BIOGRAPHY UK quartet Kaito continue to bring fresh energy to an under-represented genre with their 2nd LP 'BAND RED' - catchy in the best sense of 'pop' then busting the melodies to shreds with impeccable noise. Amidst the mayhem, however, they never lose the rare sense of tunefulness, beating down the noise for noise sake crowd. Formed in Norwich/Brighton U.K in 1998, the band's riotous live shows have seen them steadily gaining a huge underground following before releasing a series of acclaimed 7" singles. Since the release of their first full length record 'you've seen us you must have seen us' on Fierce Panda and Devilinthewoods, - 2001 they have completed three successful US tours and several UK jaunts. The band has recorded a Radio 1 session for John Peel as well as receiving airplay on Steve Lamacq's evening session, and John Kennedy and Claire Sturgess' shows for XFM. In the US Kaito clinched the no. 1 spot in the alternative indie chart above such luminaries as Built to Spill, and after performing at the SWSX festival in Austin, Texas, Kaito were dubbed 'the' band to watch in 2003 by New Yorks Time Out magazine. They have recorded numerous live sessions for U.S radio including Seattles KEXP and their two videos to date, 'Go' shot in LA has had several showings on 120 minutes in the US, whilst 'Shoot shoot' shot in London was repeatedly shown on MTV2 in Europe at the point of the release of their follow up e.p 'Montigola Underground' (DIW). In 2002 Bands such as Clinic , The Datsuns and the Polyphonic Spree asked Kaito to join them on tour, both Stateside and in the UK. Other support and tours include Imperial Teen, The pattern, The kingsbury Manx, Radar Bros, Folk Implosion, Seafood, Apples in Stereo Death Cab for Cutie and Ikara Colt. The band are Niki Colk on main vocals and guitar. Dave Lake on guitar/vocal, Gemma Cullingford on Bass/ vocal and Dieta Quantrill drum/ vocal. Their willingness to explore sound owes as much to their varied musical influences as to their four personalities. They take samples of the sound of things breaking and make you want to dance, and they chant their rants like Brassy's Muffin Spencer and Huggy bear, but still retain the innovative qualities of Clinic and Sonic Youth. One thing's for sure, Kaito are punk in their boundless spirit, but undeniably pop in their execution. On completion of their second record 'Band Red' recorded at The Sickroom, co-produced by Owen Turner of Magoo (Chemikal underground/ Global Warming) and mastered at Abbey Rd- Kaito will be headlining the Buffalo Bar in London on February 22nd for Everett True's Careless Talk Cost Lives magazine, followed by appearances at the SXSW festival in Austin Texas in March and All Tomorrow's Parties in LA as part of a full US tour in June to promote their release out on SpinArt Records (NYC) on May 20th 2003 . US Booking: BIG SHOT / Email: kevin@bigshottouring.com / Website:www.bigshottouring.com US Label: SpinArt Records / Website:www.spinartrecords.com UK Booking: THE AGENCY GROUP Email: EdStringfellow@theagencygroup.com / Website:www.theagencygroup.com UK Label:Blast First/Mute / Website:Blast First/Mute (or www.mute.com) Photo Copyright © Steve Gullick