Lesbian
Moms Rock at Mamapalooza(page 2) by Robert Urban, May 30, 2005
Placenta
Definitions of sexual-orientation (if not of civilization
itself) break down and crumble before phenomenon like
the California-based punk rock group Placenta.
Their
website
says it best: “Tired of music dominated by impressario-backed,
barely pubescent girls touted as 'edgy?' Placenta
has been toiling in a basement in Oakland to bring
forth pro-adult, pro-woman, pro-sex and pro-breastfeeding
hard rock music that is witty, yet still leaves listeners
feeling blissfully stupid and sweaty. Unable to rely
on stylists, PR firms, pyrotechnics or MTV, Placenta
still manages to impress the teenagers across the
street, and that ain't bad."
Placenta
has two lesbian band members: KJEtset and kt. Lead guitarist
KJEtset has been playing since age 10, and considers herself
a mix of “Angus Young meets Joan
Jett with a little Anne Sexton plus a Hendrix vibe married
to La La La Human Steps with some Bakini Kill and Hole thrown
in for flavor, plus some kick ass Prince and don't forget
Black Sabbath, plus Mary Magdelene with a CHERRY ON TOP!”
Drummer
Karen Toloui, known as "kt," has been playing
music since childhood. She decided she needed more noise
in her life a few years ago and took up the drums, “an
instrument never suggested as a possible choice to play
when I was younger.” When not drumming, she's busy
keeping track of her fecund daughters who have given her
four grandchildren. kt is ready to rock and tries to make
a difference for moms everywhere.
Placenta’s
new CD Afterbirth contains songs like “Super
Gender-Bender":
I
know that I’m a girl but / Not sure if I’m
straight or gay
But under your Super Powers / I’ll try it any way
I’ll do it upside-down and / Hangin? from your trapeze
Gender Bender, bend my gender / And bring me to my knees
and “Too Much Woman”:
I've
got two jobs two kids, three cats one dog and two rats
I can program in Unix and change my own tire, whatcha
think of that?
Pretty boy you're outta sight, but I've got a novel
to write
You think you can take care of me, When will you ever
see...
I'm too much woman for you
As
Placenta says, "Motherhood gives us lots of material
for rock-n-roll, and we know there are a lot of women
out there who want to hear some music that speaks to their
experience. We fill a gap because we are not 'in the closet'
about being moms! And we're hot!"
JEN/ed
NYC
based lesbian performance artist and mom JEN/ed is
a "renegade poet, active-ist, yogini, performer,
educator, choreographer, published writer and recording
artist." The focus of her work is challenging
people, institutions and perceptions. JEN/ed strives
to invite and encourage individuals to seek and express
their own stories. She does this by sharing with others
the truths she gathers in her travels.
As
her website explains,
“Many American politicians and legislators have
worked and continue to work to 'dumb down' the people
of this country, taking away our rights and ability
to think and speak for ourselves. The only way to
break free from our taught HIS-STORY is to live ones
own.”
After
13 years of motherhood, Jen is finally growing into this
part of her identity. She is moving away from the connotations
of "mom" from her childhood and reclaiming the
importance of this experience. Jen
considers herself, her life-partner Jennifer DeWald and
their son Anthony her “home.” She is proud to
perform on "mom" stages such as Mamapalooza in
New York, and Camp Betty Campout in California.
Of
her participation in this tour, Jen told me, “Mamapalooza
was a great gift to me as I was involved in a little of
the planning and worked as stage manager, as well as performer
for several of the NYC events. This enabled me to meet
and interact with many of those wonderful women from the
time leading up to, and including, the entire festival!”
Jen recently released her first CD: exposed,
a recording of “political, active-ist spoken word
to ‘rile and rally’ and Sanskrit chanting
for peace and healing.” It includes musicians Angela
Jimenez and Denise Barbarita.Jen is also currently writing
a book entitled exhaling fear: a revolutionary journey.
I
also spoke with Alyson Palmer, who was performing
solo for the event. Alyson plays bass for the legendary
all-women band Betty (which has a lesbian member). Alyson
is a mom and a tireless supporter of women in the arts.
Alyson and Betty also played the Women’s Rally in
Washington, D.C. last year and have performed at many
other women’s festivals.
I
met and hung out with even more rock royalty, The Catholic
Girls. In NYC to record their new album, and ready to
embark on a new world tour, the C-girls assured me, with
a twinkle in their eye, that two of them were gay, but
no further information was forthcoming. I did learn that
the Archdiocese in Rhode Island banned them from performing
there because their song "God Made You for Me,"
suggested that God might be a woman.
Finally,
although lesbian camerawoman Liz Rubin isn't a musician,
she took time out from videotaping the event to introduce
me to all the right people. Thanks Liz!
