The Kills

Tvornica Kulture, Zagreb, 12 July

With Ki Klop in support

The straight-line distance between Glasgow and Zagreb is a little over 1,100 miles and, as part of our own #RaceAcrossEurope tour, we were in the city to see The Kills deliver an electrifying set that had the locals swaying, cheering and idolising two people who gave it their absolute all for just over an hour on stage.

The two in question were Allison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince, with a drum machine to provide some backbeat during the set.

They have been playing together for nearly twenty five years and have a very distinctive sound, exchanging vocal and guitar duties throughout, with Allison taking the vocal lead most of the time, prancing about the stage, forever smiling and acknowledging the fans she can see in front of her, while Jamie effortlessly guides his guitars through sounds that echoed across the Tvornica Kulture, a mix of heavy blues combing with garage rock, simply compelling .

Kicking off with the slow roll of “Kissy Kissy” the sound swelled as Alison and Jamie strummed their guitars in a compelling rhythm, one second the gravely vocals of Jamie hovering over the guitars, while the next Allison’s voice implored us ‘It’s been a long time coming’.

Opening words that were proving so relevant. This was our first taste of The Kills. Within the first few minutes of the set, we were asking ourselves ‘why it had taken so long?’

While the set featured five songs from their latest album, the 2023 God Games, it was a night which explored the music both have been creating throughout their time together.

Looking at the set list here, the last six songs are taken from six different albums stretching back to Fried My Little Brains from the 2003 album Keep On Your Mean Side.

A tour de force that has stood the test of time. That both are so enamoured by each other’s company is evident from the appreciation both have, and openly show, for the skills, personality and entertainment both are providing.

At a time when bands of the nineties and noughties are reforming to re-kindle memories of times gone by with a ‘Greatest Hits’ tour, this is not the case with The Kills.

For a headline act, the time on stage my seem relatively short, though in truth the songs never extend beyond five minutes and there is more than enough in the fifteen songs played to keep everyone happy.

In exploring their extensive catalogue, they remind the audience why they have come to see them. Not for the latest album that may have opened up their ears to the band’s work. The audience have an appreciation of everything that has gone before.

Allison and Jamie are merely tapping into these memory banks, taking the songs written and recorded, before adding a cutting, dynamic energy force that has the audience shouting out for more, even as the house lights have been switched on.

1,100 miles is a small journey to make for such a live wire performance. Thank you both for frying my little brains, even for just one night.

See you in a few days in Romano d’Ezzelino (Vicenza) Villa Ca’ Cornaro.

Support act

Ki Klop is a relatively new disco pop band from Zagreb. The band was founded by Jakov Ramničer and Luka Žigolić, and with the addition of the drummer Laura Tandarić, they became a three-member live band.

With a strong, tight, catchy rhythm section and infectious dance grooves, Ki Klop warmed up the ever-growing crowd in the venue with a series of toe tapping songs that the locals certainly were familiar with.

What had been an ideal opener for The Kills was slightly spoiled when the band ran over their allotted time and were quietly ‘removed’ from the stage to let the travelling crew to set up for The Kills.