Music
Press
"I saw KTS at the Key Club & had the time of my life - Parliament meets Jefferson Airplane. Naomi has a raw energy like Juliette Lewis with a voice that would make Grace Slick or Joplin proud. If you haven't seen them yet, get out to one of the most energetic shows ever. You will not be disappointed." - Palomar College Radio
"I saw KTS at the Key Club & had the time of my life - Parliament meets Jefferson Airplane. Naomi has a raw energy like Juliette Lewis with a voice that would make Grace Slick or Joplin proud. If you haven't seen them yet, get out to one of the most energetic shows ever. You will not be disappointed." - Palomar College Radio
"If you can listen/watch Kiss the Salt and not get horny - check your pulse, you're probably dead..." - Angela Little
"If you can listen/watch Kiss the Salt and not get horny - check your pulse, you're probably dead..." - Angela Little
“The band has rocking sounds like Hendrix, Zeppelin & P.J. Harvey. Naomi's has depth & soul akin to Adele with Amy Lee's range mixed w/ the ballsy bravado of Pink's attitude & spunk. Kiss the Salt takes it to the extreme. Their music reaches into your soul and takes you on a musical voyage. Vaccaro empowers the stage with his raw energy on lead guitar & Criswell delivers thunderous power on bass. Naomi Nektare's passion lights up the stage, her stage presence is captivating and she mesmerizes the audience with her sultry & soulful voice. Once they take the stage and start playing, the audience is pumped up and energized. Seeing them live is an experience in its own." - KKSM Radio
“The band has rocking sounds like Hendrix, Zeppelin & P.J. Harvey. Naomi's has depth & soul akin to Adele with Amy Lee's range mixed w/ the ballsy bravado of Pink's attitude & spunk. Kiss the Salt takes it to the extreme. Their music reaches into your soul and takes you on a musical voyage. Vaccaro empowers the stage with his raw energy on lead guitar & Criswell delivers thunderous power on bass. Naomi Nektare's passion lights up the stage, her stage presence is captivating and she mesmerizes the audience with her sultry & soulful voice. Once they take the stage and start playing, the audience is pumped up and energized. Seeing them live is an experience in its own." - KKSM Radio
"Experiencing music delivered by this soulful rock/funk loving band is like cooking with the finest herbs - your musical taste buds will never be the same again. Kiss the Salt gives the finest of live performances, shares heart to heart lyrics and wraps the audience in a blanket of love that is guaranteed to keep you warm. Kiss the Salt and let it linger!" - Musical Cafe TV
"Experiencing music delivered by this soulful rock/funk loving band is like cooking with the finest herbs - your musical taste buds will never be the same again. Kiss the Salt gives the finest of live performances, shares heart to heart lyrics and wraps the audience in a blanket of love that is guaranteed to keep you warm. Kiss the Salt and let it linger!" - Musical Cafe TV
"KTS is a fierce and electrifying band whose energy keeps you out of your seat & leaves you hungry for more. I was honored to have them as my guests on my radio show- KCOD/ Rockaholics. Their acoustic set was amazing and our phone line was ringing off the hook. Our callers were super excited and eager to talk to them and ask questions. My best show ever!"
- KCOD Radio
"KTS is a fierce and electrifying band whose energy keeps you out of your seat & leaves you hungry for more. I was honored to have them as my guests on my radio show- KCOD/ Rockaholics. Their acoustic set was amazing and our phone line was ringing off the hook. Our callers were super excited and eager to talk to them and ask questions. My best show ever!"
- KCOD Radio
"I felt gloriously liberated watching Kiss the Salt perform, their whole vibe transcends one to a new level. I now have the achingly sultry ether of KTS in my veins- beautiful vocals & pheromone inducing music. They are a delicious experience. One doesn't merely watch or listen to KTS, one experiences them." - Playboy Radio Show/Sirius XM 102
"I felt gloriously liberated watching Kiss the Salt perform, their whole vibe transcends one to a new level. I now have the achingly sultry ether of KTS in my veins- beautiful vocals & pheromone inducing music. They are a delicious experience. One doesn't merely watch or listen to KTS, one experiences them." - Playboy Radio Show/Sirius XM 102
"Great rollicking fun, truly fine work by Lady Naomi and her band. Amazing pipes & stage work. Loved the moves, all of them- Kiss the Salt should be playing for thousands." - Inevitable Film Group
"Great rollicking fun, truly fine work by Lady Naomi and her band. Amazing pipes & stage work. Loved the moves, all of them- Kiss the Salt should be playing for thousands." - Inevitable Film Group
"They are extraordinary artists and their musicianship is first rate. Kiss the Salt is destined for bigger things yet to come." - Eugene Lo
"They are extraordinary artists and their musicianship is first rate. Kiss the Salt is destined for bigger things yet to come." - Eugene Lo
Discography
Live at Nightingale (EP) 2012
Chrysalis (EP) 2011
Photos
Bio
Kiss the Salt is a rock n’ roll band from North Hollywood, California. The band’s diverse range of influences draws from psychedelia, blues, country, Motown, and funk.
The group’s members – bassist Brandon Criswell, guitarist Richie Vaccaro, and singer Naomi Nektare – met while working together on another project and formed Kiss the Salt in 2011. They have performed in iconic L.A. venues, including the Key Club, the Viper Room, the House of Blues, the Roxy, and the Troubadour. They have also enjoyed a popular residency at the hip North Hollywood club Skinny's Lounge, as well as touring throughout the state.
KTS puts on a strong, tight, and raw electric show, but they also like to present their music as an acoustic experience featuring dulcimer, harp, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. Their electric show is an explosion of foot-stomping funk and soul-splitting rock n’ roll with touches of jazz. The acoustic show, on the other hand, reveals a delicately nuanced side of their music, showcasing the craftsmanship behind the songs and defining the unique songwriting talents of each member of the group.
Criswell’s bass playing is the glue that holds the band together. Yet, his style is also adventurous, adding depth to even the simplest compositions. Vaccaro’s guitar work is flamboyant, but always tasteful and compelling. The first sound that captures the listener’s attention, however, is Naomi Nektare’s voice. She wears on her sleeve her love for soul singers like Tina Turner and hippie stage-goddesses like Grace Slick and Stevie Nicks, but her singing and performing style is uniquely hers – powerful and lyrically poignant.
KTS has donated their time to perform at charitable music events including the Bakersfield Ride for Autism and Japan’s Blue Period (for tsunami relief). They have also performed at a number of festivals, including the Sheideck Music Festival (Maricopa, CA), Lemon Festival (Goleta, CA), and the Lucidity Festival (Santa Barbara, CA). Last year the band played more than 100 shows all over California. They have also made numerous television appearances and have been featured twice on Santa Barbara’s Musical Cafe TV. The band has just released a new four-song EP, and also completed recording their forthcoming full-length album, which is currently being mixed. A tour of the Southwest is planned in the fall. Many of their fans travel hours to see them. If you haven’t already experienced Kiss the Salt, now is the time!
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