Neighbor to the Golden State, Oregon is a long drive away from where I sit on a bus in midday LA traffic taking in the smell of late Spring B.O. To be in Oregon would mean enjoying doga, bacon pastries and wide spread slumber party staples. All this boasted upon by Kiss Kill’s Michelle Leigh. She along with Dusti Outlaw, Jeff Leopard and Bam Bam are Kiss Kill, a self defined “queer fronted” band for fans of Liz Phair and Juliana Hatfield will want to indulge in. amidst day jobs and music, Kiss Kill were able to dish about everything from the serious side of suicide to the comical side of Saturday morning cartoons.

Kendra: Were you ever worried about being constricted or placed in a niche market by classifying Kiss Kill as a “queer fronted” band?

Michelle & Dusti: We have no problem being packaged, processed, and placed into a niche market. We want people who can relate to our music to listen and connect on a deeper level. In fact we were anticipating, even hoping, that starting off niche would then catapulted us into mainstream… kind of like Ani Difranco.

Kendra: For me we all have the right to love and be with whoever makes us happy, but that’s not the case with everyone. Do you have any advice for anyone terrified to be themselves?

Michelle & Dusti: I spent most of my adolescence hiding from who I am and at times, suicide seemed to be the only logical answer to make the suffering disappear. Having discovered that living according to one’s authentic self brings true joy, it is clear that concealing one’s truth according to societal expectance is actually choosing a life of sorrow. There will always be people who discriminate and judge based on their own insecurities and fear. The trick is to surround one’s self with others that promote positive esteem and to always remember that it does really get better.

Kendra: Back to the music, latest album Keychain Pistols. If you had the task to explain the album as a classic slumber party game, which would it be and why?

Michelle & Dusti: Spin- the-bottle, but the girl-on-girl version.

Kendra: I had the pleasure of reviewing Keychain Pistols in which I said the title track would inspire many tattoos based on the imagery of the title alone. Which leads me to; do you or any of the other Kiss Kills have band tats?

Michelle & Dusti: No, however we both have lyrics from their respective favorite musicians. You also mentioned how lover’s should never tattoo their mates’ name yet we have braved fate, and so far broken that curse!

Kendra: Let’s hope you all continue to prove me wrong. But yes, lyrics are always my favorite band tattoos. What are the ones you guys have?

Michelle & Dusti: Dusti’s by Melissa Ferrick, “If this as hard as it gets, you’ve got a fighting chance.” And Michelle’s is by Jann Arden, “ There will be no consolation prize this time the bone is broken clean. My heart is barely hanging by a thread. Why are you weeping.”

Kendra: I noticed you have a lot of strong women as influences. As women we could go on for days about the bias’ women is music face, but how do you hope Kiss Kill helps break down some of the walls that still exist for women in the music industry?

Michelle & Dusti: At this point in our career as a band, we are still battling against trying to break out in general; though we have experienced our fair share of bias being a chick/queer-fronted band. There have been many a redneck douche bag heckling from their seats or calling out the age old question: “Can I watch?” But perhaps the most frustrating aspect of being female musicians is the reaction and treatment we receive from other women. I think that women in general have a scarcity mentality wherein we are all fighting for that one female-fronted slot, so we have to throw each other under the bus to ensure our spot in the lineup. What’s terrible is that if women were to band together and support one another, we wouldn’t have to claw and scratch our way to the top.

Kendra: However there are a lot of female fronted bands that are crafted by labels. Paramore recently got outed as being less organic than we all had believed. Do you have any thoughts on that

Michelle & Dusti: People take themselves too seriously. We are serious musicians- in the sense that we take pride in what we do, we practice hard, and play as professionals. But that being said, I have no problem being crafted and processed by labels and managers.  I want people to hear my music so if I have to wear a dress made entirely out of meat well then by George bring on the bacon.

Kendra: In the end, nothing but good things to say about my loves in Paramore…which takes me to another subject that only garners positivity, Oregon. Can you even say anything bad about Portland?

Michelle & Dusti: Portland is quite possibly the greatest city on earth. We have lived her for six years and can’t imagine living anywhere else. The diverse community camaraderie is outstanding. I mean where else can you smoke organic locally-grown hookah, eat bacon maple donuts, and have a city wide pillow fight- all while your dog takes his weekly doga class?

Kendra: Will you all be leaving the homestead and touring in the latter half of 2011? 

Michelle & Dusti: Unfortunately all members of Kiss Kill have day jobs. It is difficult to therefore coordinate any sort of major cross-country tour extravaganza. However, we are hoping to book a mini southwest tour later on this fall. Mesa, AZ watch out!

Kendra: You got a man named Bam Bam in Kiss Kill, so you set yourself up to be asked about your favorite cartoon growing up?

Michelle: Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers

Dusti: Looney Tunes

Jeff: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Troy (Bam Bam): Speed Racer

Kendra: Lastly, if your kiss was lethal and murder was legal…who would your first victim be?

Michelle & Dusti: Storm Large. Not that I wish ill upon her, but oh to have my lips caress hers…