Lunachicks on the “girl-band” quota

April 28, 2019 8:26 AM

Members of the band Lunachicks, formed in NYC in 1987, speak out about the sexism they encountered during their 1990s heyday. Venues, music publications, radio stations, and record labels would pit them against other all-women or mostly-women bands of the era like L7, Hole, and Babes In Toyland.
posted by larrybob (5 comments total)

We didn’t believe shit like this actually happened until it actually happened.

Yep. And that surprise can keep you from fighting back at first.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:46 AM on April 28, 2019 [7 favorites]

"When it was discovered that a popular crowdfunding site was stiffing tons of artists, L7 included, Joan came through and will be releasing the new L7 album on her own label, Blackheart Records."

This is apparently a reference to Pledgemusic: Variety: Here’s How Much Money 10 Artists Are Owed by PledgeMusic (Feb 22 2019) / Jesus Jones just one of untold artists stiffed by PledgeMusic (Apr 25 2019).
posted by user92371 at 10:18 AM on April 28, 2019 [3 favorites]

Kim Gordon is a national treasure for so many reasons. I never knew she was the reason I could go around in 1990 screaming "JAN BRADY HAS RETURNED" and "BABYSITTERS ON ACID". We had one station here that played L7 and Hole, but yeah, I don't remember hearing any Lunachicks or Shonen Knife or Lush or Sleater-Kinney, or any other girl bands during that era. (That said, they didn't play TAD or the Melvins either.) Most of them were better than the boy grunge bands, too, because they didn't have that zillion-dollar boyband studio sheen. But that was it: the labels knew grunge was just a trend they could morph into pop, and didn't want to sink too much into it after it became apparent. Never mind signing and promoting girl-bands because riot-grrls aren't the most wealthy demographic, but grunge-girls-and-boys were buying their outfits at Urban Outfitters now and listening to Counting Crows and Luscious Jackson.

That is my thoughtless meandering rant. All good grunge songs should be based on one.
posted by not_on_display at 11:14 AM on April 28, 2019 [6 favorites]

OK, but Luscious Jackson.
posted by signal at 4:27 PM on April 28, 2019 [2 favorites]

OK Luscious Jackson gets a pass for their first... OH NOW LOOK WHAT I AM DOING. I am writing about Luscious Jackson in an Alanis Morrisette thread. There were good bands and artists in all strata during all periods in time. Fuck this, good night! :D
posted by not_on_display at 8:05 PM on April 28, 2019