REVIEW: The Kills w/ Heartworms | 3.5.24 @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville [PHOTOS]

The Kills
w/ Heartworms
Brooklyn Bowl; Nashville, TN
March 5, 2024

Review and photos by Hannah Laney

Late last year, beloved indie rock duo The Kills returned with their first new album in seven years, God Games, and are back on the road for their most extensive tour in years in support, a run which returned them to Nashville- the longtime home of vocalist Alison Mosshart, who’s also a part of local supergroup The Dead Weather- for their first headlining show here since 2016, a magnetic performance at Brooklyn Bowl!

Opening the show were London-based post-punks Heartworms, who warmed up the stage with an energy that was new and exciting. Channeling influences like The Cure and PJ Harvey, singer and guitarist Jojo Orme captivated with her fantastic stage presence and impressive and retro vocal stylings. Before long though, it was time for The Kills, and the packed room, full of sometimes-hometown (the group claim both Nashville and London, as they met and formed in guitarist Jamie Hince’s native UK) friends and fans were buzzing with anticipation.

Launching into a set which spanned their impressive two-decade discography, but skewed heavily towards new material from God Games, Mosshart instantly commanded the attention of every person in the room with her Iggy Pop-esque dance moves along with that radiant voice. This band is the epitome of cool. There’s no going around it. Every movement, word, and breath coming from these two legendary musicians is a piece of art.

Guitarist Jamie Hince did not disappoint as he looked over the audience with his trademark stance and played out their iconic riffs. It’s no wonder they’ve remained so prominent and respected since the release of their first LP, Keep on Your Mean Side,  in 2003. Containing hits such as “Kissy Kissy” and “The Search for Cherry Red,” they made sure to play the older tracks as well as the new, and reminded why they’ve been one of the most enduring fixtures from the 2000s indie scene to still make music today.

With God Games, the duo managed to keep the original organic Kills sound that we all love, but matured in many ways, a perfect reflection of their musical growth in that seven-year absence. It sounds fresh, but at the same time like it could’ve been released in the height of their initial 2000s fame, embracing what made the band so special while updating their ethos for the 2020s. And live, the new stuff really soared, feeling right at place alongside other favorites like “U.R.A. Fever,” “Future Starts Slow,” and “Doing It to Death.”

A long overdue return from one of the best Nashville-connected rock bands to ever exist, The Kills’ debut at Brooklyn Bowl was a performance that will surely go down as one of the year’s best, and I can’t wait to see where their musical journey takes them next. Long live The Kills!

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All photos by Hannah Laney