The most difficult question I'm asked
is "who are you stoked on for this year's Total Fest?" Part
of me takes offense to the question. I'm stoked for every band who
plays each year. The
variety and energy of Total Fest's lineups are what drew me to the
festival in the first place, what compelled me to offer up my
volunteer services, and kept me coming back year after year. It's
hard for me to single out a band, almost pointless. That said, one of
last year's blow my shoes off performances came at the hands and
aggressive vocals of Kitten Forever.
The trio of Corrie, Laura, and Liz
offer one of the most powerful, fun, in-your-face, stage presences
that I've seen in a long time. For me, there's a definite Mika Miko
vibe coming from the telephone mics, the profound, unabashed celebration of
femininity, and the vocalizations that come off at once as a conversational, dismissive,
snotty, and relentless, I don't give a fuck get out of my face,
challenge to everything that stands in their way. Top that off with
all three members assuming different roles in the band, seamlessly
changing between songs so that the intensity never wanes, and you
have everything punk rock wishes it could be. There's an incredible
balance between the issues they challenge -- particularly being women
in music -- and the infectious, smile inducing tempos of
their songs. The lyrics are brilliantly smart and poignant,
dismantling and reworking a host of cultural representations, while
the swarm of the music dares you to resist its force. Kitten Forever
leaves nothing unearthed and pulls out a sick arsenal of drums, bass,
and vocals to sledge away at the various cultural structures that
have been erected -- either by blind ignorance, choice, or, simply,
one-sided history.
Resistance is futile. Join the
revolution folks because it's the one thing we have; and, in the end,
it's the only meaningfully fun way to go. You attack the world
honestly; you leave it honestly ... and you can smile from that
knowledge. Get loud little beasts
