Special Contributor: Tricia “Paris” Suit from the band Seven Speed Vortex BOOM! There goes all my punk rock cred, citing the influence of a country song. In my defense, Rosanne Cash is Johnny’s daughter and considered a rebel within the Nashville establishment. This was her breakout hit, and I remember hearing it as kid and loving the melody and wordplay and that it was woman singing. In college I bought a “best of” compilation and revisited the song. It held up. It held up so well I went into a Rosanne Cash deep-dive, falling in love The Wheel. Side note/apocryphal story: The first time Seven Speed Vortex recorded, Eric and…
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When Patti Smith sang to Janis Joplin
There are certain times that you wish you could be a fly on the wall… The moment I would die to witness would be an encounter with two of the most influential women in rock. The story appeared in “Just Kids,” a must read for any Patti Smith fan. Patti Smith writes of her life with Robert Mapplethorpe as a young person in New York City. She recounts when she was introduced to Janis Joplin by Bobby Neuwirth in 1970. Most of their interactions took place at the infamous Hotel Chelsea including Patti Smith being present when Kris Kristofferson taught Janis “Me and Bobby McGee.” One night after a show,…
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“Cod’ine” by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Fresh off a fever fugue, looking ahead from existential dread I can’t say it’s a leap to the warm reassurance “Co’dine” provides that we’ve all felt somewhere between life and death. A self-taught musician representing herself and standing up for indigenous people, Buffy Sainte-Marie blew away the ’60s folk scene with her art and activism and no one who’s heard her voice has caught their breath since. So, gasping back from a bout with strep, I find my own breath in “Cod’ine.” Here’s to you, Buffy.
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Local Ladies Inspiration Playlist: Part 2
I’m so happy to release Part 2 of the Local Ladies Inspiration Playlist! Hopefully this will become a continuing portion of Women in Rock. If you are a musician that has a song that particularly inspires you, please feel free to submit to us! Submissions can be sent to izzi.krombholz@gmail.com. —————————————————————————————————– Rachelle Caplan (Babe Rage)- “Second Skin” by The Gits “If you aren’t too familiar with them, they are folks from Louisville/Ohio that moved to Seattle in the early 90s. They were signed and poised to tour along side Nirvana. Basically slotted to be one of the mega grunge bands coming out of Seattle if only front woman, Mia Zapata, not had…
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Local Ladies Inspiration Playlist: Part 1
The music scene in Cincinnati is abundant with talented female musicians. These woman are both inspired and inspiring. We asked as many as possible what songs have inspired them as musicians and why. Below is part one of the Local Ladies Playlist! Part 2 will be released on Friday, November 27th. Lillian Currens (Swim Team)- “Wild is the Wind” by Nina Simone “Growing up I listened to a lot of jazz and soul singers and constantly tried to emulate the way they sang because it felt so sad and real. I love Nina’s voice because it’s so beautiful, versatile and strong but still really unusual, a voice that you hear…
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“Tonight” by Sibylle Baier
“Tonight” by Sibylle Baier was released almost a decade ago and recorded 30 years before that. Colour Green was written and recorded in Germany from 1970-1973 with only the intent to share with her family and friends. In 2006, the album was finally released. “Tonight” is a haunting and wistful track. With only guitar and vocals, it picks up a melancholy comparable to Nick Drake. “Tonight” is a perfect winter song, something you want to listen to by a fire with a glass of red wine.
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Ladyfest Cincinnati Starts Today! An Interview with Founder, Rachelle Caplan
From October 15-17th, Cincinnati will bear witness to its first ever Ladyfest– “a multi-faceted 3 day festival promoting women involved in arts and activism.” I sat down with Rachelle Caplan, founder and lead organizer of Ladyfest Cincinnati, to learn about her goals and inspirations for the fest. Rachelle’s first experience with a Ladyfest was in Chicago in 2007. She had just moved there from Florida and some friends suggested she look up the DIY fest, Ladyfest. Her friend texted her an address and a name. “She said go to this house on this day and you’ll meet awesome people.” Rachelle joined the art committee and the music committee. She thrived…
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An Interview with Kat Bjelland and Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland
On Tuesday night I was lucky enough to meet the absolute rock legends, Kat Bjelland and Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland before their show in Covington, KY. We met at the Backstage Café to have a drink and chat. IK: I read that Lori named the band but I’ve read this quote that I love from Kat, “boys and girls are all babes in the universe.” Where did the name and quote come from? Kat Bjelland: (points to her head) It took me awhile to figure out (Babes in Toyland) was a Disney movie. Lori Barbero: I have no idea where it came from. KB: I thought it was appropriate because we…
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Good Things Come in 3’s: Catching Up with Makenzie of The Sundresses, Their New album and an Upcoming Show
It was three years ago that I first sat down with Makenzie of the Sundresses to interview her for Women in Rock. With the release of their third album, This Machine Kills, it seemed like a good time to check in with her. The Sundresses started in 2001 as a political band. “We were a direct result of 9/11,” says Makenzie. “We would spew feelings about politics and make people dance.” But Makenzie notes that now they’re writing “life songs.” This Machine Kills was first recorded before drummer Dave Reid joined the band at Ultra Suede in Cincinnati. After he joined, the band decided to re-record as a four piece so they…
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Sarah Greenwell of Gymshorts
Sarah Greenwell, frontwoman of Gymshorts, loves telling jokes. In fact when she was little, her mom would take her to the local bowling night, “I was a tiny blonde girl that would tell dirty jokes to all the old men.” Meeting Sarah this past March I was immediately amused by her goofy jokes and band of similarly light-hearted guys. Gymshorts was formed in 2012 with lead guitarist, Devin Demers. “We wrote songs and tried to find a band for a year.” Sarah was living in New York and commuting to Providence, RI for the band. “I like driving and some of the songs I wrote came from the commute.” In…
