Chainsaw Kittens To Play First Show In Nearly A Decade For Opolis 15th Anniversary

Updated September 7th

“What I’d like to think is that the Chainsaw Kittens are still relevant in some way,” the alt rock progenitors’ frontman Tyson Todd Meade said with a laugh to NewsOK last month. Best known for their 1992 Butch Vig-produced cult classic Flipped Out in Singapore (and its single “High in High School” – Spike Jonze’s music video directorial debut!), the Kittens disbanded in 2000 and have played just one proper gig since: 2008’s inaugural Norman Music Festival. “There was a few years ago when everybody happened to be at a show that I was playing,” Tyson says. “They jumped on stage and played a few songs – surprised me as much as they surprised everyone else!” Unfortunately the reunion is dampered by drummer Eric Harmon having to pull-out, though for the band’s three other members (Tyson Meade, Trent Bell and Matt Johnson) the reunion will go on as planned. The band announced yesterday:

“We were preparing for our show at the Opolis and Eric had some serious health issues arise.
We thought about canceling the show because it obviously won’t be the same without Eric.
With some last minute help from some friends we’ve decided to do the show.
We will be setting up an area for donations to help Eric out if anyone wants to contribute. We will also have t-shirts and posters for sale with all proceeds going to help Eric.”

Headlining September 7th, the Chainsaw Kittens’ reunion is part of Opolis’ three-day 15th anniversary celebration at 113 N Crawford scheduled to coincidence with September’s Second Friday Norman Art Walk. The festival is being presented by Norman Arts Council with support from The Garage, The Spy FM, Fowler Automotive and Guestroom Records. Three-day passes are just $15 at Ticketstorm.com, with $1 of each ticket going to the Norman Arts Council’s Arts Education Scholarship.

Flaming Lips fwend New Fumes, Austin’s The Octopus Project, Japanese punk bands Mugen Hoso and Oklahoma City folk rockers Horse Thief top the rest of the bill, which also features Helen Kelter Skelter, Tallows, Ester Drang, Rainbows Are Free, Sex Snobs, Bowlsey and others. The full schedule is below (followed by two vintage Rolling Stone articles on the Kittens, and one from The BOB – for old times’ sake