by Theresa Kulbaga Laura Dolan is Driven Laura Dolan and I are driving through Helltown in her vintage silver Corvette. Windows down, wind in our hair, a perfect warm September Sunday. Laura’s black vinyl jumpsuit, fingerless gloves, and blonde hair—cropped in front, long and loose in back—rival the car’s red leather interior for sheer badassery. She shifts the stick as she talks to me, puts pedal to the metal. “I’ve always loved music that makes me want to drive fast,” she tells me, shouting a bit above the noise of the wind and the engine. “I know I have a successful song when it makes me press the gas.” Laura,…
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New Electric Citizen, Higher Time
A belated congratulations to our pals, Electric Citizen on their new album, Higher Time! The album was released Friday May 13th and is so killer! Back with extremely heavy rock n’ roll riffs the album is definitely possessing. They’re having their Higher Time release show this Saturday night (May 21st) at the Northside Tavern with Ruby the Hatchet. Check out my personal favorite, “Evil.” The songs starts out with a heavy break down that launches into the song. Laura’s vocals are stronger than ever. The whole vibe of the band, including the mix makes you feel like you’re listening to something straight from the 70’s. And of course, Ross absolutely…
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“Zodiacal Woman” by Queen Crescent
What’s old is new again. In a time when the dark heavy music of Black Sabbath rears it’s head in the form of new female fronted bands like Electric Citizen and Blood Ceremony, Queen Crescent is a new budding band channeling the 70’s style extremely well. Fronted by Melissa Vu who not only sings like a Grace Slick-esque goddess but wails on the flute, the band’s new single “Zodiacal Woman” displays extremely tight and heavy riffs. The Oakland based four-piece released their self-titled in 2015 and are headed back to the studio to record new songs with Chaz Bundick of Toro y Moi. As the band summons…
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Top Cincinnati Women in Rock Moments for 2015
This year was really great for female musicians in Cincinnati, Ohio. It seems like the ratio of men/women musicians is finally starting to even out. Roxie and I compiled a list of our favorite and most exciting events that took place in Cincinnati featuring seriously talented Women in Rock. 1. The Comet in Northside designates an artist in residence each month to host weekly shows for the entire month. The role typically features new bands in Cincinnati and thrusts them into the spotlight among peers and enthusiasts alike. In 10 out of the 12 months this year, bands with females in them were chosen to be the venue’s artist in…
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An Interview with Laura Dolan of Electric Citizen
Laura Dolan has been cool from the start. Maybe not an obvious cool that would have been appreciated by high schoolers wanting to go to the mall but a badass, legitimate cool that has led to where she is now as frontwoman of Electric Citizen. I met up with Laura at the cozy and hip bar, The Listing Loon to have a long overdue interview. That’s where I learned that while she got her start in music 5 or 6 years ago singing in bands, Laura was always “a ham” growing up. When she was little, her mom took her to the Taft Theatre and she pointed at the stage and…
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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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Song of the Week: “W.D.M.R.S.” by We Are Hex
It’s seem like an appropriate week for “W.D.M.R.S” by We Are Hex to be the song of the week seeing as they’ll be playing at Black Plastic this Saturday, March 14th (although Friday the 13th would be a more fitting date for them). W.D.M.R.S is off of their most recent 45 and last time I saw We Are Hex, frontwoman, Jilly, told me all about the awesome song that features Jinx Dawson of Coven. Completely coincidentally, Jinx Dawson was recording at the same space after their session and Jilly asked if she would be up for adding some vocals to the beginning of the song. She agreed and the end…