Astounding an intimate audience during their Lark Hall debut, the experimental progressive jazz-rock quartet Kick the Cat wasn’t pussyfooting around during their recent stop in Albany on October 7th. From heavy metal and beautiful blues-based rock, to complicated jazz compositions mixed with playful funk and all sorts of funky time signature changes, the enduring Chicago-based band unleashed an all-out assault of the senses by combining just about every style of music known to man and making it their own. Uncompromising and anything but commercial, those who dared to take a chance on this night were rewarded with a very special performance.
In a move that only further cements an already legendary status, veteran Capital Region concert promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell Productions announced just days before the show that it would be free-for-all. No cover charge, no hidden agenda. Why you ask? In a statement released on social media, Bell claimed “Because I feel people should see these two bands, I am making this a free show. No tickets needed, no admission fee, just great music.” Also making their Lark Hall debut on the evening was the Hudson Valley-based group NEQ. Made up of guitarist Todd Nelson, Kyle Esposito (bass) and Manuel Quintana (drums), the group was also joined by Ross Rice on keyboards. Playing mostly songs from their 2022 debut album ‘Nevertheless”, the band showcased a diverse set of influences ranging from classic and prog rock, to gospel, funk and even a splash of spaghetti western. Clearly having a good time on stage, the bands heartfelt approach immediately endeared themselves to the listener and set the bar incredibly high for what was soon to follow.
Dressed like regular dudes, the members of Kick the Cat casually took to the Lark Hall stage around 9:30pm. Greeting the audience with gratitude and letting them know in advance things were about to get weird at times, but also groovy and beautiful at times too. Though the band might be new to some, they’ve actually been playing together for nearly twenty-five years. Consisting of front man Chris Siebold on guitar, Kris Myers (of Umphrey’s McGee) on drums, Chris Clemente on bass and Vijay Tellis-Nayak on keyboards, The Cats opened with the pummeling start/stop frenzy of “Ow! My Eye,” clearly letting you know you had to be punished before you were pleasured.
Anchoring the controlled chaos, it was the powerful, confident and steady hands Kris Myers that demanded most of the attention early on. A strange sight to see the Umphrey’s McGee drummer without his percussion playing partner Andy Farag nearby, but casual fans may not realize Myers is one of Kick the Cat’s founding members. Myers, who started playing at age 8 and earned a master’s degree in jazz drumming from DePaul University, played on KTC’s first two studio albums before joining UM in 2003. It was here in this type of setting that his undeniable talent and dexterity could truly be appreciated. All evening long you could hear and see people whispering to each other about just how good he really is.
After working their way through a series of complex, percussion-heavy compositions like “Alt De Facto,” “Harebrained,” and “Hope Against Hope,” front man Chris Siebold took to the mic while changing out guitars, saying “We just bludgeoned your bodies, but now we’re about to bathe you in relaxation.” What initially came off as a “cool down” song for Myers effortlessly became a showcase of guitar playing virtuosity for Siebold. Landing somewhere between the luscious and dreamy tones of greats like David Gilmour and Jeff Beck combined with the chop-busting inspiration from bands like The Weather Report, King Crimson and Return To Forever, it was at this point in the evening that Chris stole the spotlight from Kris and let everyone know he was an absolute force behind the frets. After a beautifully bluesy rendition of “Two Down” from their 2002 album Weirdo another show highlight came in the form of “Camel Toe Vs. Snaggle Tooth,” which at its climax, forced even those sitting to rise up in appreciation.
After working their way through much of 2021’s Gurgle, Kick the Cat’s first studio release in over a decade, another clear sign of approval came when promoter Greg Bell approached the front of the stage and presumably asked the band to play little longer. Happy to oblige, Siebold joked “Another set? Sure, hell we’ll play till sunrise if someone wants to offer us another $30,000, which of course would be donated to charity. Any takers?” he asked. “No? Ok, we’ll play a little longer anyway, but if we start noticing the place is clearing out, just give us a sign.”
While Kick the Cat didn’t quite play till sunrise, they did perhaps play longer than any other band at the recently renovated Lark Hall. Fans who stuck around until the end were treated to ambitious songs like “Ramsey (All In)”, “Waz Up” and “That Stuff That’s Tough” before eventually bringing things to a close with the song “Squirt.” An evening filled with heady-yet-approachable grooves and other worldly soundscapes, angular melodies, fuzz-filled tones and all-out rock n roll, the level of musicianship KTC brought to Albany was unapparelled. While progressive jazz-rock fusion may not often be thought of as “cool” these days, Kick the Cat is and seeing them live is a thrilling experience you’re not likely to forget.
Kick the Cat | Lark Hall | Albany, NY | October 7, 2022
Setlist: Ow! My Eye, Alt De Facto, Harebrained, Hope Against Hope, Adolpho’s Dilemma, Visogoth’s Overture>Breakfast with the Visogoth’s, Two Down, Camel Toe Vs. Snaggle Tooth, Ramsay( All In), Waz Up, That Stuff That’s Tough, Squirt
