The four women of Banshee in the Kitchen take traditional Celtic music and add a contemporary edge — a shot of unapologetic “now” to compliment the “then.” It’s been six years since they last spoke to the News, and they play Boulevard Music this week, so we spoke to them about what they have in store…
What have you been up to since we spoke in 2017?
We had a gig on March 16, 2020. It was up in Kernville – a little wine bar filled with friends and family. It was absolutely lovely. The next day, everything shut down. All our gigs were cancelled. Jill, whose birthday is on March 17, says it’s the first time in 25 years she hasn’t played music with the band on that day. It was pretty grim. Then, at some point in 2021 we decided to create our own quarantine pod. The first day we all finally met to practice was pure bliss. Our first post-pandemic performance was St. Patrick’s Day, 2022. It was in the huge garden attached to a wine bar in Bako. Another wine bar. Hm.
Since then, we’ve been performing pretty regularly. We had a tour through Northern Cal and Oregon in 2023, which was great. We played in all sorts of venues — backyards, barns, concert halls, dive bars (the dive bar had a really great sound system and a striptease pole front and center).
Describe your sound…
Joyful. We love taking traditional tunes from all parts of the Celtic world and infusing them with other elements. A fiddle tune playing over the Sweet Home Alabama riff. A set with the word “Wizard” in the title starting with an homage to Harry Potter, featuring the “Celtic” xylophone. We change keys in the middle of tunes. Pair something really, really old with something contemporary. That sort of thing.
What are your career highlights so far?
Well, it’s hard to beat the strip tease pole…
Do you have new recorded music available?
Since we last spoke, we released a recording called The Last Pint — Not. We’re thinking about what we’d put on another album.
What are your favorite memories of performing at Boulevard?
Having Mike as our sound guy. He really gets the most out of our instruments. Getting to catch up with Gary. His dad jokes. Watching the place transform from full-on music store to concert hall.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
A whole bunch of new concoctions. And a few of the old ones that we really love.
What else do you have coming up?
We’ll be at the Scottish Highland games in San Diego the weekend of June 22-23. That’s our next big thing.
Banshee in the Kitchen performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information about the show and bansheeinthekitchen.com for more about the artist.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Captain Danger, Patrolled By Radar, Mike Stinson, KKAT,, and more. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.