Monthly news and reviews of queer women in music.
The best part about bands breaking up is when they form new bands, or at least start playing again (sometimes referred to as a “musical project”).
From the ashes of recently deceased bands like Electrelane, The Organ, Triple Creme and Le Tigre comes some great new music that we’re sure to hear more of in 2009.
Former Electrelane guitarist Mia Clarke has a new DJ duo, Dark Habits. Last September, she joined friend Angelina Schmalzried in putting together electro-rock and new wave for regular spinning in bars and nightclubs.
Up in Canada, Katie Sketch (who used to be the frontwoman of the now defunct The Organ) sings in a band called Mermaids. So far there isn’t too much known about the project, as Sketch has also just opened a bar in her hometown of Toronto, but she sings/plays the guitar while her bandmate plays the accordion.
Sketch’s voice and lyrical style is very distinct, so fans of The Organ will most likely be into whatever she does next.
Since Le Tigre went on hiatus, queer member JD Samson has kept busy with her DJ duo MEN, but has continued to create music in a new band with artists Michael O’Neill, Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Emily Roysdon. The group is called Hirsute, and is similar to Le Tigre, but with more guitar and rhythm. No word on when they will actually release anything, but the three songs available so far have been pure electro-pop magic.
New York lesbian band Triple Creme split in 2008, with member Robin Pickering joining the group Luff and Terry Lafrazia becoming part of BIG. Luff, an all-girl alt-rock band, is working on an EP to be released this year.
Live Show Review
Seeing CSS on-stage is like coming out: You know it’s going to be painful, but you just gotta go through it. Seriously, not dancing through their entire set is not an option, so get ready for your back to ache and your heels to hurt.
The Brazillian band is made up of four women and one guy, and three of the girls are queer (guitarist Luiza Sá, guitarist Ana Rezende and guitarist Carolina Parra). Those are some good odds! Singer Lovefoxx is not one of the gays, but she is the only woman I know who can rock a full on unitard and matching headpiece while singing fast-paced songs about making love to Death From Above.
Touring on their second Sub Pop album, Donkey, CSS put on a full-on fantastic show at the Metro in Chicago last month. Playing songs from both albums, including the iTunes commercial track that brought them even more fame, “Music is My Hot Hot Sex,” they played with an energy that is rare to see at 8 p.m. on a Sunday night.
They had an early set to appease the all-ages audience, but once they launched into their high-octane hits like “Move,” there were no complaints except when the encore finished and the house lights came on.
The audience participation was quite entertaining itself, as Lovefoxx frequently flung herself into the middle of the crowd and ask questions, with the correct answer winning the audience member an “internship at Elle Decor Magazine.” When balloons were brought out onto the stage, CSS members flung them out into the audience, and they continued back and forth throughout several songs.
A CSS party is one party you don’t want to miss when it happens in your town. Invite all your friends!
Releases Reviewed
Speaking of bands breaking up, Chicago-based band Office has called it quits, but not before releasing one last album. Mecca has been made available for free digital download on queer singer Scott Mason’s website. (He also notes that lesbian drummer Erica Corniel and two other bandmates are going on to form a yet-unnamed band.)
Mecca is the follow-up to 2007’s major label release. It’s bittersweet listening to the album, as it shows the brilliant indie-pop charm that the band has maintained throughout its revolving line-up.
From the upbeat opening track “Sticky Dew” to the ’50s-inspired harmonious “Exit You, Enter Me,” Corniel’s drumming is the pacemaker, and one of the most integral parts of the band. I’m looking to forward to what’s coming from her in the future. Perhaps a reuniting of her former all-girl band, Twat Vibe?
Chris Pureka’s new EP, Chimera, features seven songs, two of which are live versions of previously released songs (“31 and Live,” “Come Back Home,” both from 2006’s Dryland).
The studio version of “Hold it Together” is the most soulful track, with Pureka’s alto vocals swimming slowly along the rhythm of the guitar and bass. In comparison, the live “31 and Live” sounds somewhat bland. “Come Back Home,” however, has just as good a quality as the studio recordings.
While Pureka’s tracks aren’t blatantly lesbian-specific, there’s always a tender tone that insinuate her songs are about relationships with women and living life as an outsider. The alt-tinged acoustic folk EP comes out Jan. 20.
For more songs you might be familiar with, check out Playlist: The Very Best of the Indigo Girls this month. The compilation includes 14 of mainstream fan favorites, including “Gailileo,” “Kid Fears,” and -you guessed it – “Closer to Fine.”
If you’re not a fan of the Indigo Girls but are interested in hearing what some of the fuss is about, the Playlist compilation might be a good place to start. If you’re someone who owns all of their recordings already, it’s well worth skipping. There’s nothing new on the CD, and it’s being released by Sony, which means the label will be most likely profiting more than the women themselves. You can save your ten bucks for when their new album comes out this spring.
News and Notes
Yo Majesty is on tour this winter with the Floacist of the R&B duo Floetry.
Missy Higgins has contributed to a song on fellow Aussie singer/songwriter Ben Lee’s new album, The Rebirth of Venus. that will be released on Feb. 10.
An Horse’s Rearrange Beds will be officially released and widely distributed on label Q Prime on Feb. 10. It was previously only available with the band on tour or for download on iTunes.
Uh Huh Her are currently writing material for upcoming EPs and records and have also hinted at the release of an acoustic album in the near future.
Team Gina was named one of the best new Seattle Bands in Seattle Magazine’s December issue.
On Feb. 3, k.d. lang releases a DVD of her 2008 performance Live in London with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
