By now you’re probably aware of Lana Del Rey, the new glamorous sensation. However, she is just another woman to put down her guitar, put on a pretty dress and catch the attention of media. My question is, how come she gets all the attention and a well-deserving band like The Black Belles get overlooked? Maybe you haven’t heard of them, let me introduce you. The Black Belles are four women who put a new spin on “southern gothic.” From the looks of them, you might mistake them for witches in their all black, wide rimmed hats and long black hair. And who knows, maybe they will cast a spell…
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“Serpents”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYgyQ20TJAs&feature=related] Sharon Van Etten is a woman of passion and this comes out in her new song “Serpents.” It appears on her third album, Tramp, that will be released February 7th. Van Etten is quite a rockstar among rockstars in the Indie world. Aaron Dessner of the National produced her album and plays on most tracks. Matt Barrick, drummer of the Walkmen builds the intensity on “Serpents” while Sharon sings of a lover that didn’t take her seriously. Van Etten has grown from a timid musician, singing her older songs at a quiet volume, to an expressive musician. The emotion captured in this song is amazing and fits perfectly into…
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“There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”
I know what you’re thinking… “Wait, that song is by The Smiths. There are no women in that band!” You would be correct. However, Dum Dum Girls covered this song on their He Gets Me High EP released in March of 2011. I must say, covering The Smiths is a risky move but these women nailed it. Sune Rose Wagner, singer/guitarist of the Raveonettes, and Richard Gottehrer, the man who wrote both “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “I Want Candy,” worked with singer Dee Dee to produce the EP. Talk about a dream team. Dum Dum Girls are exceptionally good mixing a retro sound with a new alternative spin. This song…
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Margaret Darling
This past week I had the privilege to meet Margaret Darling, guitarist and vocalist of the Seedy Seeds. The band came to CCM (the College Conservatory of Music) to perform on E-Media’s new program, Queen City Sessions. Before they performed I got to talk to the band and as a woman musician, of course I had a few questions for Margaret. My main inquiry was: what does being a woman musician mean to you? She answered that growing up she had never really considered being a musician, although she was always a music fan. She said she just listened to the music that she liked. It wasn’t until…
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Wussy Alive and Kickin’ at MOTR
Wussy played at MOTR Friday night and the place was completely packed despite the icy rain that plagued all of Cincinnati. Wussy has released four albums, their most recent being Strawberry which came out in October of 2011. They definitely have loyal fans; I was amazed at the number of people who knew every word to every song. Although I must admit, I do almost have all of the songs on Strawberry memorized. Lisa Walker stood in between Chuck Cleaver (guitar/vocals), Joe Klug (drums) and Mark Messerly (bass/keyboards) and has such a genuine smile that captures your attention in a rock n’ roll way. They started off their set with…
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“Fly, Fly, Fly”
“Fly, Fly, Fly” by Wussy is the song of the week! Off of their new album Strawberry this song has become my new anthem. “Fly, Fly, Fly” is both high powered and addicting and leaves me craving another listen every time I hear it. A perfect example of their self-proclaimed “midwestern drone,” the gritty guitars and lyrics make an excellent rock song. Wussy is playing at MOTR in Cincinnati Friday night so check back here for a concert review in the week to come! Also, be sure to check their website for their upcoming shows. Visit the following link to check out the song/album Strawberry
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“Surrender”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuTS1BaKHDM] The song of the week is “Surrender” by the Duke Spirit off of their album Bruiser. Based in London, this band released their third album in September of 2011. “Surrender,” an upbeat alternative song, is the fifth track on the album and is absolutely catchy! The bridge breaks down into a pretty cool section with lyrics of “I couldn’t keep my eyes open/I’m so so tired/I couldn’t keep a secret even if I tried.” The song is definitely worth a listen! Recommended if you like: The Kills, The Raveonettes, Sons and Daughters
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About the Night and What It Does to… Me
A Review of a Rare Patti Smith Album [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6aUbrZYjYE] Perhaps Patti Smith’s best work, and yet hardly known. The day I bought it the cashier at Shake It Records looked at me with an expression that told me he was jealous I was walking out of the store with their only copy of About the Night and What it Does To You. Even then, I had no idea what I was getting into. Everyone can agree that the talent of Patti Smith really shines through her ability as a lyricist. Yet, this album, hardly known at all, is the best example of her talent. Comprised of 12 tracks, Smith covers…
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New Twitter!
I have created a twitter account that I will daily post song lyrics to by Women in Rock! You can follow it at @rocknwomen or you can read the daily quote here on the bottom right side of the page! Enjoy and let me know if you have any song lyrics suggestions!
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Southgate House Announces Closure
Well it is a sad day indeed. The Southgate House has announced that their last show will be held on December 31, 2011. While they haven’t stated the reason for their closure they did post to Facebook, “We look forward to opening our business in a new location soon.” There have been so many amazing shows there over the years and many memories I wouldn’t trade for anything. Some favorite shows I’ve seen there include: St. Vincent, The Raveonettes, The Customs reunion show, and The Black Angels. Comment below with favorite shows you’ve seen or memories you’ve had there. The Tri-State area is in for a great loss.