated comes out this month. The audience for the most part sang along through the whole show but it was "Get Around" that had everyone singing along at a deafening volume. They ended the set with a feisty cover of Toni Basil's "Mickey" which inspired one of the young ladies who was standing next to me to jump on stage and dance during the song.

In the end, it all felt like a party. It was a terrifically fun show that I didn't want to end. I recommend going to see Killola when they pass through your neck of the woods. They're like that really hot friend you have benefits with. They come around once in a while, work it hard and leave you all hot and sweaty with a smile on your face looking forward to the next time they visit.

Visit Facebook for more photos.

Set List

• All Of My Idols Are Dead
• This Is How The World Ends
• Get Around
• Barrel Of Donkeys
• I Wanna See Your Dick
• Is This A Love Song?
• Doctor and Son *
• Heartrate 160
• Cracks In The Armor
• 1,2,3,4 - 5,6,7,8 *
• Mickey

* New songs (proper titles anyone?!?!)

killola.com
twitter.com/killola

Photos: Sick of Sarah at Webster Hall

Sick of Sarah: March 30 @ The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY

Sick of Sarah took to the stage at The Studio Tuesday night. It was my first time seeing them perform. They're an entertaining bunch of ladies. Check them out if you get the chance. Check out some photos from their set.

www.myspace.com/sickofsarah
www.facebook.com/pages/Sick-of-Sarah/10597672815

Video: The Ettes - "No Home"

The Ettes have released a video for one of my favorite songs by them, "No Home." Y'all know I'm a fan of this band. If you haven't had a chance to see them live, I highly recommend it.

www.theettes.com
www.myspace.com/theettes

Video: HYMNS - "Appaloosa"

Hymns have released a video for their infectious song "Appaloosa." The stop motion video was directed by Thomas Risch. Check it out below and if Hymns happen to be playing near you, check them out. They're an excellent band to see live.

www.hymnsband.com
www.myspace.com/hymnsband

The Donnas Take New York By Storm

The Donnas: March 24 @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY

The Donnas kicked off their East Coast mini-tour at New York's Highline Ballroom Wednesday night. I'm a long time fan so I was looking forward to checking out this show. I wasn't disappointed. The ladies rocked the hell out of NYC. The only thing that would have made the show better was a few more songs!

The Donnas, Brett Anderson (vocals), Allison Robertson (guitar), Maya Ford (bass) and Amy Cesari (drums) took the stage to a packed and exuberant crowd. This was my first time seeing the band with guest drummer Cesari. While I missed seeing Torry Castellano rocking out back there, I quickly became a fan of Cesari, who drummed her ass off. She and Ford are a rhythm force to be reckoned with.

The band launched into their set and immediately, the audience was singing along word for word. There was a young lady behind me who sang every song, word for word at the top of her lungs. Normally, that would have gotten on my nerves a bit but, she was so into it, you couldn't help but get caught up in her excitement. It's been a little while since I've been to a show that housed so many hardcore fans.

Anderson is a true frontwoman, interacting with the crowd, getting everyone pumped up, clapping and singing along with her. Robertson is ascending to a bonafide guitar goddess. She was tearing through lick after lick, a blurring mass of hair (I think I got more photos of her hair than anything else!) in constant motion. They played a solid set of crowd pleasers. But, the crowd became deafening when the band launched into "Fall Behind Me" and the one two punch of "Strutter" and "Take It Off" to end the night.

In a world that is sadly still too dominated by men when it comes to rock music, The Donnas are among the few successful all female rock bands that balance being beautiful women and rockin' out just as hard and well as the boys. And, rock out they did. Not once did they let up, giving an adoring crowd one hell of a show.

Visit Facebook for more photos.

www.thedonnas.com
www.myspace.com/thedonnas
www.facebook.com/thedonnas
www.twitter.com/the_donnas

Gorevette Brought Detroit Fun To NYC

Gorevette: March 24 @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY

After a disappointing opening act, Detroit's Gorevette took the stage at the Highline Ballroom Wednesday night. They kicked things into high gear and got the crowd singing and dancing along.

Vocalist, the legendary Nikki Corvette, danced around the stage in stocking feet and smiling while dishing up their fun brand of pop garage punk. Guitarist Amy Gore (Gore Gore Girls) tossed out fierce licks all the while looking like the bad ass, cool, guitar chick that she is. While we're on the looking cool thing, some people just look that way, without effort, Gore is one of those. The slightest move, had fans cheering her on. And if you were in the audience on that side of the stage, then you likely experienced the mad crush of fans that made their way up front to get closer to her. The band was rounded out by Gore's fellow Gore Gore Girl, Lianna Castillo (bass) and Al King (drums) rocking infectious rhythms.

Gorevette turned the room into a party. Personally, I could have done with a few more songs. You couldn't help but have fun during their set. They were the perfect lead in to the nights headliners, The Donnas. They're definitely a band to check out live ... fun will be had, if not, something's wrong with you.

They have an EP out, Lustfully Yours. Check it out.

www.myspace.com/gorevette

Russian Vogue Overwhelmed By Highline Stage

Russian Vogue: March 24 @ Highline Ballroom, New York, NY

Russian Vogue took the stage Wednesday night on the bill with The Donnas and Gorevette after a fun DJ set by Miss Guy. This may be a first for me but I have to say, I found Miss Guy's spinning more interesting than the band. I've never said a DJ was more interesting than a band before.

Anyway, they just weren't my cup of tea but there were others that enjoyed them. Personally, I thought they lacked stage presence and the singer sounded like he was screaming to be heard over the guitars. They played well enough but honestly, I can only kind of remember one song, something about a werewolf or silver bullets ... okay, "kind of remember" is obviously stretching things a bit.

I'm sure they're nice guys but I would have rather Miss Guy to have continued. At least I remember what he played. The only thing that would have made Miss Guy better is if he had gotten on stage.

Russian Vogue were kicking things off for two high octane bands. Sadly, they dropped the ball in the momentum building game. Perhaps in a more intimate setting I would have enjoyed them more and they would have seemed less overwhelmed.

russianvogue.com/home.html
www.myspace.com/russianvogue

ResidentBand Features Killola

Episode 25 of ResidentBand features one of my faves, Killola. If you don't know already, Killola has hit the road, yay! Their Buy The Milk Tour 2010 will bring them to NYC on Tuesday, March 30 at The Studio @ Webster Hall. Don't have tickets? Well, what are you waiting for? Go fork over some moolah and get yo'self some tix! They kill it live ... 100% guaranteed fun. Check out the episode below.

Oh, and they have a new record coming out. It's called Let's Get Associated. There are two purchase options ... the basic version and the we don't mind spending a few extra bucks to support a band who has given their fans a crap load of music for free version. Okay, that's not what they call it, they call it the "massive pre-order pack." You can pre-order it over in their store, HERE!

killola.com
twitter.com/killola
www.residentband.tv
www.myspace.com/residentbandtv