Months ago, I got to spend 24 hours with Jilly Weiss and Russell Simins at their home in Indianapolis. It’s the perfect midwest home with an unbelievable garden, lots of pink flamingos, a record collection I would die for and their adorable elderly cat, Armani. Jilly and Russell met like so many musicians have before but their connection is something magic. They first met in 2013 when We Are Hex and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion played a few shows together. Then, in 2015, the bands went on tour and Jilly and Russell fell in love. “It took awhile but we found a way to be together,” says Jilly. “The first…
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Sharon Jones Brought the Funk (Over 40)
"To see me, the same woman that – the guy from Sony said I was too fat, too black, too short, and too old. And look at me now, you know?”
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“Birth Control” by Reformed Whores
It’s safe to say there’s nothing quite like Reformed Whores around right now. Described as a “filthy musical comedy duo” Reformed Whores sing terribly catchy country songs drenched with raunchy humor. “Birth Control” from their debut album Ladies Don’t Spit provides a little ditty on the importance of birth control. And the music video is a treat to watch as well. Their sophomore album, Don’t Beat Around the Bush was just released in March. Their quick wit and skill as musicians brings country music to a whole new level. You can catch these outlaw ladies at MOTR Pub this Wednesday, April 5th.
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A Q&A with Donna Gaines on a Lifetime of Rock n’ Roll
I recently read Donna Gaines' memoir, A Misfit's Manifesto. Gaines, who has a doctorate in sociology has turned a rock n' roll lifestyle into a career. Having grown up in Long Island, Gaines spent her entire life around music. Her mother, Betty Bradley, was a professional singer and Gaines was drawn to the lifestyle, spending all of her time with musicians.
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“Shadowplay” by Velvet Kills
I always listen to Joy Division when it’s cold out. With the sudden climate change in Cincinnati from 75 degree to 30 degrees in the span of about 12 hours, I was definitely in need of some cold weather music. Velvet Kills, the sleek electropunk darkwave band, does a really badass version of Joy Division’s “Shadowplay.” The European two piece on Θʀ⊿cu⌊⊕ ʀ⋵cøʀɖs adds a sexy spin to the post punk classic. Velvet Kills are put together in such an elegant manner that everything they do exudes style. The video that accompanies their cover is definitely worth watching.
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A Sexy Sunday Morning: Lydia Lunch and Jonnine Standish with Rowland S. Howard
It’s pretty obvious I’m obsessed with duets right now. I’ve been pretty deep into Rowland S. Howard‘s library this past month and two of my favorite songs are made totally sexy and beyond cool by Lydia Lunch and Jonnine Standish. In 1982, Lydia Lunch and Rowland S. Howard released a single that included “Some Velvet Morning” (previously recorded by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra) and “I Fell in Love with a Ghost.” Their version of “Some Velvet Morning” is romantic but in a slightly more goth way than the original version. While Rowland S. Howard and Lydia Lunch capture the basic vibe, they take the song and exaggerate the disjointed…
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“Bat Thing” by Castration Squad
Happy Halloween, my little spooky friends! In honor of this dark day, today’s song of the moment is “Bat Thing” by my favorite deathrock band, Castration Squad. Castration Squad was a lovely group of ghouls from California featuring Shannon Wilhelm (vocals), Mary Bat-Thing (vocals), Tiffany Kennedy (keyboards), Alice Bag (bass), Tracy Lea (guitar) and Elissa Bello (drums). And… it was quite the supergroup! Mary Bat Thing went on to be Dinah Cancer of 45 Grave and we all know and love Alice Bag (our Women in Rock issue 001 covergirl). Also, Elissa Bello had a brief stint drumming in the Go-Go’s. Check out their rendition of “Wild Thing.” They’ve altered the…
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“Kingdom of Rain” by The The & Sinéad O’Connor
Collaborations are so cool, especially when done well. It brings two great and maybe unlikely combinations together for one badass song. One of my all time favorite duets is “Kingdom of Rain” by The The and Sinéad O’Connor. It was released on The The’s 1989 album, Mind Bomb. “Kingdom of Rain” is super sexy. Matt Johnson and Sinéad O’Connor’s voices work perfectly together, it’s a really great pairing. And, it’s kind of a haunting song, the perfect love song for October… because it speaks of dead love.
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The Women in Punk in Please Kill Me
When I picked up Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain I naively thought I would be writing an article about the female musicians included in the oral documentation of punk and those who were left out. It was pretty soon that I realized the issue wasn’t who they included and who they left out but how musicians and scenesters talked about women during the time, how women were portrayed and how most of the female quotes came from groupies. This was an eye opening revelation. Of course Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain are not to blame. They simply captured the quotes that tell the story of punk…
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SOTM: Alabama Shakes, “The Greatest”
Brittany Howard — the big, beautiful lead frontwoman and guitarist for Alabama Shakes, whose 2015 album Sound and Color is a masterpiece of brilliant, erm, sound and color — rocks. Just listen to this fun, rockin’ freak-out showcasing Howard’s soulful voice and brilliant riffs. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY_hjtW1K-4] Now listen again, this time to a bluesy live version that switches up the pace (plus, check out Howard’s awesome glasses!). [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZEpKxEnac] She is THE GREATEST!
