Riot Grrrls - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

redravin40 · 11-12-2003, 08:51 PM

One of the genres of music I am really enjoy is hardcore female bands.
Not just ones where the lead singer is a woman but where the entire band is made up of woman.
There is something about a woman whaling on a guitar or slamming the drums that I am enjoy.
They also have a way of putting a slight twist to the standard punk, metal, etc.
The term riot grrrls is often used for these musicians.
I am talking about L7, Seven Year Bitch, le tigre, Babes in Toyland, Bif Naked, Bikini Kill, for heavy metal, Kittie, Drain Sth, lunachicks, for ska 'The dancehall Crashers and for old school The Runaways with the godess Joan Jett.

As the father of two daughters I like how they have taken the male world of rock and made it their own.
Some of the bands do political statements but most just make music that kicks ass and takes names.

Do you know any other bands that fit this description?
Are any of these bands on your must play list?
Does it make any difference that it is women playing and writing the music?

Hal Incandenza · 11-12-2003, 11:22 PM

The riot grrl movement was pretty specifically linked to the emergence of female-centric bands in the Pacific Northwest in the late eighties and early nineties; the term was sort of taken up by the mainstream media to promote any band that wasn't 100% male (e.g. Hole was called a riot grrl band). As long as it shakes up the notion that rock music, especially political rock music, can come from only white males, it's okay in my book....

Though there's a guy in the band, Mecca Normal was a huge influence on most of the first-wave riot grrrl scene. They're a duo, just vocals and guitar, but they're almighty fierce and great.

If you haven't heard Sleater-Kinney, run out and get pretty much anything they've ever done now; you won't regret it. One Beat and Dig Me Out are probably their best, but they're a band who get better with every album (and they're on their sixth.)

Bratmobile are pretty excellent--sort of minimalist punk, almost surf at times, with a punk cheerleader on vocals. Their live shows are unbelievably uplifting.

Also well worth checking out are Cub, the Shaggs, Tiger Trap, Shonen Knife, Heavens to Betsy--all of the top of my head; I'm missing tons. Then if you want to talk about pro-female bands that feature a guy or two, there are tons more. A good place to start is pretty much everything on the Kill Rock Stars and K Records labels. Definitely worth your (and your daughters') time.

11-12-2003, 08:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
redravin40 Loser Location: With Jadzia	Riot Grrrls One of the genres of music I am really enjoy is hardcore female bands. Not just ones where the lead singer is a woman but where the entire band is made up of woman. There is something about a woman whaling on a guitar or slamming the drums that I am enjoy. They also have a way of putting a slight twist to the standard punk, metal, etc. The term riot grrrls is often used for these musicians. I am talking about L7, Seven Year Bitch, le tigre, Babes in Toyland, Bif Naked, Bikini Kill, for heavy metal, Kittie, Drain Sth, lunachicks, for ska 'The dancehall Crashers and for old school The Runaways with the godess Joan Jett. As the father of two daughters I like how they have taken the male world of rock and made it their own. Some of the bands do political statements but most just make music that kicks ass and takes names. Do you know any other bands that fit this description? Are any of these bands on your must play list? Does it make any difference that it is women playing and writing the music? Last edited by redravin40; 11-12-2003 at 09:06 PM..

11-12-2003, 11:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hal Incandenza Tilted Location: Enfield MA	The riot grrl movement was pretty specifically linked to the emergence of female-centric bands in the Pacific Northwest in the late eighties and early nineties; the term was sort of taken up by the mainstream media to promote any band that wasn't 100% male (e.g. Hole was called a riot grrl band). As long as it shakes up the notion that rock music, especially political rock music, can come from only white males, it's okay in my book.... Though there's a guy in the band, Mecca Normal was a huge influence on most of the first-wave riot grrrl scene. They're a duo, just vocals and guitar, but they're almighty fierce and great. If you haven't heard Sleater-Kinney, run out and get pretty much anything they've ever done now; you won't regret it. One Beat and Dig Me Out are probably their best, but they're a band who get better with every album (and they're on their sixth.) Bratmobile are pretty excellent--sort of minimalist punk, almost surf at times, with a punk cheerleader on vocals. Their live shows are unbelievably uplifting. Also well worth checking out are Cub, the Shaggs, Tiger Trap, Shonen Knife, Heavens to Betsy--all of the top of my head; I'm missing tons. Then if you want to talk about pro-female bands that feature a guy or two, there are tons more. A good place to start is pretty much everything on the Kill Rock Stars and K Records labels. Definitely worth your (and your daughters') time.