The Kirby Grips

Blending luminous 1960s pop melodies with the drive of punk rock, funk, and assorted contemporary hybrids, the Kirby Grips fashion inventive and artistic songs. The trio originated in San Francisco in 1995 with the goal of forging a distinctive, luminous strain of alternative pop. Comprising vocalist and guitarist China Tamblyn, bassist Liz Byrne, and drummer Michele Kappel, they began performing across Bay Area clubs and soon drew consistently enthusiastic responses. Their material paired infectious sonic textures with incisive, unflinching lyrics that conveyed the group’s singular character rather than simply supplying melodies. Rapidly securing a foothold in San Francisco’s alternative circuit, the band moved on to preparing its earliest recordings. Following the release of its debut 7-inch single Fireman, the group entered the studio to cut the EP The Celery Stalks at Night. The Cherry Stem Concertos surfaced in 2000, and shortly afterward the Kirby Grips contributed to the Sympathy for the Record Industry collection How Many Bands Does It Take to Screw Up a Blondie Compilation.