kissorkillclub - Profile (original) (raw)
on 21 October 2005 (#8603222)
Los Angeles, California, United States
KISS OR KILL: ONE COMMUNITY’S UNIQUE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL VISION
Dedicated to Los Angeles’ DIY/indie music scene, The Los Angeles Times has described the Kiss or Kill Club as the “place where old schoolers can punk out” to “harmonic power pop hellraisers”. Located at the The Key Club (on the first Friday of every month) and Safari Sam's (On the rest of the Friday's in the month), Kiss or Kill Club is a collective of like-minded musicians, artists and fans of music creating an invigorating music scene.
Originally a monthly event, demand for the night necessitated Kiss or Kill happen on a weekly basis. On September 2nd, 2003, Kiss or Kill became a weekly event every Tuesday at the Garage. Upon the closing of the Garage, Kiss or Kill found a new home in the Red Room at Zen Sushi in 2004, and moved to a larger stage at The Echo in 2005. The Club has continued to grow and has moved to Friday nights at The Key Club and Safari Sams. It's ALL AGES, starts at 8pm (Key Club) or 9pm (Safari Sam's), features 5 or 6 power-pop/punk rock bands, the cover is a mere $3 before 10pm, drink specials abound and if you’re too poor to afford alcohol the emcee, Rob Zylowski, carries a tequila filled squirt gun on him at all times.
"We wanted to create a community of talented artists and musicians who were interested in banding together and creating a new paradigm for a rock ‘n’ roll “club”. All of the people involved with Kiss or Kill are truly about the sum of Kiss or Kill’s parts. Everyone recognizes the strength we have gained through sticking together and helping one another", says Cooper (bassist for BANG sugar BANG).
John Arakaki (bassist for Silver Needle) adds,
"People know when they come to our shows they are going to see a great lineup of like-minded bands. No one will ever be bored at a Kiss or Kill show, The bands are just too darn good. Plus, the crowd’s antics are always sure to entertain".
The night is aptly titled, "Kiss or Kill". Matt Southwell (guitarist for BANG sugar BANG) explains,
"We named the night "Kiss or Kill" because first, it's a great lyric in "We're Desperate" by X. When we started this night we were all completely desperate for a music scene in Hollywood where our style and attitude about music fit in. Second, the people who come to these shows have two choices. They can either totally get off on the music and the bands, or they can piss off. So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. All we wanted was to create an exceptional rock community and have a wild party with all our friends every Tuesday night. Basically, you can sit around and moan about how hard it is being different or you can take responsibility and create a community of artists, bands, etc. who feel just as you do. There's a lot more power in the latter option".
Currently the Kiss or Kill Club is ready to spread it’s DIY message far beyond Los Angeles. The club is releasing it's third compilation later this year, and will be re-releasing the (currently sold out) 1st and second compilations as well. Also, Kiss or Kill bands have been touring the country together spreading the DIY message of Kiss or Kill. Considering the hard work and determination of Kiss or Kill’s members, the future for all involved is sure to contain continued growth and success.
18 and up, alcohol, all ages, bang sugar bang, billion stars, bobot adrenaline, booze, boys, cantors, chromosome tea, deadbeat sinatra, drinking, el cid, false alliance, get set go, girls, kibbitz room, king cheetah, kiss or kill, los angeles, max's, men, midway, music, new maximum donkey, nu-tra, porterville, power pop, pu$$ycow, punk, punk rock, pussycow, rob z, rock, silver needle, spaceland, tequila gun, the atomic missiles, the cloves, the dollyrots, the double down saloon, the ebbs, the echo, the garage, the keyclub, the knitting factory, the knives, the letter openers, the makeout bandits, the muffs, the new fidelity, the o.a.o.t's, the rainman suite, the randies, the troubadour, the underwater city people, the waking hours, women, zeitgeist auto parts, zen sushi