Kissing Tigers/ Devon Williams

Isla Vista's BIKO Co-op had much to discuss about this last Friday night, November 14th. In the mix was a celebration of the two IV Rec. and Park board elected student officials Liz Budah and Josh Cataldo, along with an audible set of music brought to BIKO by SBDIY, which included UCSB alumni Kissing Tigers, and Beirut's touring opening band of Devon Williams. With the night of indie rock beginning roughly around 9:30, clusters of people and animals including a group of chickens in the back yard coop, prepared for a long night, with loud live music in the garage, and a live DJ in the house. Devon Williams loosened up the crowd, taking them from body swaying to congregated groups of lively rug cutters in the concrete paved garage. Devon and the Los Angeles trio put some influence into the crowds behavior with their heavy drums, booming amps, and ambit vocals, not to leave out the stirring guitar solos . With the party growing in the house of seemingly limitless rooms, the first set was off in the garage and Aunt Dracula was next on the roster. This Philadelphian thrash band stood out this night with their grime tone causing swarms of energetic collegians to shake their heads, pump their fists, and mosh throughout the set. The keyboard, laptop, drums, and guitar, twisted the tempo along with the band's "shocked-like" grooving, rhythm and yelling. With the co-op festivities at its peak, the packed driveway made room for the IV "Darling" band, Kissing Tigers took the stage with their 5 man set. These electro-indie rockers , who now reside in Los Angeles, packed the garage and then some, causing quite a bit of commotion all around the co-op. The dancing made up most of the environment within the garage, while people who overlooked from outside the garage opening listened and watched the crazed audience crowd surfing and tossing one another. The night at the garage ended with no slowing down for the spectators, as the Buda and Cataldo bash continued just within the house, giving people a reason to linger around to talk to the bands, as well as to enjoy the BIKO community.

This article can be found in the Santa Barbara Independent: Issue Nov. 20-26