Every time someone might say Kill Hannah is down, they jump up with a vengeance and scoff in their scrappy Chicago way that they were just taking a breather.

The departure of guitarist Jonny Radtke — who left the band on good terms after nearly ten years to pursue his own projects — has left many fans biting their nails and fretting for the future of the beloved band.

No need to worry.  The boys tore through an energetic set on Monday night at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, drawing on the support of friends, longtime fans, and new converts from the ardent crowd of Lacuna Coil fans there for the headliner.  (The strange mix of bands on the bill definitely led to an interesting demographic in the audience.)

KH immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention by opening with their popular first single, “Kennedy,” then continued with high-energy, rock-driven songs like “Believer,” and new tracks from their upcoming album due out this fall, such as “Acid Rain” and “Strobe Lights.”

Long-time fans who have heard the old bootleg version of the song “New York City Speed” will not be disappointed by the reworked and polished version of the track.  Oklahoma’s own DJ/producer/wunderkind John Bourke helped refine a great song concept into an aggressive anthem for this generation’s party set.  The song has “single” written all over it.

Another never-officially-released fan favorite has also been reworked and brought the show toward its frenzied conclusion.  “Welcome to Chicago, Motherf+cker” once saw the light of day tacked onto an older Kill Hannah release, but the band brought the song into the new millennium and gave it that final polish that will guarantee its status as a crowd pleaser for years to come.

Despite admittedly little rehearsal time, the band showed little sign of road rust.  Radtke’s replacement on this tour, a dreadlocked whip of energy with a hundred-watt smile named Gil Baram, seemed comfortable with Kill Hannah’s dynamic, and he jammed out an enthusiastic performance.  (The many young girls in the audience were quite vocal in their approval.)  The few miscues and nuances that were glaring only to a seasoned Kill Hannah fan will certainly be ironed out in coming shows.

(And yes, he’s a very nice guy as well.)

The entire band spoke enthusiastically about the new record, called “Wake Up The Sleepers” after a line from “Strobe Lights.”  They’ve moved away from dance-rock (think “Crazy Angel” or “Boys and Girls” – neither of which appeared on the night’s set list) to focus more on their electronic rock  and New Wave influences.  Those dance beats have taken a supporting role to the crunchy, layered guitars and refreshingly in-your-face vocals.

Kill Hannah have reached back into their roots to effect this next evolution to their sound.  Their energy and hopes are high, and it’s obvious the boys from Chicago aren’t through leaving their mark on the modern rock scene.  If you’re a Kill Hannah fan, rest assured — the band is hopeful, determined, and they sound great.

Wake up the sleepers, indeed.

For another take on the show, and the following show, check out Miss Julie M. T.’s writeup at Gossip [&] The Devil.

Catch Kill Hannah on tour with Lacuna Coil through July.