Although Alison Mosshart is Floridian and Jamie Hince is English, together The Kills make a very New York sound. Their straight drum and frayed-edge guitar style share DNA with the city’s classic punk scene. Maybe that’s why they looked so at-home performing at Terminal 5. Up to a four-piece with the addition of drums and bass, Mosshart and Hince hit the stage hard with their several tracks from their new album, Ash & Ice. These are blended seamlessly with earlier fan favorites like “U R A Fever” or “Pots and Pans.” All smiles and electric exuberance, Mosshart could not contain her excitement. She has an easy ability to charm an audience, smiling during her solo acoustic performance of “That Love” to take a moment and tune her guitar. “I like it better now,” she explained sweetly before picking up the song right where she left off. The highlight of the evening, however, was the intimate performance of new song “Echo Home.” From opposite ends of the stage, Mosshart and Hince faced each other and sang of enduring love and friendship, perhaps the heart of the Kills.
Setlist
Heart of Dog
U R A Fever
Kissy Kissy
Hard Habit to Break
Impossible Tracks
Black Balloon
Doing It to Death
Baby Says
Dead Road 7
Tape Song
Echo Home
Whirling Eye
Pots and Pans
Monkey 23
Encore
That Love
Siberian Nights
Last Day of Magic
Fried My Little Brains