Cosmic Kitten, The Dares, Death Will Bring Change

Cosmic Kitten, The Dares, Death Will Bring Change on Wednesday, December 17 at The Wayfarer in Costa Mesa, CA!

A blend of alternative, post-grunge, and punk-infused energy, Cosmic Kitten is a band unafraid to dig deep into the raw emotionality of their sound. With intense performances and introspective lyrics, they have captured the hearts of fans who crave authenticity and powerful musical expression.

The San Pedro-based now quartet formed in 2016 and has become a collective force in the post-grunge, punk, and alternative rock scenes. Karen Marie (she/they) on guitar and vocals takes listeners on an emotional journey, with vocals that range from soft, reflective tones to fierce, powerful screams, accompanied by fuzzy, bright guitar riffs. Zach Huckabee (he/they) is a driving force behind the band’s high-energy sound, delivering precision and aggression on the drums that bring groove and intensity to every track. Jay Vesper (they/them) offers dynamic, fluid basslines that anchor the music with precision, while John Chavez (he/him) on rhythm guitar adds the heavy riffs that pummel the audience with raw power.

As a unified band, Cosmic Kitten creates a seamless blend of gritty 90s grunge and modern rock energy. They’ve released three full-length albums, including , recorded by (known for his work on The Offspring’s Smash), and have opened for legendary acts like Redd Kross, The Dickies, Alice Bag, Avengers, and Mike Watt, self-booking tours across the US and UK. , released in 2023, was recorded by Pedro Mancillas and Steve Moriarty of The Gits, and mastered by the legendary Jack Endino, the producer behind Nirvana’s Bleach. 

Their self-titled, Cosmic Kitten, will be the band’s fifth full-length LP however, their very first on the San Francisco label . This album delves into themes of existential struggle, emotional emptiness, and the desire for revenge or relief from pain caused by others. It explores moments of confusion, self-reflection, and the realization of how personal choices impact others. There’s also an underlying theme of finding motivation to rise above challenges, using anger as a source of strength and empowerment. 

Cosmic Kitten began working on their self-titled unknowingly after they released their “Your Insult” single in Sept. 2024. While on tour promoting Laugh of a Lifetime and the release of “Your Insult,” Psyched! Records quickly took notice of the powerhouse and asked to sign the quartet. The band had some new songs under their belt, most unfinished and timid to get to the finish line however, due to some personal life changes and the recent signing, the band got together and worked harder than ever as a collective to create something unapologetic and brutally honest. They reached out to Alex Edkins (METZ) with little hope that he would be interested in producing the band but to their surprise, he was all in. Edkins brought along Ben Greenberg (Uniform) to engineer, and the noise rock family gathered at in Los Angeles, CA for one week to record. After everything naturally fell into place, Graham Walsh very abrasively yet, neatly mixed the record. Cosmic Kitten once again took their work to Jack Endino to get mastered– a rather perfect fit.

Cosmic Kitten continues to make their mark as a cohesive, collaborative force in the LA and OC music scenes—far from just backing any one member, but thriving together as a powerful whole.

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