As they gaze out upon a packed MTelus tonight, it’s fair to say that in the world of alternative music, Floridian Alison Mosshart and Briton Jamie Hince, better known as The Kills, reign as the Anglo-American powerhouse. It’s been over 20 years since their debut album, “Keep On Your Mean Side,” was released, but throughout tonight’s 85-minute set, it’s easy to see why they’ve remained so popular.
The duo emerges on stage bathed in dim, moody orange light, kicking off the explosive set with the churning “Kissy Kissy,” their duelling guitars caterwauling in distortion. The roars from the crowd that greet the sound of the telephone keypad beeps leading into “U.R.A. Fever” are almost as loud as Jamie’s guitar, which follows… but not quite. That would be literally impossible.
Jamie’s guitar work is a staggering spectacle. The solo on “Baby Says” showcases him seamlessly switching between intricate riffs and punching drum beats out of the body of his guitar. He moves to the stage front and center to unleash that trademark riff during the breakdown of “Doing It To Death” like a bona fide 80s hair rocker. The way he trades audible blows with Alison on the snarling set closer “Sour Cherry” is equally exhilarating.
Alison is by no means a passenger; it wouldn’t be possible for two people to fill a stage as big as MTelus so comfortably if she were. She has become a seasoned guitarist over the years but also dabbles with electronic effects throughout the set. “Going To Heaven” sees her noodling with a small effects box near her mic stand, and then on “Baby Says,” she slinks to the back of the stage to a full-size Mellotron. She’s a whirlwind of activity when unencumbered by instruments, her bleach-blond hair flailing throughout. She actually needs a few breaks throughout to reapply duct tape to the soles of her shoes to maintain her grip and not fall during all this activity!
The crowd laps it up all night, to the point where a moshpit even forms during the sublime “Tape Song” and “No Wow.” The recorded clapping intro of the wonderful “Black Balloon” is met with a flurry of claps from around the room in perfect harmony. Alison notices the crowd’s love early in the set: “This is amazing, look at all of you! I’m blown away; thank you so much!” Jamie is similarly effusive as the band leaves the stage at the end of the night, declaring, “Montreal, we love you forever and ever and ever and ever!!”
Based on tonight’s show, the feeling is most definitely mutual.
Support came from Third Man Records artists The Paranoyds.
Review – Simon Williams
Photos – Eric Brisson
