Kevin Bronson on September 20th, 2019

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Kills Birds hit the Bootleg Theater like a thunderstorm on Thursday night.

Kinetic frontwoman Nina Ljeti was the lightning; hard-hitting drummer Bosh Rothman was the thunder; guitarist Jacob Loeb provided the deluge of noise; and bassist Fielder Thomas kept the nervous and unnerving rhythm of the tempest. It was a howl.

The new L.A. quartet was celebrating the release of its self-titled album, a nine-song squall of post-punk and noise-rock whose ferocity was on full display with every screech and hardcore breakdown. Ljeti transformed her giddiness at having the album released into a frenetic performance, bounding and jumping around the stage and getting in the crowd’s face as she alternately chanted, sang and screamed the lyrics.

Besides the songs on the album, Kills Birds unveiled a new one, “Rabbit.” They played the latest single “Jesus Did” early, wedged first single “Worthy Girl” into the middle of the set and ended with “Volcano,” a tune that true to its name erupts in a huge, drum-backed chorus. A crowd of a different demographic might have started a most pit; future audiences are likely to.

Storefront Church preceded the headliners with a set of sweeping atmospheric rock that stoked anticipation for a release the band has on the horizon (probably the new year). Rose Cologne opened the night.

||| Previously: Read the Buzz Bands LA interview here.

||| Also: Stream “Kills Birds” in full