The Kills Demonstrate Their Undeniable Chemistry in the Intimate Confines of Apogee Studios

Matt Matasci

KCRW is continually able to book some of the biggest underground and mainstream artists to showcase their music at the Apogee Sessions, named for the studio in which the performances take place. Set within the walls of Apogee Studios in Santa Monica, the venue’s small size allows a mere 180 individuals the opportunity to catch artists like Foals, TV On The Radio, Patti Smith and many others. Last week, trans-Atlantic indie superstars The Kills performed a mix of older and new songs from their upcoming fifth studio album “Ash & Ice.” 

As usual, a major part of the event is a short interview between principle band members and KCRW’s Jason Bentley, host of Morning Becomes Eclectic and music director for the station. The Kills’ founding members Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart sat down with Bentley for an entertaining round of questioning. One of the first queries involved contrasting performing in theaters versus massive outdoor festivals. The two band members were in a unique position to answer that question having just played at The Mayan Theater two days before and at Coachella’s first weekend the day before that. While they were good sports about performing festivals and had nice things to say about them, they clearly had a preference for theater shows. Mosshart even called their performance at The Mayan on April 18 her favorite ever. That’s a pretty strong sentiment coming from a musician with over two decades of performing experience between Discount, The Kills and The Dead Weather.  

The band continued to chat with Bentley on topics that ranged from the backstory of creating “Ash & Ice” to the symbolism of its title. The host also inquired about the meaning of the line “We’re double sixing it, night after night” from their first single “Doing It To Death,” which Hince jokingly declared was a sex position, of course! After the friendly interview, the band got started on their abbreviated set, bringing on a rhythm section to round out the quartet.

The band opened with “U.R.A. Fever,” a single from “Midnight Boom,” the last album released by The Kills in 2008. It was immediately obvious that the cozy environment and mostly-stationary audience would not diminish the intensity of The Kills’ performance. Mosshart was a true rock star, moving all over the compact stage like she was performing to a group of thousands instead of fewer than two hundred. Hince was less animated, though he ripped through his guitar riffs with expert precision and would occasionally join Mosshart in bouncing around on stage. The sound was incredible, particularly Hince’s guitar tone, not a surprise considering the venue is the private studio of legendary producer Bob Clearmountain.

Mosshart and Hince gave fans a healthy dose of “Ash & Ice,” performing several songs from the upcoming album. These tracks included singles “Doing It To Death” and “Heart of a Dog” but also songs few have ever heard – “Hard Habit to Break,” “Impossible Tracks” and “Whirling Eye.” Longtime fans of the band were happy to hear several of the most beloved songs from The Kills’ discography including “Baby Says,” “Black Balloon” and “Tape Song.” Though it was a shortened set, the pure concentration of hits made for an unforgettable night for those 180 people who were able to attend.

The Kills played Apogee Studios April 20.