‘I have played in a lot of punk bands’ said frontman Wade MaVv in the middle of KiLR's show at the Viper Room on Friday night, and you could tell, although the music was not really punk, more powerful rock-pop, but the chaotic spirit was certainly there, overloaded with a party-time climatic energy echoing in the lyrics and the choruses shouted at the top of their lungs.
But energy seems to be an understatement when you see them on stage, they were constantly jumping and moving despite being on the crowded small stage of the Viper Room, making an impression on the crowd with their sexy outfits (or lack of), as German Briseno on guitar was dressed as a sort of masked avenger, exhibitionist Chuck Holiday on bass was only wearing a tiny black thong, and Wade MaVv on guitar and vocals removed his shirt at mid-show… was that a Red Hot Chili Peppers thing to do? Chris Hudson on drums seemed to be the only sage one, although I could not see half of him.
Their explosive songs were muscular, filled with hard riffs and punching-your-face vocals often sung at three voices, and they had that sort of Foo Fighters’ energy and anger, although KiLR was often incorporating a rap component into their rock, successively inviting two people on stage to sing with them, like rapper Constantine on the rock-star-dream-life-theme song ‘Red Ropes’.
They were impetuous and driven, not doubting a second they could conquer their audience, and they succeeded right away despite the shortness of their set, as people were cheering up from the beginning. There was a song about drinking – which probably was ‘Shots, Drinks, Scream…’ – a true hard rocking-partying number, spiced up by a lots of ‘heys’, another straightforward one about money ‘Give me all your money’, and as they were inviting anybody to jump on the mic as long as they can make it interesting, they did a cover of the ska punk band Sublime’s popular hit ‘Santeria’, and ended their set with the catchy ‘Womanizer’, which sounded like a Depeche Mode’s song reworked with more pop-rock energy.
The Los Angeles quartet, with their rap-rock anthems, seems to be a recipe for success, and they are actively working on it as they have formed their own event production company, and booking venues themselves! Didn’t I even see a KiLR car outside? This could explain why they were playing in the famous Viper Room, talk about a DIY ethic!
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