Kiss Kiss

Kiss Kiss formed as an experimental indie rock band in New York City. The name originates from Roald Dahl's anthology of short horror stories, and the ensemble distinguishes itself through heavy deployment of electric violin amid a standard indie rock and punk configuration. Their approach fuses punk rock, math rock, and Eastern European folk currents, yet pronounced pop instincts render the results both inviting and demanding, suggesting a faintly ornate hybrid of Cursive, Thursday, and Gogol Bordello.

Drummer Jared Karns and singer Joshua Benash established the group in 2003 during their time at State University of New York at Purchase. Early personnel shifts persisted until the roster stabilized in 2004 with violinist Rebecca Schlappich, bassist Pat Lamothe, and Mike Abiuso, the latter joining Benash on guitar and synthesizer. In June 2007 bassist Pat Lamothe departed to resume college studies, yielding his role to Sam Oatts, who in turn gave way to Patrick Southern ahead of the third album's 2008 recording sessions.

The band tracked its self-titled debut EP and issued it through New Jersey indie label Eyeball Records in October 2005; that imprint had previously signed My Chemical Romance and Thursday. Work with producer D. James Goodwin, known for his efforts with Murder by Death and the Number Twelve Looks Like You, produced the first full-length album, Reality vs. the Optimist. A teaser EP drawn from those sessions appeared for free download via the band's social networking pages in December, and after an unauthorized online leak the complete album followed on paid digital platforms on December 26. Eyeball Records formally released Reality vs. the Optimist in February 2007. Later that December the group offered the Christmas EP Kiss Kissmas as a free download, featuring a reworking of "Frosty the Snowman" titled "Frosty the Puddleman." Eyeball Records put out the second album, The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left, in July 2009.