Sit Kitty Sit

Paper Doll is the first single and music video from Sit Kitty Sit’s fourth album, Tectonic. The full album will release on May 4, 2018. The video takes an excruciating look at the sensation of being suicidal – an emotional state where the mundane becomes menacing and day-to-day survival requires wearing a mask in public. Watch here
Shortly after the release of their third album, Everlasting Fire, Sit Kitty Sit’s lead vocal and pianist, Kat Downs, went through a seven-month suicidal depression. Even having struggled with depression since her late teens, Downs was caught off guard by the intensity of the experience. In her personal blog she described the feeling as “shattered”: “Being Shattered means you don’t have any more to give…One more blow comes at you and instead of even raising your arms to defend yourself, you just let it hit you…You are in pieces you could never put back together. Like a light bulb that’s been stepped on.”
When words didn’t fully satisfy her she composed “Paper Doll” to capture her personal experience with the sensation of being suicidal in the hopes that speaking more openly about the taboo topic would diffuse the stigma surrounding it and help others who are struggling with depression. “I know there are a lot of people out there going through “Shatterings” of their own – please know that I’m there with you. Please feel free to reach out. We will all be okay.”
Sit Kitty Sit is a Hard Piano Rock duo based in San Francisco, California. Since 2010 Kat Downs (piano/vocals) and Mike Thompson (drums) have let loose an expertly manipulated balance of blow-your-mind power rock and virtuosic intricacy that leaves audiences screaming. Typically described as “The Dresden Dolls mixed with PJ Harvey and Muse”, Sit Kitty Sit has toured all over the US and Europe and shared the stage with such names as Listener Family Band, Birdeatsbaby, and LP. Their fourth studio album, Tectonic, releases May 4th, 2018. No holds barred, Sit Kitty Sit produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people and not one guitar in sight. - Vents Magazine

9.3.2016 - Sit Kitty Sit came into New York City like a storm on Saturday, September 3rd to play an ambitious show at Fat Baby. The notable duo of Kat Downs and Mike Thompson took to the stage like the pros they are, to put on a show that was instantly one of my favorite. Together Downs and Thompson are a whirlwind of force, as their eclectic sound of piano, drums and vocal, bring an interesting experience to life.

Steadily playing through their catalog of Indie-Rock hits, we heard crowd-pleasers such as “Birmingham” and “In the Morning,” mixed in with some newer jams of their recent single “Creeping,” and “Blood & Bones.” On stage, the duo brings everything to a whole new level, as their heavy-hitting playing struck a chord and resonated in my ears.

Sit Kitty Sit is a must-see if they’re headed to your town, so be sure to stay up to date via https://sitkittysit.com/shows/ - No Depression Magazine

8.30.2016 - San Francisco’s SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people and not one guitar in sight.

Sit Kitty Sit’s latest album, Everlasting Fire is based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno.” The storyline album showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning seven genres and boasting 15 guest artists, the release shows us an entirely new side of the band while maintaining their identity. - Vents Magazine

8.8.2016 - The San Franciso duo of Sit Kitty Sit has been breaking barriers the past several years, with their bold and prominent tones of classic Indie music. The combination of Kat Downs on vocals and keys and Mike Thompson on drums bring an interesting and charming element to the table, as their unique blend of instrumentation sets them apart from the rest. This afternoon we see the group debuting their new single, “Creeping,” to the delight of our ears.

The track showcases Downs’ vocals in a whole new light and sets a bit of a different manner for the duo. Filling the space with thumping drums and an eclectic piano, we hear Downs’ vocals a bit softer than the group’s previous releases; really getting into the heart and soul of the lyrics. Stunning background vocals fill the song as Downs’ voice picks up intensity with a growling and echoing element of surprise; their signature sound. “”Creeping” explores the fulility of attempting to speak logically to someone who is mad. It cannot be done, and in the end, only pushes you to madness as well. Or in other words, you can’t talk sane to crazy”” says Downs.

“Creeping is bound to be one of your favorite songs for the Summer. To boot, Sit Kitty Sit will be on the road this coming September, so be on the lookout! - Paste Magazine

4.2.2016 - San Francisco piano punks Sit Kitty Sit will play King Wah’s in Medford on Wed., April 13. Which is impressive, since they were never supposed to be a band, just a single song on pianist and singer Kat Downs solo album.

“Every song on the album was a different genre,” she says. “For one, I wanted to combine Rachmaninoff-style piano with thrash-metal style drumming.”

Downs says the inspiration for that song came from the desire to listen to something in that vein.

“I was trying to find another place to listen to it,” she says. “I was like, someone has to have done this. And I couldn’t find it. So I said I guess the only way I’ll be able to hear it, is if I write it.”

That single song wasn’t even supposed to include the other member of the duo, drummer Mike Thompson. She originally had another drummer lined up for the recording session. But he embraced that old drummer stereotype and flaked. Thompson took his place. And once the session was done, it was all the pair could think about.

Before long their classical meets classic rock blend was turning ears around the bay. It wasn’t long after that they hit the road across America and Europe.

The band doesn’t like to force its writing process, writing tunes in pieces as they come.

“We always want to make it sound like us, sound unique, sound fresh,” says Thompson. “With two people, it’s kind of hard to keep it sounding fresh. Because there’s only so much you can do.”

But the duo also admits that the new wave of technology offers them a lot of options to expand their sound they’re not taking advantage, instead, sticking purely to an acoustic piano and a drum kit.

“Certainly, we’re not opposed to adding samplers, or synthesizers,” says Thompson. “But the essence of this band is stripped down piano and drums. That’s what defines our sound. AC/DC didn’t change shit. The wrote the same fucking song for 50 years. If you find the right formula, then you can make it work.”

And they’re found the right formula with equal parts punk, cabaret, and classical. It’s almost impossible not to compare them to the Dresden Dolls or early Regina Spektor.

And that’s a sound the band says has always struck a chord when it plays in Medford.

“Make sure to mention that we LOVE Oregon,” says Thompson. “All our rowdiest fans are there. Hands down.” - The Rogue Valley Messenger

11.6.2015 - Kat Downs from Sit Kitty Sit: “‘Superbia,’ meaning ‘pride’” was the first song written for the Everlasting Fire project. It was inspired by a visit to Venice, Italy during the high tide season, with the water at the same level as the sidewalks. I loved the romanticism of an emotional struggle while stuck in an ancient city that is slowly sinking. Everlasting Fire, of course, tells the story of Dante’s ‘Inferno’ which is his journey through hell. Pride being the worst of the seven sins, it’s actually incorporated into every single level all the way to the bottom where we find the devil frozen waist deep in a lake of his own tears. Deliciously creepy, isn’t it? ‘Life #6’ was actually inspired by a contest we held to name our tour van! The prize for the winner—The Prowler, best name ever—was to have a song written about them. I gave the winner a series of odd interview questions I gathered from several places online, and from her answers ‘Life #6’ was born. It opens the album representing the circle of ‘Limbo,’ which is where the souls of people who did not believe in God, but were otherwise perfectly delightful have to reside after they die. They can’t go to heaven, and they can’t go to hell, so they live in a garden remembering their lives. ‘Life #6’ seemed like the perfect fit—and honestly, it’s become one of ours, and our fans’, favorite songs at our live shows. The video was filmed via http://www.overitstudios.com.” - Huffington Post

April 28, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit crosses rock and pop, with piano laden elements, creating a vibrancy and burst of light in the San Francisco scene. The duo of Kat Downs Gaudette and Mike Thompson provide a strong and powerful sound that is energetic and endearing. Their latest record, "Everlasting Fire," has been a steady favorite of mine. With Kat's gorgeous and in-your-face vocals and piano skills, she works in perfect unison with Mike's heavy-hitting yet intricate drumming. Kat and Mike speak with us today about Sit Kitty Sit, which is an interesting read you will find below.



What is the meaning behind the name Sit Kitty Sit?

Kat- The name is actually making fun of me. The way I bounce around in my chair when I play, legs and hair flying everywhere. My friend saw me and said “Sit, Kitty! Sit! Good Kitty!” And the name was born.

Tell us about the making of "Everlasting Fire" the concept behind it?

Kat- Everlasting Fire tells the story of Dante’s Inferno. The songs follow Dante through each level of hell and depict what he experienced there. This was an incredibly fun project to work on. I wrote full scores for a few of the songs, and incorporated instrumentation away from the standard piano and drums. We got to do a lot of research and stretch way outside the normal boundaries of a rock album. For instance, the song "The Abyss” only uses found household type items for all of the percussion. No actual drums were used.

You seemingly crossover genres within the new record. How did this come about?

Kat- Instead of forcing the story to fit inside of a specific genre we decided the story should choose what best represents it. So, Lust is a tango, Anger is a blues tune and Greed is an “organ” that is actually composed of four flutes and four voices. The subject matter really let my imagination go wild when it came to the compositions and lyrics.

Mike- Right. We tried to write in different styles to match the different circles of hell, so you'll hear everything from jazz, blues, pop, ethereal & even metal.

If you could play any venue in the world, which venue would you choose?

Kat- The Greek Theatre on the UC Berkeley campus.

Mike- Hmm, that's a good one. The Greek is amazing. Madison Square Garden comes to mind pretty quickly.

In this creative process, would you say you enjoy being in the studio, or performing live on stage more? Explain your reason.

Kat- I always prefer performing live on stage over recording. To me songs are never more alive than they are on stage. All you have is that present moment, one shot, and there’s something about that energy that breathes extra life into that song at that moment. And I’m not playing the song, the song is playing me. It’s like nothing else on earth. Studio recording is a balance between playing perfectly and capturing the energy that correctly represents the song. And that means you might need to play that song 5 times in a row to catch it. Live versus studio are two completely different creatures.

Mike- Couldn't have said it better myself ;)

What do you enjoy most about creating music in general?

Kat- Music encompasses many different art forms to me, which is why I love it so much. Music tells stories, paints pictures in my head, forms shapes and has personality. I love that sound can make me hyper or calm or make me cry or laugh. Getting on stage and feeling Mike’s kick drum in my chest and the vibration of the piano up through my hands is just about the happiest place on earth for me. I have a big grin on my face just thinking about it.

Mike- Agreed. I feel making music is really our way of contributing something positive to the world. When I see people getting as high as we do off of what we create it's just about the best feeling on the planet. - Ethnocloud

April 19, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit is a band that has been on the Buzznet radar for quite some time now. Last year saw the group releasing their impressive record, "Everlasting Fire" which had quickly become a favorite of many music listeners.

There are many elements that stand out out to me on the record. Though the group keeps their use of instruments to a minimum, the instrumentation they provide with just keyboards, drums and vocals , offers up an interesting combination we don't always find in modern music.

Sit Kitty Sit is made of band members Mike Thompson (drums) and Kat Downs (Vocals, keys). Every piece on "Everlasting Fire" delivers a shiny and new outlook into the musical realm. Their sound varies in genres spanning from indie-rock to piano driven pieces. Sometimes they get a little 'heavy' but not in a way that it makes their sound inaccessible. Last year we saw their hit single and video for "Birmingham" circulating throughout the music blogosphere, and with good reasoning. Their enthusiasm shines through in their record, much as I imagined it does on the stage. The record actually has a theatrical feel at times, which is definitely a compliment. If you learn one thing from experiencing "Everlasting Fire," it is 'don't be afraid to take chances." What Downs and Thompson create with the simpliest of instruments, most orchestras can't even build with the most intricate of players.

Recommended tracks: "Birmingham," "Life #6", "Bleeds September"

"Everlasting Fire" is out NOW via www.sitkittysit.com - BuzzNet

April 13, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit’s “Everlasting Fire” has been making its rounds among the indie circuit for the past few months. The duo, which consists of Kat Downs Gaudette and Mike Thompson, show no sign of slowing down…and with good reasoning.

Currently based in San Francisco, CA, their unique brand of Rock n’ Roll, entices with a sound that straddles the line of classic rock, hard(er) rock, and a sprinkle of indie. Armed with just a piano, a drumkit, and a remarkable set of vocals from Gaudette, these are only a handful of things that set the group apart from their San-Fran cohorts.

On “Everlasting Fire,” the record is filled with 15 tracks that provide a stunning experience within every listen. The lead single from the album, “Birmingham,” was more than enough to draw my attention to the record. Gaudette’s vocals are a burst of fresh air that is soulful and powerful. Key tracks on the record that standout to me include the sultry and classically sounding “The Pulse,” the beautifully crafted “The Abyss,” and the jaunty “New Religion.” The mixture of tracks on the record are striking; each piece fitting like a perfect piece into the Sit Kitty Sit puzzle. Sit Kitty Sit proves that this fire, is indeed everlasting. - The Great Record Chase

March 20, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone. - Musical America Worldwide

March 19, 2015

San Franciso's Sit Kitty Sit are back on the road this Winter, with a handful of dates; making their way around the West Coast. An early 2015 treat, the duo of Kat Downs and Mike Thompson will bring their heavy-hitting brand of rock from the albums to the stage. Quite familiar with their newest release, 2014's "Everlasting Fire," filled with inspiration from "Dante's Inferno," Downs and Thompson captivate audiences with the help of pianos, drums, and alluring vocals. Their chemistry on their albums and onstage is impeccable, with their music being described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple; their live energy an explosion of sound. Are you sold yet? Below you will find their latest tour dates. Be sure to catch them on the road while you can!

Sit Kitty Sit's sound proves to be an unstoppable force. One note at a time.



Watch: Sit Kitty Sit “Birmingham” Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w6dyDsQZPE



Tour Dates:

March 7, 2015 (Saturday)
Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR

March 8, 2015 (Sunday)

Admiral Way – Seattle, WA

March 9, 2015 (Monday)
Checkerboard Bar – Spokane, WA

March 10, 2015 (Tuesday)
One World Café – Moscow, ID

March 12, 2015 (Thursday)
The Sidewinder – Denver, CO

March 14, 2015 (Saturday)
Sister – Albuquerque, NM

March 24, 2015 (Tuesday)
Hardhat Lounge – Las Vegas, NV

March 27, 2015 (Friday)
Milk Bar – San Francisco, CA - Ethnocloud

March 10, 2015

At Got Your Head in the Clouds, we like to get inside of an artist's mind. These formative questions help bring insight to an artist's music and often adds an element of surprise. In today's Featured Guest post we have San Francisco rock duo, Sit Kitty Sit.

The instrumentation of Sit Kitty Sit is very unique, especially in this day and age. With the combination of piano, drums and vocals alone you create a sound that is just as in-your-face than if there were guitar and bass involved. How do you make sure that, with the subtraction of guitar and bass, that the drums and piano are recognized with such force? How have you managed to adjust this into a live setting?

SKS - The piano is such a dynamic instrument with such a broad range that it easily fills the spaces of both guitar and bass. The bass guitar part is covered by my left hand, and the guitar or melody part by my right. Stylistically in some cases the piano uses a wider range of bass than a bass guitar line would. Traditional bass guitar lines are played a single note at a time where a piano would play full chords and octaves. This can make the bottom sound even bigger on a piano. Some say I'm notorious for my monstrous left-hand action, haha. Truthfully, I've always played left-heavy which really fills out the bottom end of the songs while the combination of my vocals and right hand action simultaneously fill the mid and higher registers.

To complete the grand picture, Mike's extraordinarily musical ear translates beautifully to his attack on the drum kit. He creates his drum parts considering the piano parts and vocal lines equally, so it’s common for him to accent not just my rhythm but to also add decorative fills complimenting my vocal melody using the drum kit as a full symphonic instrument rather than just a time-keeping device. This, in turn, results in the purposeful chaos that is Sit Kitty Sit music :)

Using only our intuitively honed performance techniques, our sound transfers flawlessly to a live show setting. Actually, we have a more difficult time capturing the energy of our live show performances on our studio recordings... I think it may be time to release a Live Record! ;) - Got My Head in the Clouds

March 7, 2015



SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson.The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has beendescribed as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

Sit Kitty Sit “Birmingham”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w6dyDsQZPE

Tour Dates:

March 8, 2015 (Sunday)
Admiral Way – Seattle, WA


March 9, 2015 (Monday)
Checkerboard Bar – Spokane, WA

March 10, 2015 (Tuesday)
One World Café – Moscow, ID

March 12, 2015 (Thursday)
The Sidewinder – Denver, CO

March 14, 2015 (Saturday)
Sister – Albuquerque, NM

March 24, 2015 (Tuesday)
Hardhat Lounge – Las Vegas, NV

March 27, 2015 (Friday)
Milk Bar – San Francisco, CA - Hot Hot Beats

March 6, 2015

Today's Listening Session: Sit Kitty Sit

Sit Kitty Sit are a rock duo that is along the likes of Dresden Dolls, King Crimson and Fiona Apple. All which happen to be favorites of mine. Currently on tour, the group make a mixture of pop and prog rock that I haven't heard much of anywhere else. Their sound will draw you in for sure. "Everlasting Fire" is their latest album and they are sharing their cool new video for "Birmingham" which you can see below. - Peaceful Pieces

February 24, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone. - Ninjas Prove It

February 23, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone. - BuzzNet

February 18, 2015

News: SIT KITTY SIT HIT THE ROAD; TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone. - Brooklyn Fawn

February 17, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone. - Hypnotic Sounds

February 17, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco’s SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone.

Watch: Sit Kitty Sit “Birmingham” Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w6dyDsQZPE

Tour Dates:

March 4, 2015 (Wednesday)
Club 66 – Ashland, OR

March 5, 2015 (Thursday)
Black Forest – Eugene, OR

March 7, 2015 (Saturday)
Bossanova Ballroom – Portland, OR

March 8, 2015 (Sunday)

Admiral Way – Seattle, WA

March 9, 2015 (Monday)
Checkerboard Bar – Spokane, WA

March 10, 2015 (Tuesday)
One World Café – Moscow, ID

March 12, 2015 (Thursday)
The Sidewinder – Denver, CO

March 14, 2015 (Saturday)
Sister – Albuquerque, NM

March 24, 2015 (Tuesday)
Hardhat Lounge – Las Vegas, NV

March 27, 2015 (Friday)
Milk Bar – San Francisco, CA - The Great Record Chase

February 10, 2015

Sit Kitty Sit are launching off their latest tour at a city near you! Kicking off the start of 2015 with gusto, the San Francisco rock duo is taking their sound to the masses. San Francisco’s SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

The group’s latest album, Everlasting Fire, has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike. The record, based entirely on “Dante’s Inferno,” brings a storyline to the album, which also showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning 7 different genres, there is something for everyone. - Modern Mystery

January 20, 2015

At The Great Record Chase we strive to get inside the heads of prominent new artists, and what makes their musical nerves tick. Over the course of several months we have been putting together a project in which a selection of new artists on our radar have put together an editorial. This consists of musical influences that formed, shaped, and brought to life their sound. There has been an impressive amount of new talent that has come our way since starting this website back in the Fall, and we want to take everything to a whole new level. This feature will be regularly occurring on our website, so make sure to check back often.

Watch Now: Sit Kitty Sit “Birmingham”

Today we sit down with Mike Thompson drummer of Sit Kitty Sit, who plays alongside Kat Downs Gaudette in the band. The duo have been creating musical waves in San Francisco, for the past few years, and have struck gold with their new release “Everlasting Fire.” They have a shiny new single and video out for “Birmingham” which manages to show their musical genius that stirs inside and out.

Let us sit in on this session:

Name three albums or artists that influenced your musical styling you play today and why they are important to you.

SKS: Buddy Rich, John Bonham & Neil Peart

What made them so influential to you?

SKS: Well, Buddy was really the first jazz drummer i could identify with since I grew up on hard rock. He had such an incredible presence and played with such force and conviction that i didn’t realize a lot of the big band jazz drummers could and were doing. He was my gateway drummer into that world and I found they were as much a rockstar as any of the people i grew up on.

I really learned a lot about feel & dynamics from the big band guys as did John Bonham, who is really my first & foremost inspiration (like many other drummers) when it comes to hard rock. He had a natural swing to his playing and modeled his big drum kits after the big band jazzers. I really learned from Bonham how to take what the big band guys were doing and translate it to a hard rock setting while still maintaining power & finesse.

Neil was the first drummer who kind of taught me what it means to write technically specific drum parts for songs. A lot of the stuff I was listening to before I got into Rush was pretty straight ahead rock. Drum parts for songs were pretty straight forward and never really played the same. I learned a lot about playing in different time signatures & styles within one song from him.

When did you first discover them?

SKS: I discovered all these guys within the first couple years that I started playing drums, so sometime between 10-12 years old. Rush was actually my very first big concert I ever went to; a Christmas present from Dad when I was 12. The show blew my mind away, Neil in particular.

Of course there have been countless other influences on me since I’ve picked up the drumsticks but combining everything I’ve learned from these three in the early stages of my game really set the path for how I play today.

How did they help form the music on your new record?

SKS: Well again, they all come from different musical genres and this record having such a broad stroke of musical genres I found myself drawing a little from each one of them. I took a few ideas from similar stuff they’ve done and applied it to the song with a twist of my own identity on it and voilá! - The Great Record Chase

December 31, 2014

Today we look back with some standout artists from the 2014 list, who were kind enough to share their favorite albums and songs that they discovered in 2014. The rules were fair game. The songs didn’t necessarily have to be current, but something they sought and loved during the year. Whether it was a song on their phone, on television, or one they discovered while traveling the country in their tour van, here are their lists.

SIT KITTY SIT

The Go Ahead - "It Is Written" (2014)

This tune has just one of the best opening lines for a song ever. "I commonly make the mistake of closing my eyes too soon" I LOVE THAT. I just adore Kyna's voice. I could listen to her sing all day. This song switches hypnotically between sultry swooning and hard rock. They nailed it!! The Go Ahead hail from our own San Francisco! thegoaheadmusic.com

Bent Knee - "Being Human" (2014)

This whole album is a freaking triumph, but this is my favorite song. The soundscapes, haunting lyrics, chord progressions, use of rhythm - it's everything that turns on my brain. I get a huge grin on my face every time it plays. www.bentkneemusic.com

Sit Kitty Sit - "The Abyss" (2014)

It's probably weird that I'm including a Sit Kitty Sit song on this list, but it's the truth.

We freaking love this song. I love it so much I don't even feel like I wrote it. It's in every play list I've made since the album came out. No joke. It's even in our special "post show" playlist that Mike and I jam out to. I think it might be our favorite (don't tell the other songs). www.sitkittysit.com

Eddie Vedder - "Hard Sun” (2007)

I never saw Into the Wild (still haven't) so I came across this song when Mike and I were on a tour and he was playing DJ with his phone. I instantly fell in love with it. I had it on repeat for a whole week once. I love it when that happens.

No Small Children – “Mystical" (2013)

I love these L.A. ladies. They are amazing. It's the chorus of this song that got me - the combination of lyrics and melody is just perfect. "you're more than anything that anyone says about you". It's one of those melodies that is so pretty you immediately want to sing along. Beautiful. www.nosmallcchildren.com

Paul Simon - "Cool Cool River" (1990)

Here's another selection from our post-show playlist. Don't even get me started on the percussion -we prefer the live version of this tune and it's intoxicating. But hands down the lyrics in this song are the most beautiful I've ever heard. "these prayers are the memory of God". Shut your face, Paul Simon. That is so beautiful I can't even handle it.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club "Let the Day Begin" (2013)

This is a fantastic cover of The Call's tune from 1989. This tune gets Mike fired up faster than anything in the world. Doesn't matter how tired we are, if we need to pump up before taking the stage - this song is the answer.

The Spiral Electric - "Upon Your Shore"

Live from San Francisco, CA The Spiral Electric are kicking out some great psych-rock. Upon Your Shore will catch you right away. It has a really hypnotic groove that always pushes my mind into daydreaming. Which is one of my favorite pastimes. www.soundcloud.com/thespiralelectric

Cellar Doors - "Lies" (2011)

Another fantastic San Francisco band, Cellar Doors have been tearing it up. This track perfectly captures the cool magic they weave on stage with the driving bass line and hooky lyrics. An excellent driving song when you're on the open road. www.cellardoorsinstereo.com

AC/DC - "Thunderstruck” (1990)

After a great show, the gear is loaded and we're off - and this is the FIRST song we blast. Every. Time. And we play a lot of great shows. Which means we probably hear this song over 100 times a year. It is in our top ten every single year. - BuzzNet

December 29, 2014
Sit Kitty Sit – “Birmingham”

Sit Kitty Sit is a band that I have had my eyes and ears on for the greater half of the year. The dynamic duo took to stages across the Northeast with their latest release this year, and most recently, brought to life the epic video for “Birmingham.” The video showcases the band’s unstoppable in-your-face-sound that will have you craving more. A must see, and a great introduction to outsiders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w6dyDsQZPE - BuzzNet

December 19, 2014

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12TH AT THE BLUE LAGOON
9PM / $5 AT THE DOOR / 21+
SIT KITTY SIT / THE GO AHEAD / ARROWS

In this day and age it’s easy to miss a good show simply because there’s too many to choose from, especially in an art and music hotbed like Santa Cruz. So every once in awhile Angelo searches the local shows calendar for an artist playing in town that deserves a little more spotlight. Today we focus on the San Francisco based duo Sit Kitty Sit. These self described “Classically trained music geeks with braggy diplomas” are currently tearing up the states on a 30-day national tour and will be ending their journey next Friday here in town at The Blue Lagoon.

Donning the stage armed with only a piano and a drum set implies simplicity, but what follows is anything but that. These two blend influences from classical composers with bands like Zeppelin and Rush alongside Kat Downs' old school sultry and passionate vocals, creating a sound that is entirely new and original yet you can’t shake a feeling of nostalgia.

With a live show and sound that could fit easily in a Roaring 20s speakeasy or the backyard stage at a college kegger, it’s no surprise these two have been making a lot of noise since their inception in 2010. Wet your beak with some of their tracks, a few videos, and then head on down to The Blue Lagoon next Friday December 12th to catch them live along with the insanely talented San Francisco based group The Go Ahead and local favorites Arrows. - Anglo Shermann

November 29, 2014

Sit Kitty Sit
By Veronica Kirk

Hailing from San Francisco, Sit Kitty Sit are a back-to-basics rock duo that carry a whole new sound to the table. Made up of members Kat Downs (piano/vocals) and Mike Thompson (drums), right from the start it will be noticeable that there is not a guitar or bass in ear’s way. Don’t let this scare you though. The sound they create is hard, noteworthy and brings Rock n’ Roll to a different level that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

The result is their latest release titled “Everlasting Fire,” which is based off of Dante’s Inferno. “Everlasting Fire” spreads across seven genres on their glorious third release with 15 guest artists in tow. The group are currently sharing their latest video for the hard-hitting “Birmingham,” that would put the Dresden Dolls to shame.

They draw inspiration from such acts as Fiona Apple, Dresden Dolls and King Crimson, while creating a sound that borders on pop/prog which adds something truly special to the mix. Sit Kitty Sit are also known for their intense live performances that ooze energy and vibrancy. They seem to accomplish more with two people than most bands do with five.

Sit Kitty Sit is definitely a band to watch into the New Year. They are also on a tour covering the United States and beyond which lasts throughout the holiday season. - Black on the Canvas

November 16, 2014

Sit Kitty Sit are currently making their way through the East Coast on a lengthy tour which stops in New York this week. You can catch the group at the Rock Shop (11/20) and Pianos (11/19) respectively. The heavy hitting duo bring to life elements of drums meet piano, accompanied by singer Kat Downs flawless vocal work. Drummer Mike Thompson brings the music to a whole new level with his intricate playing. Sit Kitty Sit currently have a new video out for “Birmingham,” off the latest masterpiece, Everlasting Fire, out now. Check out their New York dates below and try to make it out if you can!

11/19 – Pianos – 7pm / 21+ / $8

11/20 – The Rock Shop – 8pm / 21+ / $8-$10
Tickets HERE - Modern Mystery

October 9, 2014

Sit Kitty Sit are a phenomenal up-and-coming duo that is bursting from the San Francisco scene, and breathing new life into the city.

Recently, I had the pleasure to speak with both Kat and Mike from the band, and gained insight on the band’s musical inspiration, their newest record, Everlasting Fire, and much more.

Kay: Where did you come up with the name Sit Kitty Sit?

Kat: The band was actually named by a friend of ours who was poking fun at the way I bounce around in my chair when I play. “Sit, Kitty! Sit! Good Kitty.” It was so perfect it just stuck.

Kay: What was the first instrument that you learned how to play?

Kat: I started on piano the summer before second grade, so around 7-years-old. I took up flute in fourth grade and went on to major in music in both high school and college.

Mike: Pots and pans (laughs). Then when I was about 10, my dad, also a drummer, taught me some basics before putting me in private lessons which I continued in addition to studying music in high school and college.

Kay: At what age, or period in your life, did you know that music was something you wanted to be heavily involved in?

Kat: That’s a great question. For me, I don’t feel like I ever made that decision consciously. I don’t really write music because I want to, I write it because it’s just what comes out of me. I’ve actually tried to quit music multiple times thinking my life would be easier overall if I chose another direction, but it just keeps dragging me back in. It’s just what I do!

Mike: For me, it was about the time I was a sophomore in high school, so I guess around 15 or 16. I had played several sports growing up, but in the 10th grade I joined the school’s jazz and marching bands and just sort of lost interest in organized sports. I was way more interested in the magical world of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.

Kay: Your sound is very intriguing, very “real,” if you will. What is your overall inspiration when writing these tracks? What is your mindset?

Kat: Each song is different of course, but generally I approach it with the idea that the song is already written and I just have to listen closely to write it down correctly. So typically I write alone with earphones on so I can try to block out everything else and really focus on what the song is trying to tell me. Sometimes it comes clear as day and really easily, sometimes it’s like trying to urge a secret out of someone, sometimes it feels like you’re getting in a full on fight with it. It’s part of what I love about the process. Mike has a brilliantly uncanny way of hearing exactly what’s in my head, so when I bring him a new song it only takes one time through and he already has the concept nailed. From there, we work on the arrangement.

Mike: Yeah, plus it helps that we have such similar playing styles. If we switched instruments we would very likely play them in the same style as our primary instruments.

Kay: How much of your studio tracks do you record on your own, and how much do you record with the help of others on instruments?

Kat: “Everlasting Fire” is a unique album for us. It was the first recording we ever did that had any guest artists on it at all, and there were 15 of them! On both “The Push” and “Beautiful/Terrible,” we recorded all of our parts live sitting in the same room together, just the two of us. We did the majority of the piano and drum tracks on “Everlasting Fire” live in the studio the same way as well.

Kay: What is your favorite thing about recording and writing music?

Kat: Writing, I love watching how a song turns out. I think it’s going to go one way, and then it goes another. Recording was never my favorite thing, but since we’ve come up with our own system, it has really grown on me. Now I love seeing what energy we can bring into the studio and how that helps us capture a moment in time. I love going back to listen to the tracks and how they bring back the images of that day for me.

Mike: One thing I love about writing is the constant challenge of trying not to repeat myself conceptually, keeping it fresh and new from song to song. Playing solely to a piano instead of a guitar and bass is a different game though. Usually, you’re following one or the other of them, but with piano you’re kind of following two instruments at once since it provides both rhythm and lead simultaneously. I have always been a huge fan of recording. It’s a completely different approach to live shows, and the possibilities of building and layering songs are endless. Case in point: our motto while recording “Everlasting Fire” and wondering if we could/should add another instrument or guest artist was, “Fuck it, why not?”

Kay: What is the most challenging thing about being a musician in 2014?

Kat: For me, it’s that there is no “one way” to be successful, which is both amazingly freeing and at the same time can be very daunting. I love that I get to decide what works for me with all my projects, and that Mike and I together get to decide “Hey, let’s make an album based on Dante’s Inferno” and then just do it. At the same time, my imagination is so big it’s hard for me sometimes to just pick one direction and stick with it.

Mike: Agreed. I also think it’s attracting and keeping people’s attention and interest. There is just sooo much out there at the tip a finger these days for people to check out that it can be very easy to get lost in the mix unless you’re constantly promoting and touring! - Arena.com

Hot Hot Beats, October 8, 2014
Sit Kitty Sit

Falling head over heels for this one, for sureeeee

Sit Kitty Sit ”Birmingham”
https://soundcloud.com/sitkittysit/10-birmingham

2014 unleashed the release of Sit Kitty Sit‘s third studio album, Everlasting Fire. Based entirely on Dante’s Inferno, this storyline album showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning seven genres and boasting 15 guest artists, the release shows us an entirely new side of the band while maintaining their identity. The duo will be touring extensively in the U.S. for the duration of 2014. - Hot Hot Beats

September 22, 2014

San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight. 2014 unleashed the release of Sit Kitty Sit's third studio album, Everlasting Fire. Based entirely on Dante’s Inferno, this storyline album showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning seven genres and boasting 15 guest artists, the release shows us an entirely new side of the band while maintaining their identity. The duo will be touring extensively in the U.S. for the duration of 2014. - Ninjas Prove It

Slowshow – In Talks, September 18, 2014

Sit Kitty Sit bring a refreshing brand of Rock and Roll to the table. Based out of San Francisco, CA, the duo is made up of Kat Downs and Mike Thompson, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. 2014 unleashed the release of Sit Kitty Sit’s third studio album, Everlasting Fire. Based entirely on Dante’s Inferno, this storyline album showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. I had the chance to chat with Kat about their musical musings, which you can read below.

Sit Kitty Sit’s “Birmingham” https://soundcloud.com/sitkittysit/10-birmingham

How did Sit Kitty Sit meet?

KD: We met through a mutual acquaintance when I (Kat) was asked to come in and lay down some keyboard tracks on an EP they were recording. We knew each other in the music scene after that but didn’t work together for a while.

Your songs have different musical elements. How do you combine your influences and musical stylings?

KD: We’re two of those nerdy-nerdlings who have studied music our whole lives, so honestly how we end up combining the different influences is by what we find entertaining to our own ears. Most of my upbringing was strictly Classical, so there’s always a lot of that in my writing whether I want it there or not. Mike’s upbringing was mostly rock based, so it balances out.

What artists would you cite as musical influences in your songwriting?

KD: I definitely have songwriters I love, but I don’t hear them in the tunes I write (If you do, please point it out!) Lyrically I LOVE Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel. Song structure wise I love Talking Heads. Lately I’ve been loving the imagery Florence Welch uses in her writing. I like a lot of prog stuff and lately also Beethoven Piano Concertos and Debussy. I like stuff that forces me to listen to it. If something can fade into being background music I get bored with it very quickly.

How would you describe your songwriting process?

KD: While it’s never completely the same twice, most of the time it will be wound around a single sentence or lyrical idea. Sometimes the original idea never even ends up as a lyric in the song – which is just how it goes. Sometimes I’ll have a musical riff or concept that I’ll carry around for YEARS before I end up using it somewhere. It’s always an exciting moment when I finally use one of those. The fastest songs that are born come music and lyrics together in one blur – sometimes a whole song in 10 or 15 minutes. “Superbia” off the new record was a 15 minute song.

What is your recording process like?

KD: We record live with a scratch vocal 98% of the time. Mike and I in the same room facing each other, just like we do in the rehearsal room. That way we can read cues and communicate via facial expressions. That’s our favorite way to record. A few songs, such as “Roots” on the new record, “Everlasting Fire”, require the final vocal be laid down live along with the piano track, so drums have to be done separately to keep the drums from bleeding into the vocal mic. It’s definitely more challenging to record that way.

Where does your lyrical inspiration come from?

KD: My head. Honestly I feel like most of my life my brain has been constantly translating what I see, think, and experience into some version of poetry or prose. I’ve been called a romantic. It’s very easy for me to walk from the grocery store back to the car and suddenly find something precious and beautiful about the experience that I think is worth writing about. Most of my overall concepts come from seeing something mundane in a different light.

How do you capture the sound you created in the studio and bring it to life on the stage?

KD: Honestly, we have the opposite problem. Our biggest struggle is getting our live sound in the studio. Our live shows are the epitome of what we do – the energy, the fire, the sound and the chemistry. It’s so difficult to re-create that in a studio. We’ve had the blessing of working over the past year with a handful of different and amazing sound engineers and through the experience we’re learning how best to capture the side of ourselves that our fans find so hypnotizing.

How would you describe the San Francisco scene?

KD: Right now it’s still pretty Indie overall, but that’s starting to fade in preference of more original acts. Audiences are starting to show a bigger appreciation for more unique combinations of instruments, new spins on rock music, and a wider variety of vocal types. It’s a pretty exciting time in SF at the moment and we’re happy to be a part of it.

What are Sit Kitty Sit’s future plans?

KD: We’re touring the entire East Coast this fall/winter starting in November- dates should be released soon. Next year we’re just starting to talk about possibly going to Europe – but more touring for sure. We just love being on the road. We’re putting the finishing touches on a live recording, and the songs are almost done for our next EP release which will come out in 2015. We just love this project like mad – we ask ourselves “what do you feel like doing now?” and then we do it. It’s beyond fun. - BuzzNet

September Issue 2014

Taking impetus from Dante’s Inferno, blazing piano, thundering drums, and angelic vocals burst forth from Everlasting Fire. As you know, I like music, I like my friends, and I often like my friends’ music. However, it isn’t often I find my friend’s music inspirational. This CD is full of songs that make me want to be a better writer. “Bleeds September” makes me want to go home and edit old poetry. Enjoy 15 tracks of intricate and impassioned music from a Bay Area duo that is quickly becoming a staple in the Reno music community.

Jump on the bandwagon and visit them at sitkittysit.com to get to know them better.

By: Thee Reverend Rory Dowd - Reno Tahoe Tonight

San Francisco's SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple. Known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances, the group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight.

Watch Sit Kitty Sit "Birmingham"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w6dyDsQZPE

2014 unleashed the release of Sit Kitty Sit's third studio album, Everlasting Fire. Based entirely on Dante’s Inferno, this storyline album showcases the extensive versatility of Downs and Thompson as a team. Spanning seven genres and boasting 15 guest artists, the release shows us an entirely new side of the band while maintaining their identity. The duo will be touring extensively in the U.S. for the duration of 2014. - Got My Head in the Clouds

Sometimes a band suggestion comes along that just makes me sit up straight and enjoy every second that they have to offer. San Francisco’s Sit Kitty Sit just so happened to be one of those suggestions that came into my inbox a few days ago and their new album, Everlasting Fire, has me 100% hooked.

Described as “…Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple…”, the two-person group of Kat Downs and Mike Thompson have crafted a fantastic album that is built around the epic Inferno by Dante Alighieri. It’s poppy, it’s catchy, and it’s just a lot of fun! - Bloody Disgusting

San Francisco’s SIT KITTY SIT is Kat Downs and Mike Thompson. The duo, who create an undeniable pop/proggy piano and drum sound, has been described as Dresden Dolls mixed with King Crimson, & Fiona Apple.Following their initial debut EP, The Push, in September of 2010, SKS became known for consistently thrilling audiences with their energetically intense live performances. No holds barred, this group produces addictive rock n’ roll – with only two people, and not one guitar in sight. - Skope News

May 17, 2014
After a productive week of recording, I'm back! My own anecdotal experience indicates that playing rock & roll keeps us young -- on the last day of recording, I got carded at the grocery story where I've been shopping weekly since 1989. And the entertaining band names just keep coming:

Fall Saves Grace
Sin boldly that grace may abound.

Indigenous Robot
Artificial intelligence arising spontaneously in Silicon Valley. (Or, apparently, Broadsterdam, CO).

Make Do and Mend
This is how I was raised and how I run my household. In rock band terms, "use more duct tape."

Sit Kitty Sit
Yeah, like that'll get you anywhere with a cat.

Surgical Chaos
An operation that has gone horribly wrong in all possible ways; or carefully orchestrated disorder. - Square Pig in a Round Hole

popVLTR: You’ve been making moves in San Francisco, how’d you get into music?

Sit Kitty Sit: Kat: Thank you! San Francisco is an amazing town for music. It’s great to be working there. I’ve been doing music since I was old enough to walk, so I guess I was sort of born into it. Started playing piano at 7 and flute at 9 or 10. It’s always been the biggest part of my life.

Mike: I started playing drums when I was 10, lessons started at 12 but it’s been in my blood since day one – my Dad is a drummer as are a few other members of my family. It’s almost a family tradition at this point.

popVLTR: Congrats on the upcoming ‘Everlasting Fire’, who are some of your influences?

SKS: Kat: Thanks! We are really excited about the new album. It’s a storyline record based entirely on Dante’s Inferno. It really allowed us to explore genres outside of our normal style. I was raised with classical music, so a lot my early influences were Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner and such – later I leaned toward people playing the piano, so definitely Billy Joel, and then I got into more proggy stuff – Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel.

Mike: I was raised purely on Blues and Classic Rock, but then later got into Metal, Prog and Jazz which is really what helped us branch out on the new record. You’ll hear everything from rock to blues to latin, ethereal, metal – even some folk and classical styles.

popVLTR: What are some of your proudest moments in music?

SKS: Kat: I’ve always had a few certain cities on my “bucket list” where i’ve wanted to play music I wrote in. Knocked two of them off just this year – New York, and New Orleans. That felt like an accomplishment!

Mike: Every moment I’m able to play is my proudest moment.

popVLTR: What cool stuff is on the horizon for Sit Kitty Sit?

SKS: Kat&Mike: We’re releasing a new music video alongside the new album which is due to be released on May 2, 2014. We’re currently on tour through the South, We’ve got a Northwest Tour planned for May through the beginning of June, and an East Coast Tour planned for November. We just love to play as much as we can, and being able to travel around the country and meet new friends and fans is our definition of good living. Can’t think of anything better than that. - Pop Vulture Entertainment Network

Classic rock is the music your dad listens to on that awful local radio station that plays Steve Miller’s “The Joker” every single day of the week. Classical rock, on the other hand, is the term Sit Kitty Sit coined to describe their own unique sound, one that defies even that limiting title. The duo’s new record, Everlasting Fire, which just dropped last Friday, encompasses genres ranging from Danny Elfman-like freakout rock (“life #6″) to tearful ballads (“Bleeds September”) to straight up heavy metal (“Ditch”). Though it can possibly come across as a touch of hubris, the album is based on Dante’s Inferno and features 15 guest artists to help them achieve an orchestral sonic atmosphere. Somehow, the band pulls this lofty goal off, probably because they approach it so fearlessly, so confident in their ability and originality.

The music can be at turns gorgeous, terrifying, melancholy and furious, each song propelled by the thunderous drumming of Mike Thompson (and, as a drummer myself, I don’t give out drummer compliments lightly; check out that great groove on “When I Get to Heaven”!) and balanced out by Kat Downs’ pop sensibility on the piano and vocals.

Digging for comparisons, you can find a little bit of everyone from Nick Cave to Randy Newman, Amanda Palmer to Metallica in their work. Just simply comparing this band, however, does Sit Kitty Sit a disservice. I’ve been an obsessive music consumer since the age of 15 and, at this point in my life, I rarely get surprised by sound. Well, Sit Kitty Sit certainly surprised me, and I’m grateful they did.

About the Author: Nicholas Schneider
Writer, drummer for numerous Bay Area bands, and obsessive Titus Andronicus fan, you can find more of his work (both musical and literary) at louderthanadoubt.tumblr.com or facebook.com/Nearmyth62. - The Bay Bridged

Kat Downs is in a goth band signed to a German label, has played the annual Ann Rice Vampire Ball in New Orleans and has shared the stage with a fire-breathing lead singer of a theatrical heavy metal group.

Let’s just say it has been an interesting path going from a Green Bay fourth-grader who picked up the flute to a full-time touring musician living in California for the artist formerly known as Kat Nesbitt.

The touring road is bringing her full circle on Friday for a gig at JD’s Bar, where she’ll perform with her duo Sit Kitty Sit. For friends and family who recall her years as a member of the jazz band and marching band at Green Bay West High School and as a former piano teacher with 50 students at Heid Music, it’ll be their first chance to see her as a rock artist. That includes her parents, John and Nancy Nesbitt, who still live in Green Bay.

“They’ve never seen me do this, so I don’t know if they’re excited or not. I think they’re just happy I’m coming,’’ Downs said from San Francisco, where she has lived since 2004.

It took some finagling to stretch the tour itinerary this far east before she and partner Mike Thompson turn around and head back to California.

“That was the plan all along, to get to Green Bay,’’ she said.

Downs and Thompson (a performing couple but not a real-life couple) bill themselves as a “pop/proggy piano and drum duo’’ — no guitar. If you would’ve told Downs, a classically trained pianist who graduated from St. Norbert College with a degree in music, that someday she would be be a rock singer, she would’ve looked up from behind her music stand with some serious doubt.

It wasn’t until she moved to California in 2001 that she decided to step out of her contemporary and classical music comfort zone. She started writing her own music, which came out kind of folky and proved a natural bridge from classical to rock. She hauled her keyboard around to gigs at coffeehouses and put out a solo album in 2005. Looking for more performance experience, she answered a Craigslist ad for a cover band looking for a frontwoman.
"They were sort of the ones who taught me how to rock ‘n’ roll. It was really fun,’’ she said. “One day I just let loose. I think I was singing a Lenny Kravitz song.’’

She still tours with the goth band Saints of Ruin and she was hired last summer by another group as a keyboardist and backup vocalist for a national tour. But it was just recently that she quit her job and took the plunge into making music and the 3-year-old Sit Kitty Sit a full-time career. (A “huge, huge supporter’’ of music education in schools, she still makes time to teach a handful of piano students.)

“It was a scary leap to make,’’ she said. It was her husband, also an artist, who encouraged her to “just jump, just do it.’’

“It was very cathartic,’’ she said. “The cool part is all the people I’ve worked with over the years, they come and see you perform live and say, ‘Oh, you’re supposed to be doing that!’’’

Downs has clearly found her niche, but there will still be some anxiousness before her hometown gig.

“I admit I’m nervous. This is the first time coming home, and I’m playing all music that I wrote, so that’s a little unnerving,’’ she said.

The Green Bay stop comes during a six-show week, so it means just one night in town, but she’ll be back in November for a Green Bay Packers game and a family visit. She hopes to find time on Friday to get over to Kroll’s West, her designated hangout in high school after football games.

“I can’t not go there,’’ she said. “Those poor people were such troopers to put up with all of us kids.’’
- Green Bay Press Gazette

Mix the whimsical piano of Ben Folds, the raw emotion of Regina Spektor, the art rock of Florence and the Machine and the chic baggage of being an underground band in San Francisco, and you’ll get something approximating Sit Kitty Sit, a funky-fresh duo composed of pianist Kat Downs and drummer Mike Thompson. On Sept. 7, they’re coming to The Frequency.

The duo’s no-frills, dramatic and catchy piano-pop sound works because of their similar chemistry and musical training. Both started playing their respective instruments when they were children, went to college for music performance and played in other Bay Area bands before deciding to make Sit Kitty Sit their number one musical priority.

The classically-trained musicians say they work so well together because they play their different instruments in similar ways. “If I was a pianist, I’d play like her, and if she was a drummer, she’d play like me,” Thompson said.

It’s not surprising that when the two met through mutual musician friends, they hit it off and started jamming out together. In 2010, they officially formed Sit Kitty Sit. The group’s name stems from Kat’s tendency to get so into playing her piano standing up that she would thrash around, which once caused her friend to shout, “Sit down, Kitty! Sit down!” The duo released an EP called The Push the same year they formed. Two years later, in 2012, they released their first full-fledged album, Beautiful/Terrible, on the same day they played at San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill, well-known for hosting relatively unknown bands that later hit it big.

Signs are looking good for Sit Kitty Sit. Downs and Thompson have already put a lot of work into their young band. With their stripped-down rock style, they’ve been touring extensively throughout California and the surrounding states, playing both small festivals and a little something called South by Southwest in 2012. Their favorite festival appearance, however, was at the three-day Bask Music and Arts Festival in Forestville, Calif.

“The energy of that crowd was like they were absorbing everything you were playing,” Kat said. “They were just sitting there mesmerized because it was really too hot to dance.”

Lesson learned. When attending a Sit Kitty Sit concert, it’s not hard to be mesmerized. Playing live seems to be Downs and Thompson’s thing. They play with a raw and palpable energy, and it’s easy to sense the rush the performers get from performing. But, Mike said, the key to success when playing live on tours and festivals is preparation.

And prepare they have. With their fall tour just beginning, venues locked down and the van packed and set to go, Thompson says the only thing they have left to do is to go out and actually perform.

Thompson said he’ll still be working his job as a software head-hunter from the tour van. With this nervousness and stress, will they drive each other nuts on their first extensive tour? “No,” Kat said. “We’re not afraid of driving each other crazy. We’re both the type of people that can sit in a room and not have to talk.”

When they wrap up their Classical Reverie Tour in early November, Downs and Thompson say they’ll start planning their Northeast tour and recording their new album over the winter. While the band’s previous two releases have been spent finding their core sound, the next album is sure to be chock-full of frills: special guests, new techniques and more elaborate production.

“It’ll be a lot more epic,” Thompson said.
- Badger Herald

(Page 90 of the Magazine) What's the deal with me and two piece bands these days? The latest being Sit Kitty Sit, with Kat Downs (piano/vox) and Mike Thompson (drums) bringing fire to Red Rock

Once again the crowd was small but man, we were mighty. I felt privileged to witness this band. The energy from them was just as vibrant as the color red and uplifting. With Kats bluesy sounding voice singing and playing her Korg like a master in her bare feet, Mike was keeping the perfect off-time beats with his sweet Ludwig drums.

Seriously, I came into this thinking I might not like them; their online stuff didn't really evoke much excitement from me. But then I saw the truth: they were just awesome live! The even had some crazy skinny girl dancing up and all over them. There are no bands I know of that would ever even come close to covering the Billy Idol song "White Wedding" well -- but they did. In fact, they made that song their bitch, it was that good. What made it truly epic was it wasn't even Billy Idol's song anymore, it was a Sit Kitty Sit song. We all agreed. If they come back, which they will, you really need to get out the trailer Reno. See Sit Kitty Sit and smile with your pussy cat smile.

Jenny PezDeSpencer is a Senior Contributing Writer at Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine - Reno Tahoe Tonight

Music like this cannot be given a low rating since it's true Music with a capital M. If you understand orchestration techniques more than the average listener you will find there is no need to read an artists' bio to realize when a musician is trained in composition, transposition and music theory.

Kat Downs along with drummer Mike Thompson have an extensive musical background that comes from experience and dedication. Kat is a professionally trained pianist, composer and music teacher which means that symphonies, pit orchestras, choirs and proper counterpoint are nothing strange to her. She is also in a gothic rock band called Saints of Ruin that toured with industrial rockers Slick Idiot. Mike has played drums in several bands of different genres (for example Tokyo Raid or The Big Nasty) for over 20 years. Moreover, drumming is in his family heritage. This aspect combined with listening to many different styles of music let him explore avenues such as blues, jazz, punk, latin, classic rock and progressive rock.

Sit Kitty Sit is a pretty new and recent project that is inspired by a variety of vibes and influences. The band was established in San Francisco, CA in 2010. Since releasing their debut The Push EP (2010), they moved on to create a brand new album entitled Beautiful / Terrible in 2012 where the song "My Beloved" appears at the end of the tracklist.

The songwriting along with the compositional structure is solid yet open, leaving comfortable space for the vocals. Kat's voice is set between mezzo-soprano and alto which allows her to fluctuate between octaves with middle to low notes that are well controlled. The track is strong, direct and confident, yet sounds impatient and almost angry. When Kat sings you may find yourself wanting to stand up straight and wait for orders... or an encounter.
The rhythm section is based on both piano and drums which makes the sound twice as dynamic. There are no guitars or bass used in this song. The drums are punctual in the background, however no specific percussive solos outline the song, so the beats emphasize the piano along with Kat's vocals.

Since both of the artists have been researching many styles of music on daily basis, "My Beloved" is a mixture between pop, avant-garde and classical music. If you're a director looking for a good musical score or even searching a live band to make an appearance in your movie, consider Sit Kitty Sit as a strong candidate. This song would be a perfect fit for an action or crime movie like Sin City if it were set in a 1930's-1940's environment with gangsters in suits, fedoras and black 'n' white shoes listening to piano along with a female vocalist. It may also be a match to historically related screenplays or documentaries from the WWII era as well.

If a majority of people were to understand the beauty of classical music, Sit Kitty Sit could have been nominated for the most promising music discovery of 2012. However, since most music fans seem to enjoy bouncy pop, electronica or hip-hop music as opposed to something dynamic and intelligent, let us believe that serious music connoisseurs and audiophiles will truly support this ambitious project by purchasing their music and enjoying their live performances.

Sit Kitty Sit tours quite frequently and also recently played during the 2012 SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. They plan to take part in the BASK Music and Arts Festival in July of this year as well as go on an East Coast tour planned for this autumn that may also continue into the Midwest until sometime in early 2013.
(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Magazine, April 1st, 2012) - Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Magazine, April 1st, 2012

How could I not like a band with a cat + command in the name? It’s fairly automatic that I should as I am @kungfupussy, and they are Sit Kitty Sit. They are however much, much, much cooler than me. I can tweet some pretty cool stuff but the two of them create some freaking awesome sounds. What do they sound like? Well I think they sound rad but to be more specific, think Dresden Dolls mixed with Florence + Machine, Tori Amos, & Ben Folds Five: A popproggy-piano/drum-classical rock duo.

I think you should listen because you will like them but this is what they say. You know you want to listen to them. They ARE the experts.

Sit Kitty Sit’s (SKS) new album “Beautiful / Terrible” has way too much volume for just two classically trained musicians, yet it offers just the perfect amount of sound for this unique piano/drum duo. Additionally, it is the first release from Gun Horse Records in 2012. The new album is the second record from this San Francisco based piano & drum duo. In 2010 Kat Downs (piano/vocals) and Mike Thompson (drums) teamed up to experiment with the combination of classical piano and rock drumming and created their first EP, “The Push” They also developed a great live show. With their new material, the band enhanced their unique live sound and the result is the new album. Regarding recent press, a previous track from their first album, “Purge” was selected for Music Hype’s Track of the Week:

“Stripped to its bare essentials; some classy piano leads render a kooky-ish slice of pop music, complimented by some fantastic vocal melodicism from the Bay Area’s Sit Kitty Sit”

SKS are playing the bay area scene, which, the highlights include; A recent record release party at the Bottom of the Hill in SF. Dates in Austin, TX, March 14th-16th,
alongside SXSW. Also, the band will play the inaugural Bask Festival in Sonoma County on Sat July 21st. In addition, a mini west coast tour is currently being scheduled.

The new album is available exclusively on the newly launched record label Gun Horse Records [http://www.gunhorse.com] and you can get a free download of their track “My Beloved”[here]

I think you should give them a listen. Download. Awesome. Word. Another word. Listen. Do it.

Follow them on the Twitterz - @sitkittysitband

Tell them @kungfupussy sent you – but only if you like them…. - Vicarious Lines.com - written by Susan Burrows

The recent video release for the song ‘My Beloved’ by two-piece ‘Classical Rock’ band Sit Kitty Sit is nothing if not in your face. Pianist and vocalist Kat Downs and drummer Mike Thompson star in this brutal, twisted, and ultimately quite fun video depicting what seems to be a terrible situation—involving masks, black hoods, and knuckledusters-gone terribly right.

In terms of the music, when Sit Kitty Sit say ‘Classical Rock’ they literally mean classical rock; classical style piano parts mixed with hard rock drumming to create a unique sound, that, if anything, reminds me of a Dresden Dolls or Emilie Autumn sound. It has that same kind of drama, and so emulating that in the music video makes both components fit well together.

There are touches of ridiculous, dramatic, and tongue-in-cheek humour all the way throughout, like the staged punches and kicks that don’t quite hit and are edited to be in time with the drums, Ms. Downs checking her bloodied face in a car mirror before entering a seedy bar, and the pair proceeding to take out a bouncer in front of said bar that will not let them in. All of this action is punctuated with shots of the band, battered and bloodied whilst playing the song in the aforementioned seedy bar, with the masked men that had earlier been trying to beat them to a pulp now becoming the crowd listening to their music. The video seems to steer clear of taking itself seriously; knows it was shot quickly and cheaply and plays up to that which is what makes it so fun in how dark and violent it is. A good laugh and a great compliment to the quirky, uniqueness of Sit Kitty Sit’s sound overall. - Unsigned Bands Online

Stripped to it's bare essentials; some classy piano leads render a kooky-ish slice of pop music, complimented by some fantastic vocal melodicism from Bay Area's Sit Kitty Sit - http://musichype.com/

Gary Hill – Music Street Journal (Mar 28, 2011)

Sit Kitty Sit

The Push

Review by Gary Hill

This EP is fascinating. It’s also quite entertaining. Sit Kitty Sit is a duo, Kat Downs (vocals and piano) and Mike Thompson (drums). That means there are no guitars or other instrumentation. Somehow, it feels like there is bass guitar present, but it could be the bass end of the piano. However you slice it, though, this music rocks and is also very progressive in nature. It’s unique and captivating. You never feel like anything is missing here. This is a great set that will leave listeners anxiously awaiting more from Sit Kitty Sit. There are many references to classic progressive rock artists here, but it’s also quite new.
Track by Track Review
Purge
A rather classically based piano sound is combined with a driving rock rhythm section. This serves as the backdrop for the vocals. It’s a combination that has some jazz built into it, but also reminds me quite a bit of something Renaissance might have done, if they rocked out a bit more. There’s a jarring screaming section at the end.
In the Morning
In many ways, the music that serves as the backdrop here has an Emerson, Lake and Palmer kind of texture. The vocals bring a more artsy air, like performance art. It’s a great combination.
Out of Style
The piano that drives this is very classical in nature. The vocals are more gentle early on than those heard on the previous pieces. In some ways, the vocal performance here calls to mind Tori Amos. The song rocks out a lot more as it carries on, but then drops back to just piano mid-track for a reprise of the earlier sections.
Raven
The piano that opens this really calls to mind Tori Amos. As it builds it’s dramatic and powerful. The cut gets powered out, but also drops back to a gentle and dramatic piano based section. It’s another that’s just plain awesome. It’s also another where references to Renaissance would be warranted.
The Push
There’s a spoken introduction here. The cut pounds out into a frantic jam that’s very aggressive and rather RIO-like. It’s got a real rocking sound and has some hints of Tori Amos on show. There is a punk rock, or perhaps post punk element here along with some jazz. - Music Street Journal (Mar 28, 2011)