++tobi_kai//and_the

6.06.08

Cruisin' Rte. 66
St. Louis, MO
w/ Waterstreet, The Analysts, Streetside Symphony and Marie McGilvray

doors 7:00
show 8:00
21 and up
$5 cover

6.13.08

Cicero's
St. Louis, MO
w/ My Other Side and The Virginia Company

doors 8:30
show 9:00

16 and up
$5 cover ($8 under 21)

Tobi Kai and the Strays

It’s the same old story. Boys meet girl. Girl rocks boys. Boys and girl hook up and vow to remind everyone what rock n’ roll is supposed to be. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it at least five or six times … but not like this.

Born in Tokyo and transplanted from city to city, country to country, until finally landing in St. Louis, MO; Tobi delivers a straight shot punch to the gut, leaving a bruise that is as equally raw and ugly as it is beautiful. It’s more Gwen Stefani meets Lemmy … think Wendy O’ Williams with a great voice. It’s rock n’ roll the way it’s supposed to be: aggressive, emotive, violent and sexy.

And, at an average height of 6’4”, the Strays may already be the biggest band on the planet; but they show no signs of settling. Four first-name-only guys, who have risen from the dust of several prominent St. Louis bands, the Strays are equal parts Aerosmith, MC5, Guns n’ Roses, Rolling Stones and the Ramones. Their live show is powerful and loose. It sneaks up on you like a round of Jaeger bombs that were charged to your bar tab while your back was turned. It’s gritty rock n’ roll … hard, solid, sleazy and honest … the perfect backdrop for Tobi’s from-the-heart meets from-the-hip lyrics.

In a single sentence … It’s what you’ve been missing.

Tobi Kai and the Strays are … Tobi Kai – Vocals, Craig - Guitars/Vocals, Ryan - Guitars/Vocals, Kevin - Bass/Vocals, Jeff - Drums/Vocals.

The album is Gutter Kitten. In stores now.

You can also visit our myspace site at www.myspace.com/tobikaiandthestrays for addl information.

band photos

press and reviews

1/11/05
Reviews from our CD Baby page.....

Full on old school Rock N Roll
Reviewer: Rich G.
This album rocks all the way through. Very solid musicianship. At first listen, it's obvious that The Strays are veterans of the industry. This is the type of album that gets made when a talented band has full control over a project without the oversight of a label that doesn't have the first clue about good music. The Joan Jett and Guns N Roses analogy fits perfectly. Hats off to Jeff and Craig for sitting in at the Stir acoustic set at the Pagent on November 26th. You did an old time Stir fan proud.

Best production/writing/recording/musicianship in a long long time - ROCKS!
Reviewer: Johnny B
Gutter Kitten is a musical full-nelson that doesn't let you go from front to back. EVERY song is fantastic and judging by the number of different writers must have been quite hard to keep so cohesive from a production standpoint. Tobi sings and growls her ass off and sounds viciously sexy.It sounds expensive and should make this band quite a bit of money. BUY GUTTER KITTEN and be able to say you were one of the first to hear this record.

No Wussy Rock!
Reviewer: Scott D
Gutter Kitten is rock with a hard edge. If you want bland pop-rock that doesn't stand out, then turn on your radio. If you want to hear real rock, call the radio station and tell them to play this album!

12/30/05
"Three to See"
Playback STL

Good guitar rock bands keep turning up on the St. Louis music scene, and Tobi Kai and the Strays is certainly one of these. Lead singer Tobi Kai is a vocalist who really knows how to put on a great show. She has the ultimate strong voice, perfectly suited for a heavy rock band, and she sings over distorted guitar parts perfectly. Her overall presence onstage is equally as strong, and it’s fun to listen to her address the crowd between songs; she is consistently entertaining. Of course, the Strays are great musicians, as well; the energy and hard-hitting guitar sound they bring to the stage is quite impressive. It’s hard not to get hooked on the catchy guitar riffs and solid rhythms. You won’t want to miss the band’s cover of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades”—truly a delight.

- John Kujawski, Playback STL

click here to read the review on www.playbackstl.com

Top Ten Cover Tunes by Original Local Bands

3. Tobi Kai and the Strays: “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead

12/28/05
"In With the New - new releases we didn't throw out with the old"
Riverfront Times A to Z

St. Louis-via-Singapore singer Tobi Kai eats faux-rockers like Ashlee Simpson for lunch with her nicotine-spotted voice, while her backing band the Strays unleashes hot licks taken from the AC/DC school of hard rocks and nights informed by Jager-bombs and bar tabs bigger than your rent. Her debut, Gutter Kitten, conjures snot-punks like the Muffs (especially "Pretty When You're Dead") or the Runaways; the snarling riff hurricane "Flat On The Floor" comes highly recommended.

- Annie Zeleski, Riverfront Times

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/Issues/mostrecent/music/atoz.html

12/12/05
"Gutter Kitten review in All Access Magazine"

'Gutter Kitten' the ball busting debut from Tobi Kai and The Strays is loud rock and roll at its absolute best! The band is made up of and fueled by, Tobi Kai on Vocals, Craig Sheehan on Guitars/Vocals, Kevin Gagnepain on Bass/Vocals Jeff Bradley on Drums/Vocals and Ryan Kelley - Guitars/Vocals. Just imagine if Joan Jett and the boys from Guns 'N' Roses hooked up and kicked out the jams. 'Gutter Kitten' is a shot in the arm for the sorry state of today's rock music scene. What Tobi and the boys bring to the table is kick ass attitude, good songs and creative musicianship. Every song on this album is an absolute masterpiece. From "Flat On The Floor" to the killer cover of the Bowie penned rocker, "Queen Bitch" to "Don't Follow Me", every song shines and is guaranteed to get your rocks off. Everything about this album R-O-C-K-S, from the cool artwork, the amazingly solid rock and roll. That is dirty, sweaty, young, bad ass attitude that is real. Very few albums have the consistency of this album. It's all raw and uncut rock and roll straight through. If you like hard rock, rock in general, or just music than you MUST have this, 'GUTTER KITTEN' is an essential album for the ages.
Only if there more band's like Tobi Kai and The Strays, kid's today would know a thing about REAL ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC!! I know I said it once already, but it's worth saying again, Tobi Kai and The Strays are guaranteed to GET YOUR ROCKS OFF!

- Tony Sison, All Access Magazine

Tony Sison, aka The Atomic Chaser
President, Dedicated Rocker Productions
Home Of The Atomic Chaser's Rockers & Rollers Webzine
http://atomicchaser.journalspace.com/
ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE, Contributing Writer
http://allaccessmagazine.com/

12/12/05
"Gutter Kitten review on The Audio Nut website"

Tobi Kai & The Strays have been turning heads and catching ears all over the world of music. The group is comprised of impressive artists who have displayed some marvelous songwriting skills on this debut release. The opening track, “Flat On The Floor”, has got to be one of my favorite songs of 2005. Other notable tracks include, “Automatic”, “Losing Myself”, and “Don’t Follow Me”. Tobi Kai has as much attitude and grit in her voice as some legends that have preceded her such as Joan Jett or Janis Joplin. The band as a whole can genuinely hold their own when it comes to bringing the rock. This is a very, very good disc and if you are into bands like L7, The Donnas, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts or Red Aunts I strongly urge you to pick up Gutter Kitten.

http://www.entertainmentnutz.com/music/audio_nut/index.htm/