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Tour Dates
6.21 Spokane, WA The Bartlett
6.22 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge 6.23 Seattle, WA The Tractor Tavern *w/ Kitten Forever Read More
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In front of a backdrop covered in festive decor, brightly colored garlands and signs that read things like “Party Time!” and “Welcome to Paradise,” Vancouver psych-rock duo The Pack A.D. and Minneapolis feminist-punks Kitten Forever brought much needed blast of positive energy to a crowd depressed from rain, humidity and reading the news.
Kitten Forever literally woke up the unsuspecting Turf Club patrons, most of whom were sitting around tables and finishing up their beers. One crash of the cymbal got everyone’s attention and members Liz Elton, Corrie Harrigan and Laura Larson unleashed a great high-energy set. One thing I absolutely love about Kitten Forever is the instrument change-up that occurs every few songs or sometimes mid-song. While Harrigan is laying down some fuzzed-out bass, Elton is behind the skins drumming up a pogo-worthy beat and Larson commands the telephone mic, they will suddenly trade places with each other - and it happens several times during the set, all while keeping the rhythm. And even if one is doing most of the singing, they all lend their voices to create a cheerleader-esque call and response vibe (a hallmark of the early Riot Grrl aesthetic). The band recently dropped their new album 7 Hearts in March on Atlas Chair Records and will be celebrating their 10th birthday with a huge gig at First Avenue featuring Royal Brat, Tony Peachka and more on July 23rd.
The Pack A.D. consists of two very different women: drummer Maya Miller is a ferocious percussionist with a wise-cracking personality, slinging funny anecdotes in between tunes and being something of the night’s emcee. Lead singer and guitarist Becky Black (nearly sporting a Canadian tuxedo) has a more reserved presence. She said very little that night, preferring to funnel her thoughts through a passionate wail or let her guitar do most of the talking. Black is also blessed with the patience of a saint considering how disrespectful some of the fans were at first. For example, there was a guy who kept sticking his phone in her face like a desperate suitor with a bouquet of dandelions. But Black kept her cool, moving around the stage and losing herself in the dirty blues-y notes chugged out of her guitar. It didn’t take long for audience and performer to sync up as the chemistry between Black and Miller make it impossible not to get sucked in the groove.
After opening with some bruisers like “Haunt You” from 2011’s Unpersons, Miller made introductions and mused that the last time the Pack A.D. were at the Turf Club (2 years ago!) there was snow on the ground. The band’s soaring new single “So What” lifted folks off the floor while the sledgehammer strut of “Animal” (from 2014’s Do Not Engage) encouraged the kind of convulsive dancing you might find at an exorcism. When Miller announced that it was “still technically Becky’s birthday,” and a fan from the back yelled, “F*ck yeah, Gemini!”
For the encore, Black graced the stage solo in front of an extremely supportive crowd (“You got this!”) and played my favorite Pack A.D. song “Needles” before Miller hopped back behind the kit. The two powered through a few more tracks including “8” (from Unpersons) which is a punk rock gemstone and dissolved all the bad feelings of the past week into a dazzling messy foam of noise.
The Pack A.D. is releasing their sixth full-length record Positive Thoughts on August 12th and just might save the world!
Kitten Forever
photo: Amy
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The Pack A.D. consists of two very different women: drummer Maya Miller is a ferocious percussionist with a wise-cracking personality, slinging funny anecdotes in between tunes and being something of the night’s emcee. Lead singer and guitarist Becky Black (nearly sporting a Canadian tuxedo) has a more reserved presence. She said very little that night, preferring to funnel her thoughts through a passionate wail or let her guitar do most of the talking. Black is also blessed with the patience of a saint considering how disrespectful some of the fans were at first. For example, there was a guy who kept sticking his phone in her face like a desperate suitor with a bouquet of dandelions. But Black kept her cool, moving around the stage and losing herself in the dirty blues-y notes chugged out of her guitar. It didn’t take long for audience and performer to sync up as the chemistry between Black and Miller make it impossible not to get sucked in the groove.
After opening with some bruisers like “Haunt You” from 2011’s Unpersons, Miller made introductions and mused that the last time the Pack A.D. were at the Turf Club (2 years ago!) there was snow on the ground. The band’s soaring new single “So What” lifted folks off the floor while the sledgehammer strut of “Animal” (from 2014’s Do Not Engage) encouraged the kind of convulsive dancing you might find at an exorcism. When Miller announced that it was “still technically Becky’s birthday,” and a fan from the back yelled, “F*ck yeah, Gemini!”
For the encore, Black graced the stage solo in front of an extremely supportive crowd (“You got this!”) and played my favorite Pack A.D. song “Needles” before Miller hopped back behind the kit. The two powered through a few more tracks including “8” (from Unpersons) which is a punk rock gemstone and dissolved all the bad feelings of the past week into a dazzling messy foam of noise.
The Pack A.D. is releasing their sixth full-length record Positive Thoughts on August 12th and just might save the world!
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The Pack A.D. at Turf Club, St Paul (19 April 2016) photo: Amy
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