Illicit Kitty
Columbus, Ohio, United States | SELF
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Illicit Kitty
Today (April 14), 9 p.m., Woodlands Tavern
Predominately male bands with a pretty frontwoman may be nice to look at. They also may produce sexy publicity shots, generally featuring the woman striking a provocative pose while the males sit around acting oblivious. But they're not always worth hearing. I'm still trying to shake the memory of a certain band whose female vocalist was gorgeous but couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. It wasn't Illicit Kitty, a rock group whose vocalist, Kimberly Barr, has a pretty face and a pretty voice. Actually, she has a downright powerful voice, as demonstrated on the group's recent EP The Beautiful Seduction. And the disc was produced, according to the cover notes, without auto-tuning. Any frontwoman who can't carry that off should probably consider a career in modeling.
Richard Ades
- The Other Paper (Columbus OH)
........ When looking for a band to headline, Herzog looked no further than pop rock band Illicit Kitty. After forming last December, the group—featuring Kimberly Barr (lead vocals), Nick Federinko (guitar), John Buscemi (bass), Bryan Holton (drums) and Tony Buscemi (keyboard)—has taken the local music scene by storm with a sexy sound and a lead singer to match.
We caught up with Tony Buscemi, 38, the band's founder and lead lyricist, about the group's sound and what we can expect from them Saturday.
How would you describe Illicit Kitty's sound?
We're definitely a modern rock/pop band. We call our music "sexy aggressive rock." We're definitely selling sex. We've got a sexy singer that can really sing. She's got a great voice and really nice legs [laughs]. The harmonies are a really big part of it, which is why we're dedicated to having a full-time background singer in the band. Imagine if Mr. Brightside and Pat Benatar had a baby, and if it was raised by Freddie Mercury. That's Illicit Kitty's sound.
You guys managed to land the top spot at the Kickstand Festival after only being together less than a year.
Yeah, it's been pretty amazing. I'm really excited about this project. It has just really taken off in the last four of five months. We've had so much interest we've been turning down gigs because we don't have dates available. I think we've got a really good combination. Our lead singer plays drums too. It's really different to see this beautiful female jump from the mic and start wailing on the drums. Our LP should be finished in the next few weeks. It's tentatively titled "Beautiful Seduction," which is the name of one of the songs on the CD. We're really hoping to be pushing it out to sell in the next month. We're actually planning to lay down vocals next week.
What can people expect from your show Saturday?
A high-energy rock band, a beautiful girl and a forceful performance. Something from which they cannot rip their eyes. And original songs that are so memorable they'll be singing along by the second time around.
- MetroMix Columbus
Discography
6 song Album 'The Beautiful Seduction" released on Jan. 22.
Radio:
Killer Tonight & My Desires played on Columbus' CD101 at 102.5
Internet Radio:
Killer Tonight & My Desires have been added to the playlist of Women of Substance Radio
Beautiful Seduction & My Desires have been added to the playlist of INDIE 104- iRadio LA
Photos
Bio
Tony Buscemi loves music. He has loved it his whole life. He spent some years traveling almost weekly to Nashville to take classes and learn the business, knowing that while Nashville wasn't "his" market, there could be no better mentors and role models than the true titans of songwriting he met there regularly: Don Pfrimmer, Jeffrey Steele, and the great Loretta Lynn, among others.
Spending some fallow months, just ruminating and conceiving a vision, Tony thought about what sort of project he really wanted. Teased out bit by bit was a vision of beauty, sumptuous sensuality, and glorious excess. He wanted to create music and spectacle that would drive people to righteous hedonism.
Thus was born Illicit Kitty. An exercise in Sexy Aggressive Rock, the creation of a spectacle from which no audience can rip its eyes. John Buscemi on bass - his bass is rich and fat and sexy, while his mysterious good looks intrigue the ladies. Bryan Holton - a creative force of aggressive percussion, Bryan gives something few other drummers can: good show. His energy and charisma enliven the back of the stage in a manner rarely seen in contemporary rock music. Guitarist, Nick Federinko, is young, but on his way to true rock and roll virtuosity. An encyclopedic knowledge of all genres of music make Nick a real find. And out front, Kimberly.
Kimberly Barr, so stunningly gorgeous and sexy that men do literal triple-takes of her in the streets. She fronts Illicit Kitty with a force of galactic proportions. A woman so beautifully, strikingly feline that few believe she is also smart, good, and kind. Kimberly's voice soars as high as her hemlines and she hold notes out as long as her legs. Her dusky exotic beauty is the least of her qualities next to a voice of such a sweetness and power as to rival that of any woman on your radio today. And she, too, gives good show, dancing and teasing her guests, flirting with and commanding her audience like a beacon.
These amazing talents, joined of course by Tony's impeccable keys and darkly handsome self, create something even greater than the sum of its parts. Illicit Kitty is sexy aggressive rock. Sexy: full of beauty, sensuality, and it really turns you on. Aggressive:brooking no refusals, demanding your attention and fearing no reprisals. Rock: as in, your world...your socks off, hell, your pants off.
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