Girls and Guitars #2

I’m going to begin by making a confession. I didn’t plan on doing a second ‘Girls and Guitars’ blog. After the success of the first one however (it’s my most read by far) I thought it would be worth another go. Plus I’ve discovered some new bands since, to add to the small list of bands that I didn’t include last time.

Even though rock is predominantly male scene, there have always been female artists around. You had the likes of Janis Joplin in the 60s, The Runaways, Girlschool, Heart and Pat Benatar in the 70s and 80s and bands such as Garbage and Hole in the 90s. Even if they weren’t fronting bands they could still be found, such as Charlotte Hatherley from Ash. Recently however, as I stated in my previous G+G blog, there has been female fronted rock bands around lately and, after some recent musical discoveries, thought it would be worth writing another one with some artists to check out. The names on this list are arguably less well known, so there’s a chance you might find your new favourite artist.

Enjoy :)

Alex Ryder: Arguably the lowest profile artist on this list, Alex Ryder is an artist I discovered totally by accident via Twitter. It didn’t take long to be impressed by her music though after checking her out on YouTube. There’s a real 80s vibe to her music, but still manages to sound fresh and contemporary. Essentially, it’s a real radio friendly sound. The title track from her album ‘Won’t You Listen’ in particular is a perfect example. Musically there are similarities between her and Bryan Adams, but vocally there are hints of Bonnie Tyler in there as well. Having developed a fan base in her native Canada, she released her debut EP in 2011 to much acclaim. Now getting airplay on radio stations across North America, as well as some stations here in the UK, her reputation is building nicely. Definitely an artist worth checking out and keeping an eye out for.

Barbe Q Barbies:  Scandinavia has been producing a number of top quality rock bands recently, and with this all girl rock band from Finland, you can add another name to the list. If you are familiar with bands such as The Runaways or The Donna’s then there is a real chance you will like this. With big riffs and catchy choruses, there really isn’t anything not to like. They deliver a strong dosage of hard rock laced with strong vocals that packs a punch; the sort of music that is best enjoyed when turned up as loud as possible. There’s a real attitude present in the music that really helps to set them apart. If you like straightforward rock n roll, then you will love this.

Deap Vally: If you ever wondered what the White Stripes would sound like if Jack White was replaced by a girl, then this is pretty close to what you’d end up with. While comparisons to the aforementioned White Stripes are obvious, that does not mean they are rip offs of the old blues sound. Vocalist and guitarist Linsey Troy is a fierce presence in front of the mic as well as laying down some heavy riffs, while Julie Edwards backs that up with some mean beats on the drums. Having only formed in LA in 2011, there is a lot of hype surrounding the duo. Seems to be justified so far however, as they have already supported The Vaccines on their UK tour, as well opening for Muse on a number of European dates. They have already started something special, and with their debut album due out later this year, 2013 could be big year for Deap Vally.

 Dirty Harry: A name that may not be familiar to some, Dirty Harry (born Victoria Harrison), is a rock singer who walks the line between pop and rock. On her album ‘The Trouble With… Harry’ she manages to merge the two perfectly, having a sweet pop song one minute before turning it into a snarling rock song the next. Or just singing a rock song from the get go, which is more common. There are pop elements however, with ‘Ten Things’ and the album opener ‘Goddess on the Dance Floor’ being perfect examples. The album gets notably after the opening couple of tracks, concentrating with a harder rock sound. Comparisons between Courtney Love and Hole would not be far off the mark, and are distinct influences.  Unfortunately though, for whatever reason, it didn’t quite work out, and she now DJs under the name Amazonica. It’s a real shame, because she’s very talented and there are some great songs on that first album.

Fit for Rivals: If you take a glancing look at this band, it would be easy to pass them off as another bunch of kids who fit into one of the current subgenres of rock; ones who all share a similar image, and all sound pretty much the same. Fit for Rivals are not one of these bands. For start, as they state on their Facebook page, they don’t try to fit into a sub-genre, they just play pure, straight forward rock. Another thing that sets them apart, is the ace they have up their sleeve; singer Renee Phoenix. The husky tones of her voice are unexpected, but boy they work well. Add that to a tomboyish image, similar to Joan Jett (as if that’s a bad thing), you have band that is immediately something a bit different. Put those things together and the result is a contemporary rock sound that doesn’t sound like it’s been done a thousand times before. Just take a listen to ‘Crash’ with the infectious riff and catchy chorus; you’ll see what I mean. Currently working on their second album, they are (somehow) still yet to be signed.

 Pearl: Being Meat Loaf’s adopted daughter, there was always going to a chance that Pearl Aday was going to follow in the Bat out of Hell man’s footsteps. Having spent almost a decade as backing singer to her step-father, she finally released her own solo album ‘Little Immaculate White Fox’ in 2010, with this song being the pick of the bunch. It certainly seems that being Meat Loaf’s daughter has influenced her sound, although she has gone in her own direction. A fusion of hard rock with strong vocals makes this song one you’ll want to listen to on repeat.

 Saint Jude: Even though they are new to the scene, Saint Jude can already count people such as Ronnie Wood and Jimmy Page as fans, as well as being championed by Classic Rock Magazine as “a rock and roll stick of dynamite waiting to explode.” That’s big talk I hear you say, but having seen them live myself at London’s High Voltage Festival, it is totally justified. If you’re into your old style rock and roll, then you’ll really like this. Fronted by supreme vocal talents of singer Lynne Jackaman, Saint Jude offer something different. Certainly something different to the other bands mentioned here. The focus is much more on rock and roll, or rock and soul as they also call it, rather than hard rock. The result is fresh sound, maybe a throwback to bands of old, but in today’s music scene, there’s not really anyone like them.

Stalingrad Cowgirls:  A young band that was only around for a few short years, but still managed two albums in that time. Another all girl rock band from Finland, they announced in 2012 that they were calling it a day. However, before their amicable split, they opened for the likes of Iggy Pop, Muse and Motley Crue, something that gives you a clue to kind of music that is on offer. In fact they aren’t a million miles away from the Barbe Q Barbies mentioned above.  Their debut single ‘Won’t You Get It’ is a great mix of huge sound, including a brilliant catchy riff, and a colossal chorus that you can’t help but sign along to. It should have been the start of a lengthy career, but alas it wasn’t to be. If you like your music loud, then this another band to add to your playlist. They may not appeal to everyone’s taste, the more ‘mature’ listener may think it’s not for them, but what can’t be denied is that their fresh brand of rock n roll was good while it lasted.

The Deafening: Bursting onto the rock music scene this year with their debut album ‘Central Booking’, The Deafening are a New York based rock band  influenced by the likes of Guns n Roses, Kiss and AC/DC. That’s all well and good I hear you say, but plenty of bands draw influences from them, what makes these guys different? Well the answer lies in vocalist Lena Hall. She may resemble a rock chick version of Katy Perry, but don’t be fooled, she means business. There is a snarling attitude to her voice and vocal delivery that really helps make these guys stand out. She has fantastic range and presence, which helps give their music real character. It certainly suits the heavy riffs and rhythm section with a sleazy sound that is the bands forte. If you are at all into hard rock, then you cannot ignore The Deafening.

The Dirty Youth: Another relatively new band, The Dirty Youth are a girl fronted rock band hailing from Cardiff, Wales. Other than the striking pink hair of singer Danni Monroe, the thing that you can’t but notice is the pure energy that the band plays with. However they manage to back it up with crunching riffs and soaring vocals, something that is demonstrated perfectly in their single ‘Fight’ below. If you’re a sucker for good riff (as I am), then you will be hooked on ‘Fight’ within a few seconds. Add to that a good vocal range, with more than a hint of Katy Perry, you get a really good solid sound. After success at festivals such as Download, The Dirty Youth are band with a growing fan base, and are one to watch for the future.

NY Loose- Ok, so this band was around in the 90s, and aren’t exactly current. Their one and only release appeared in 1996. But I found their ‘Year of the Rat’ album kicking around in my collection and thought that it would fit nicely into this blog. It’s a proper hard rocking album, full of attitude. One listen of the final song ‘Spit’, with the chorus of “I wanna be your Rock n Roll” tells you all you need to know. The scratchy riff of ‘Rip It Up’ is a further example of rockiness of this album.  There was a number of female led Brit Pop bands in the 90s, such as Sleeper, but NY Loose are different and have a heavier sound. There is a similar sound vocally to The Runaways, although the guitars are heavier. Singer Brijitte West may now have her own band, but it can’t be denied that this is a little hidden gem that deserves a bit more recognition.

I’ve decided to include these separately as they are stand-alone songs, rather than bands. They are two songs that appear on Slash’s 2010 collaborative album where he worked with Fergie and Nicole Scherzinger. The result is two fantastic songs.  Ones that show even though they are mainly based in the world of pop (where they can shift more records and make more money), their real talent lies in the world of rock. People questioned, and maligned Slash for working with them, but they really are brilliant. It’s a shame we will probably never see a rock album from either of them, as they have the potential to be strong.

 

 

 

That's it, hopefully you enjoyed it and found some new artists in there that you like.

Thanks for reading :)