KITTIE, KINGDOM OF GIANTS, GORE. In Houston, TX With Photos!

Monday, June 22, 2026 at 11:46 AM

By Larry Petro @petrofyed

Canadian Quartet Brings The Legacy Of Fire Tour To The House Of Blues On June 16th
All Live Photos By Larry Petro/Petrofyed Photography

It’s hard to believe that three decades have passed since the formation of Canada’s pioneering all-female metal outfit KITTIE, and more than 25 years since the release of their breakthrough debut album, Spit. Throughout that journey, KNAC.COM has maintained a longstanding relationship with the band—from helping introduce their music to a wider audience through substantial airplay to covering countless live performances, album releases, and interviews. Given that history, it seemed only fitting for KNAC.COM to be on hand when KITTIE brought their Legacy of Fire 30th Anniversary Tour to the House of Blues in Houston, Texas, on June 16.

The evening opened with a touch of hometown flavor courtesy of GORE., fronted by the captivating Haley Roughton, who has local ties to the area. Judging by the enthusiastic response from the crowd, the band had no shortage of supporters in attendance. Launching into a concise but impactful six-song set, GORE. opened with “Wrath” from last year’s EP If You Do Not Fear Me…, quickly followed by “Sepsis.”

Comprised of Roughton, bassist Devin Birchfield, guitarist Alex Reyes, and drummer Wills Weller, the band wasted no time making an impression. Their energetic performance immediately ignited the audience, while Roughton’s remarkable vocal versatility proved particularly striking. Effortlessly transitioning from soaring, melodic passages reminiscent of Amy Lee to ferocious growls akin to Alissa White-Gluz, she demonstrated a range that commanded attention throughout the set. If GORE. isn’t already on your radar, they should be.

Setlist:

"Wrath"
"Sepsis"
"Pray"
"Doomsday"
"Like You Meant It"
"Babylon"

https://www.facebook.com/gore.theband/
https://www.instagram.com/gore.theband/?hl=en

The intensity remained high as Sacramento metalcore veterans KINGDOM OF GIANTS took the stage. Wasting no time, they erupted into the thunderous “Asphalt” from their 2024 EP Bleeding Star. Maintaining relentless momentum, the band barreled through “Wasted Space” and “Bleach,” showcasing the dynamic vocal interplay between frontman Dana Willax and bassist/clean vocalist JT Gutierrez.

Willax immediately connected with the crowd, encouraging multiple circle pits throughout the set as fans enthusiastically responded. Highlights included crushing renditions of “Collide,” “Night Shift,” and set closer “Wayfinder.” More than 15 years into their career, KINGDOM OF GIANTS continue to perform with the hunger and intensity of a band still on the rise, showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.

Setlist:

"Asphalt"
"Wasted Space"
"Bleach"
"Respawn"
"Collide"
"Burner"
"Smoke"
"Night Shift"
"Digital Hell"
"Wayfinder"

https://www.facebook.com/kingdomofgiants/
https://www.instagram.com/kingdomofgiants/?hl=en

Time has done little to diminish the ferocity of KITTIE. Although members of the band have openly admitted feeling as though they had “overstayed their welcome” during certain periods of their career, the release of 2024’s Fire quickly proved that fan interest remained stronger than ever. That renewed enthusiasm carried into 2025 with the release of Spit XXV, a four-song EP featuring re-recorded tracks from their landmark debut, produced once again by original producer Garth Richardson. Judging by the broad age range of attendees in Houston, KITTIE has continued to attract new generations of fans while maintaining the loyalty of those who have supported them from the beginning.

The band made an immediate statement when they took the stage at 9:30 p.m., opening with the title track from Fire before charging directly into “I’ve Failed You” and “Cut Throat.” From that moment forward, circle pits formed almost nonstop while a steady stream of crowd surfers made their way to the barricade.

The 20-song set offered an impressive cross-section of the band’s extensive catalog, drawing material from six of their seven studio albums. The lone omission was 2007’s Funeral for Yesterday, while the majority of the evening’s sonic devastation came from Spit, Oracle, I’ve Failed You, and Fire. Between-song banter was kept to an absolute minimum, with KITTIE wisely allowing the music to speak for itself through fan favorites such as “Spit,” “Do You Think I’m a Whore,” “Empires (Part 2),” “Pain,” “Suck,” “Vultures,” and “Mouthful of Poison.”

The current lineup featured founding sisters Morgan Lander (vocals) and Mercedes Lander (drums), alongside longtime guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Rachel G, who filled in for on-again, off-again member Ivy Jenkins, unable to participate in the tour due to family commitments. The chemistry onstage was undeniable. McLeod and Rachel G, in particular, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, frequently exchanging smiles as wave after wave of fans surfed overhead.

The evening reached its climax during the two-song encore of “Brackish” and “Eyes Wide Open,” which sent the already energized crowd into a final frenzy. Seventy-five minutes after taking the stage, KITTIE exited to thunderous applause, leaving Houston’s metal faithful exhausted, exhilarated, and thoroughly satisfied.

The Legacy of Fire tour concludes with a hometown performance in Montreal on June 27, but fans will have additional opportunities to catch the band later this year when they appear at the Summer of ’99 And Beyond Festival in Illinois this July and at Sick New World in Texas this October.

Remaining Dates:

June 23: New York, NY – Irving Plaza
June 24: Worcester, MA – The Palladium
June 26: Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
June 27: Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
July 18–19: Tinley Park, IL – Summer of '99 and Beyond Festival
October 24: Fort Worth, TX – Sick New World Texas

Setlist:

"Fire"
"I've Failed You"
"Cut Throat"
"Oracle"
"Spit"
"Do You Think I'm a Whore"
"Ugly"
"Empires (Part 2)"
"We Are Shadows"
"Pain"
"What I Always Wanted"
"Suck"
"Burning Bridges"
"Come Undone"
"We Are the Lamb"
"Vultures"
"Charlotte"
"Mouthful of Poison"