LOVE KILLS at Clinton’s (693 Bloor West), Friday (June 8), 1 am. $8, free w/ $28 NXNE wristband. 416-535-9541. Rating: NNNNN
When photos surfaced of Scarlett Johansson singing backup on Just Like Honey at the desperately anticipated Jesus and Mary Chain Coachella reunion last month, Tom Flood, guitarist in fuzzed-out shoegaze unit Love Kills, grimaced at the sight.
“He freaked when he found out,” laughs Love Kills lead vocalist, sibling Heather Flood. “He said something like ‘It’s over. Everyone likes them now.’
“But I see that as good for us.”
Tom should listen to his sis. He and Pat Rijd (vocals, guitar) have thoroughly perfected the psychocandy wall-of-fuzz patent, and if the Chain are on the precipice of a winning comeback (and all signs indicate they are), Love Kills can only stand to benefit.
The guitar-driven Trinity-Bellwoods quintet, which also includes Jay Talsma (drums) and bassist Mark Bergshoeff, is sweetened by Heather’s unique, ethereal voice. It’s less like My Bloody Valentine’s Bilinda Butcher than a beehived Connie Francis (on pills) not exactly a musical ray of sunshine, but not a wrist-slitter either.
“This one has cellos, it’s a bit more sombre,” says Heather of their newly minted third EP, Carry Me Home (independent).
Even if that Mary Chain resurgence wave doesn’t swell, sweeping LK up with it, Heather’s confident the group can create their own musical destiny.
“I’m not looking at it like we’re going to get big from it,” she says of playing their first NXNE. “But I do expect something to happen in the next five months, cuz I think it’s really coming together. I feel it.”
