Kittens Ablaze

Kittens Ablaze is a six-piece americana indie rock band with cello, violin, guitars, bass, piano, and drumming lead singer. The band formed in 2007 among six friends from diverse musical backgrounds, spanning classical, folk, indie rock…and metal. They like patches of sunlight, matches, and gasoline....

The Kittens wasted no time in writing and producing their own debut album, a self-titled EP released in October 2007. They released their full-length album, with help from producer Nic Hard (The Bravery), at the Mercury Lounge in January 2009 and performed at an official showcase at the 2009 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

The band has received mention in Vice Magazine, Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, The New York Times (by Mick Jones of The Clash) and numerous industry blogs. They were named mtv-U’s Best Band on Campus, and with their music video for “Strobelight,” they became one of a few unsigned bands to receive regular rotation on Vice’s internet TV channel, VBS.tv.

When they’re not performing or touring, the Kittens can usually be found in the vicinity of their Brooklyn apartment discussing things like the spontaneous firing of neurons, portable power packs, free will, cookie monster, doing arts & crafts or searching for street furniture and condemned buildings.

“Grand and orchestral…color me impressed!” —Vice Magazine

“Yes, we said "rousing" to begin this profile of Kittens Ablaze, but I think it's perhaps more fitting to end with "joyful." Kittens Ablaze are rousingly joyful. You heard it here.” —Oh My Rockness

"Hilarious name aside, even PETA members should enjoy these Brooklynites." —New York Magazine

"One of the finest bands to emerge so far this century." —Dandelion Radio, UK

"Heartfelt, impassioned orchestral indie pop"—Earfarm

"Ra Ra Riot meets Cursive" —The Music Slut

"Listen up kids, for seriousness, Kittens Ablaze is talented. This is one of those groups that you really want to hear now so that later on when everyone and their grandmother is talking about how killer their sound is you can say that you knew them when (and actually be being honest for a change)." —Starved Magazine

"Drawing comparisons to Ra Ra Riot, Defiance Ohio, Arcade Fire, Cursive, and the Pixies can never be a bad thing. In fact it's working quite nicely for Brooklyn's Kittens Ablaze...an emerging six-piece indie-punk garage band that features piano, cello, violin, bass, and guitar that circle a lead singer/drummer like paganistic sundancers at a bonfire."—Salad Days Music

"It is a manic clusterf*ck of dance-punk-folk that sounds like what might happen if Defiance, Ohio moved to New York City and started gettin' busy in the club scene...a highly enjoyable and welcome addition to my collection (or yours)" —Can You See the Sunset From the Southeside?

"Kittens Ablaze are a highly passionate, enormously energetic, and lyrically fun indie rock group, whose unique and raw sound alone separate them from most others coming out of Brooklyn these days." —Consequence of Sound

"[The EP] is full of ideas, bristling with confidence...it's the sort of really promising demo that should have any record exec pricking up his ears..." —Song, By Toad

"The six-piece play music like it's meant to be played. Their raw energy and passion comes across in almost every song and leaves you with an overwhelming sense of urgency and excitement." —Panda Toes

“The Monstrous Vanguard isn’t simply a collection of songs. Its creators have vision, whether tackling mortality or politics. New music is often complacent or apathetic; its refreshing to hear a band with something to say.” — Charlotte Observer