WELCOME TO THE
OF
WHO THE F IS STUNTDRIVER
Theatrical, absurd & whimsically dark, STUNTDRIVER is an electro-rock performance art-driven spectacle that’s out to woo, humor and sway you out of your shell. It was formed in 2018 by performance artist/musicmaker Kym Priess to accompany a wild, immersive multi-media production complete with actors, musicians and a Yellow Brick Road-like set in LA. That version was immediately distilled into a larger-than-life “band” version, all interactive elements in tact — unabashed audience interaction, a human tunnel - always a big hit, even for the shy - plastic wrapping and yellow sponges.
In the post-pandemic world, the feverishly fun act takes many forms - solo, duo and full band with backup dancers. But whatever the format, one can always expect total immersion into the candid, occasionally raunchy STDR world, playfully examining the age-old battle of Light and Dark, complete with “Diva” Knievel white racecar suits, gold helmets, Bladerunner-inspired makeup, Janet Jackson-like choreography, and a dark, yet infectious, electroclash rock opera vibe that makes everyone feel like they’re on the same punk rock team, whilst being under an intergalactic spell.
In fact, this summer, STDR does it solo-style opening for the legend Peaches on a couple of shows for her 20th anniversary of ‘The Teaches of Peaches” tour.
The full concept album "SAGA" was released September 24, 2021 on Rock Hand Records and mastered by Grammy winner, Gavin Lurssen ( Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Social Distortion.) Mike Bloom (Rilo Kiley, Julian Casablancas) makes a guitar cameo on experimental jam “Funeral for a Fantasy.” Most frequent bandmembers are John Avila (Oingo Boingo), and Anton Söder, who are both producers on the record, Sean Burgess (Boneacre, Nightjacket), Jimmy Lucido (Nightmare Air, Electric Six), and Ryan James.
Think Siouxsie Sioux x Rocky Horror x Peaches on the patio of Pee Wee's Playhouse.
ABOUT KYM PRIESS
Kym Priess is an LA-based adventurous, bold multi-media performance and musical artist who is also an actor. Her creations are highly influenced by the Wizard of Oz, the art of drag / disguise / alter egos, vivid imagery, 80s/90s music videos, fairy tales, old comic books, human interaction and rock ’n roll wizardry.
Kym’s work pushes boundaries, forms and comfort levels yet maintains a whimsical, absurd and curious tone. Her multi-disciplinary projects have been seen in music venues, galleries, theaters, non-traditional locations and federal prisons in New York, LA, Amsterdam, San Francisco, Honolulu and Austin since the 1990s.
Since 2017, her main hybrid musical focus has been STUNTDRIVER, an adventure rock spectacle, that straddles the lines of art and rock in a dancy electro-rock way that originally debuted at LA’s Highways Performance Space with a sold-out pair of wild, immersive shows.
Priess has been described as “critical to the existence of the dragon in you” (ComeHereFloyd) and earned comparisons to Siouxsie Sioux and Joan Jett (LaBuzzBand’s Kevin Bronson). This discipline bender’s career took root in the NYU experimental theater world sparking theatrical, comedic, vivid works and a rock opera that was awarded “Best of the Fringe” (SF Fringe Festival). As a musician, Priess has written 300 songs, toured extensively , shared stages with Exene Cervenka and Fishbone and sings backup on William Shatner’s Spirit in the Sky. Priess was born in Austin, Texas, loves roadtrips, tubing down a river and and does her own stunts whenever she can.
