In 1996, Janis Joplin, Liz Phair, and Danny Elfman had a secret love child who they sent to the moon for summer camp where the counselors were Albert Einstein, Dorothy Parker, and Ziggy Stardust. Now that love child is all grown up and is making music under the name Kitty Mortland.
Okay, maybe not really, but that is kind of what it sounds like when singer/songwriter/vocalist Kitty Mortland teams up with lead guitarist Jack Daley, bassist James Sasak, and drummer Shirlee Berman. Kitty sings from the gut -- it's not always pretty but it takes you on a visceral journey that touches places in your soul you didn't know were hurting. Jack is a sonic jet taking off on his guitar. James plays the bass like giving CPR. And the beat of the different drummer you've been marching to all of your life? Yeah, that was Shirlee.
Kitty's music has an authenticity to it that has been thrilling audiences in Chicago at venues like the Elbo Room, the Note, Betty's Blue Star Lounge, and the Underground Lounge. You're guaranteed a good night when these guys take the stage. Keep your eyes out for upcoming shows and (if we're all really lucky) a super groovy CD!
And/or how about this blurb from The Daily Limerick? :
"TODAY'S EDITION: Kitty Mortland
Not only does Kitty Mortland rock (with a full-on band), have something to say and bear pulchritude (her site describes her sound, much better than I can, as early Liz Phair-ish and/or Janis Joplin-esque, although I'll also throw out that I heard near-Floydian melodies with a special knack for capturing sadness)... But she likes me. Or at least indulges me. Someone, in fact, told me that she's not into men, you know, which may or may not be true, but... Oh, well.
Anyway, although I've been emceeing shows around town for a few years now (live and for cable-access TV) and I'm even noticed on the streets at times, I rarely get kudos from bands. But Kitty, at one point during such a show, said, "Thanks Sloop, for whatever it is you do. But you do it sooo well!"--then went into a tune called, "Do It Again."
(Sigh.)
Ahem:
http://www.myspace.com/kittymortland"
Technically, the song is called Raspberry Kisses, but who's counting?
Side note: When she's not making music, Kitty is also an accomplished actor/dancer/writer/director/theatrical type person. Check out the films in her top friends for more info!
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