Its Fourth of July weekend and Brooklyn’s alive with the sound of female drumming! There’s so much fun stuff happening in the next couple of days but none might be as fun as the Woodsist/Captured Tracks festival.
It’s all happening Friday and Saturday July 3rd and 4th at the Market Hotel and at the backyard of 979 Broadway both right next to each other in Bushwick. This event was conceived and curated by Jeremy Earl of Woodsist and Mike Sniper of Captured Tracks. These hometown veterans have put together a really great duo of shows, and it isn’t just because they were smart enough to have the festival headline with awesome female drummers. Highlights from each of the days include some of the foxiest drum chops around. Day one features one of our personal favorites Crystal Stilts’ Frankie Rose
who will soon wow us with a solo side project where she sings and plays guitar. Day two features Ali Koehler of Vivian Girls, who recently finished their second album Everything Goes Wrong (out September 8th on In the Red) and returned from a European tour. They’re going on tour again starting in August. Think back to the last time you could say you saw the Vivian Girls in a Brooklyn backyard, so catch them while you can. Check out their new video for “Moped Girls”
I’m also especially excited about seeing Brilliant Colors.
They’re three girls out of the San Francisco scene (along with Grass Widow) with Diane on drums, Jess on guitar and vox and Michelle on bass. The song “I’m 16” is a perfect evocation of being exactly that, with a sigh and a snicker just as much as a snarl.
Last in celebration of Independence Day I want to post an “Old School Throwback” and ask if we agree that The Runaways are one of the most all-American bands of the ages?
The “Famous Five” version of the Runaways with Cherrie Currie’s equally infamous corset: Sandy West, Jackie Fox, Cherrie Currie, Lita Ford, Joan Jett. Listening to Sandy West’s drumming on Cherry Bomb makes me instantly want to spray some Sun-In in my hair, head over to a BBQ with shorts on, beer cozy in tow and throw some patties on the grill. The Japanese loved them and its the perfect song to celebrate the inauguration of a wet hot American summer.
By the time you read this I will be parked next to the stage at Market Hotel and 979 Broadway, but here’s to you lady drummers and a happy fourth of July to all! Cathy.
Tom Tom Magazine 