CIMTB is compiling a list of Portland singer/songwriters and bands, using some of the list's we've had in previous blogs.
I've noticed that there isn't a band or a musician on there that represents bold, powerful, and intelligent women. Some of the women on the list are probably B.P.I., but their music doesn't strike that chord in me. I want to call attention to the fact that Portland has a bunch of musicians who regardless of gender are pretty damn boring and a-political. I am going to talk more about my disappointment with the women in music in Portland, only because I care about it. I want to fall in love with and feel empowered by a lady's, or girl's, or woman's, or whatever's music.
Call me old fashioned but I miss the trickle down from Olympia (riot grrls, women having their periods on stage while they are playing guitar). Granted I never listened to Sleater-Kinney (I can't remember why I boycotted them...) but I appreciate what they did with their time and talent. They didn't make me gag. So what? I grew up in the heyday of grunge. AND I lived in the northwest. So sue me if I want something a little more substantial than some cute indie girl, who sings like a little, itsy-bitsy, sleepy baby who wants to be naughty and who shops at the bin's and calls it a revolution... Or worse she doesn't shop at the bins.
I will try to keep it real up in here. I want this conversation to happen. I want to hear about how wrong I am. So please leave a comment or better yet, post your own blog about it if you want.
And, just because, I am going to share this video I found on the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls website:
9 comments:
i so want to see that documentary! i am going to stew on this one though - more to come!
It's heavy and still kinda vague. but I honestly think that just posting some crap about my disappointment will guide the conversation... maybe i just suck at expressing my feelings about things like this in a public way. in private i can say things like "so and so does this and i hate it" but in an open forum i am trying to be cool AND open and honest... it's weird. but i like it.
I just told/asked my friend Nick Flavor aka Nick Leyva
"i'm trashing women on my blog...
can i have a bad attitude AND make a difference? or do i always have to kiss ass?"
and he said:
"i have a bad attitude and i always feel like i'm making a difference..."
I think that anytime you have a music scene that is supposedly this vibrant and uber hipster fucko whatever you are going to have to wade through an awful lot of bullshit to hear something good. It seem's to me everyone is trying to do this particular style of folk revival and it all sound's the same to me IE Boring as fuck. Nothing seems very dangerous or exciting which with everything going on in the world right now you would think the "Folks" would not be sleeping under their collective Mandolins. Sorry Im just ranting now....and going off on a different tangent
UsanaTron -- You just made my day...
1. I know, I think, what you're talking about. Not exact people or anything but just the mood in general.
2. However, I am going to play devil's advocate a little bit and say that while the riot grrl scene is still in the sidelines, there are some girls out there who are making music and are badass not for what they're saying, but for how they're saying it. Purple Rhinestone Eagle (www.myspace.com/purplerhinestoneeagle) stand out to me as a recent transplant - as I recall it's 3 girls who just play badass rock music. The guitarist can totally shred. To me, that in itself is a little bit subversive. Also, a couple nights ago I saw the last half of a set from Mood Rings, a duo with a male drummer and fronted by a woman who sings and, more interestingly, has a crapload of pedals at her disposal for making wacky electronic sounds - another arena in the music scene that has been primarily dominated by men. These girls may not be throwing their tampons from the stage, but they're not out to "just be cute", either. Keep your chin up, and see that there is some good shit going on out there - it's just not what we hear much about.
make a list! clearly i am not seeing it... Amber Dawn -- you are my only hope.
LKN, TJO, Grouper, Prowls, Reporter, Rollerball, Xh, Heart Shark, The Better To See You With, New Bloods, Magic Johnson, Fist Fite,Snow Foxxes, Get Hustle, etc etc(and from the RIP/MIA/IDONTKNOW segment: Hustler White, Two Percent Majesty, Yuma Nora, Sickie Sickie) I've no problem with the quieter side of music, either, though.
dragginganox -- THANK YOU, wow... i swear The Internet is Lord. Ask and Me shall recieve!! :-)
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