A lot of American rock fans of my generation complain that rock is dead. I can understand where they are coming from, but they’re wrong. Rock isn’t dead. It just packed up and moved. And, in the process, something else happened: rock was saved by women.
I posted earlier about the
pioneers of women’s rock (https://zapatosjam.blogspot.com/2020/07/girls-rock-1-pioneers-leslie-gore-suzi.html). Suzi Quatro, Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, Lita
Forde, Patti Smith, the Wilson Sisters…rock was on the brink of a golden age
for women. And then it didn't happen, at least not in
the U.S. But the world is much bigger, and while we've been arguing over what it is to be "woke", women all over the world picked up guitars never looked back.
Here is proof. Even if hard rock is not your thing, show this to your daughters.
Crucified Barbara
The band is Swedish, but the words are in English. “No time for painting our nails…” They happen to be great at what they do—not just at “sounding good for a girl”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVU_8D1aJoU
The Warning
This group consists of three sisters from Mexico who posted a Metallica cover when the youngest was 8 years old, and it went viral, leading to offers of record contracts. They have opened for Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and Def Leppard, and were about to tour the U.S. when Covid-19 stopped everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1X3BxxUOBk
Bridear: Ignite
This is not the typical
ballad lamenting a broken heart. These women
are in charge of their own hearts, and they're daring you to handle that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQIDqudG_DQ
Burning Witches: Hexenhammer
These women from Switzerland don't have time for dolls and chocolate. This song is about retribution for the women who were burnt alive at the witch trials not so long ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OCmwMFKDlE
Band-Maid: Domination
Another name for this band could be “Cognitive Dissonance”: some of them wear maid outfits while playing, but they rock harder than most male bands. For music nerds, check out the rhythm section--they may be the best since Neil Peart and Geddy Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbyQCJn6rYg
Lovebites: Edge of the World
Starts off as a ballad mourning man’s inhumanity to man, and ends as an anthem of hope and empowerment. Includes one of the best slow-burn guitar solos I've ever heard, comparable to David Gilmour’s work on "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGRxXCDtRFA
And also there are the women that headline mixed gender bands: Tatiana Shmailyuk of Jinjer, Melody Cristea of Liliac, Haruka Noma of Asterism, to name a few. I think you have written about all of them. Waiting to see what famous band will reunite with 11 year old Yoyoka in drums! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love Crucified Barbara. What is lacked in vocals Is more than made up with music and lyrics. These lyrics could have been from the '70s/early '80. "I sell my kids for rock and roll; Sex, drugs and alcohol; .....I'm just a player in a band; That's what I do; Living the dream, not you"
ReplyDeleteThe Warning is awesome, but i need to hear more of their original work. the one song is good, but lacked a bit of the energy shown in the Metallica covers. i'm sure it's prob just that song.
The Warning are doing whole-album rock, and the intensity varies during the course of an album. Re. Crucified Barbara, i actually love her gravelly, filthy voice, it perfectly fits the song.
ReplyDelete