When people think of metal bands, they recall the likes of Marilyn Manson, Rage Against the Machine and Metallica - popular, predominantly male bands. Then there's Kittie, an all-girl metal band hailing from London, Ontario, who stand out not because of their gender but because of their passion for the music. Kittie will play at the Showplace Theatre on Monday, Oct. 28.
While the name Kittie initially brings thoughts of music similar to Destiny's Child, Kittie's vocalist and guitarist, Morgan Lander, shared the reasons for the band's name.
"For us it was a name that was completely contradictory to everything we were about, musically and image-wise. We wanted people to think that the name sounds like a band (and think) 'Like this is going to be horrible.' For people brave enough to come to the shows, they'd realize that they shouldn't judge a book by its cover."
However, old habits are hard to break, as people continue to judge and label the band by its image ?Ae_ especially the members' gender. In the long run, however, it helps out Kittie.
"It's frustrating," said Lander, "and I know we have much more to offer than just our gender. I think that initially when the band came out, (our gender) was more of a thing for curiosity seekers, and people were really interested to find out what a band composed of all females could come up with and bring to the table of the metal world."
Kittie is currently touring the East Coast for its sophomore album, "Oracle," but concerts are not new to the group. They have co-headlined Ozzfest and toured with bands such as Slipknot and Pantera.
"We're known as an international act. It's not like posters say 'An all girl band - Kittie.' It's more like 'International recording artists Kittie.'"
While the band has been generally accepted by both males and females of a younger age bracket, it is the older generation that Lander feels is the least accepting.
"I don't think it was easy for people to take a bunch of early teenage girls playing metal music seriously, especially for those, say, in their early 30s or 40s, who really have lost touch with our age group and couldn't really see eye to eye with that."
Nevertheless, Kittie continues to play for not the critics, but their fans. They do all they can to avoid the generalizations of pop culture today.
"For the most part, we just want people to perceive the music as they would like to perceive it and really have a good time with it. Just leave everything at the door, forget everything for a good hour and have a great time. I think the beauty of us is that there isn't really any gimmick. We're very straightforward, and that's what's lacking in a lot of more mainstream music these days."
What appears to be a tradition for Kittie is the release of an EP between each of their new records. The latest, the "Safe EP," scheduled to be released on Nov. 19, is a collection of previously released and remixed songs from their "Oracle" album. The album includes a remix of the title track by Sascha Konietzko (of KMFDM), who has also worked with artists such as Korn, Metallica, and White Zombie.
Lander added,
"It's a real fan-oriented release, and (it's) important to let you know we're still out there and that we're better than we ever have been."
Kittie's goals are to stay true to their roots, play for themselves, and, most importantly, play for their fans. "It's about channeling our energy from the music and making sure the crowd is feeling that energy as well."
Even after three years of growing fame, Lander still is not used to seeing herself in the public eye.
"It's funny (that) people see who we are, like on the "Spit" cover (Kittie's debut album). It has my face on it, and it's pretty weird. For us, it's not about our faces and what we look like. It's still strange having people coming to our shows with magazine clippings saying 'sign my picture,' and then realizing it's me."
So would Lander wear a shirt with the members of Kittie on it?
"Me? Oh, no! Not my own face. Maybe somebody else's, though."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
