On Monday night, my girlfriend and I went to the Delancey in New York for the premiere party of a documentary called The Gits. The Gits were an early ’90s Seattle punk band, fronted by Mia Zapata (pictured), a bluesy, charismatic singer who was a beloved fixture on the local scene until she was raped and murdered one night in 1993. The doc follows the formation of the band and their subsequent rise in popularity — they were on the brink of signing to a major label — along with the excruciating circumstances of Zapata’s death. The case went unsolved for over a decade until a suspect was convicted in 2004.
The Delancey show was both a vigil for Zapata and a celebration of the music she’d been such an integral part of. One of the highlights was Rrriot!, an all-women tribute band that tore through riot grrrl classics like Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl,” L7’s “Shove”, and Hole’s “Rock Star.” It was a terrific set and a fitting tribute to Zapata, but in the cab on the way home, we couldn’t help but feel a little sad — first, at the memory of a vital performer who died young, and second, because it’d been a long time since we’d seen a show with such anarchic, girl-powered rock. What do you think, PopWatchers: Is it time for another riot grrrl revolution? Or should we all just agree that I’ve gotten old and call it a day? (Oh, and for the uninitiated, check out an embedded Gits video, after the jump!)
I, for one, would totally love, love, LOVE a rrriot girl resurgence. Bands like L7 and Babes In Toyland played a huge role in my development through high school. I have actually been really upset that women are not playing a bigger role in rock music. I totally applaud the likes of Go Betty Go and The Donnas, even if they aren’t exactly “riot”-esque, they’re enough to get the fists in the air.
I was reading an interview with Donita Sparks from L7 (who has a solo album out, by the way) and she had mentioned that L7 probably couldn’t happen again in today’s music world since mainstream female artists are so sexualized anymore. Or else they’re made out to be so innocuous, even childlike, that nobody could ever take offense or be challenged by their music (see: Norah Jones, etc.)
But there are still plenty of women making great rock music. You just have to look harder.
Sad that today’s young girls don’t have high-profile, kick azz female rockers to get excited about. And no, Miley Cyrus does not count.
It would be great to see more women in rock. I like The Donnas, but I keep hoping they toughen up the act a little. Also, I know that Gwen Stefani isn’t exactly a riot grrl, but I’m really hoping the upcoming No Doubt reunion gets back to some harder rock, like in the band’s earlier. Watching Gwen turn into a R&B/pop diva in her solo career was totally disheartening.
A new wave of riot grrrl artists would make me squee. I’m sure they still exist somewhere in the indie network…
I don’t get the title of this, The Gits weren’t in the riot grrrl scene.
“The Delancey show was both a vigil for Zapata and a celebration of the music she’d been such an integral part of.”
The tribute was entirely misguided, in my opinion. As far as I’m concerned, corporate sponsors and the members of the tribute band had no affiliation with the scene The Gits were in or the music they played.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tribute/vigil to the one and only Mia Zapata. The “Rrriot!” band was amazing and touched on some great songs I never thought I would’ve heard again live. The letters that were read during the vigil [especially the one from Mia's father] brought everyone together in remembrance of what an amazing soul Mia was… and still is. It was awesome seeing so many people there celebrating the life of Mia.
VIVA ZAPATA!!!
We can always use some more girl rock. Love, love, love The (http://www.thedonnas.com/)
That was supposed to be:
The Donnas!
Has anyone ever listened to Dresden Dolls? Not sure if it counts since the drummer is a boy (but sort of ambiguous if that makes sense) but Amanda Palmer is AMAZING and she’s just got this gritty-doesn’t give a s**t attitude. She’s also one of the most amazing lyricists I have come across in the last 5 years. “Girl Anachronism” is still my anthem. So I don’t know if they would count, but if you haven’t listened to them- you should!!!
http://www.myspace.com/thedetroitcobras
Its two chics and some dudes, but they totally kick butt. Go Cobras Go! If you want to find music all you have to do is look. Unfortunately pop and alternative radio is guy obsessed because a majority of the execs and management are male and are not down with the ladies. Alot of the early 90s chic bands that got play did so because their guy friends in bands opened the door for them. Step up boys, the girls want to party too.
Riot grrrl is not a generic phrase for loud female fronted bands. The Gits, Hole, L7, The Donnas were never riot grrrl. Riot grrrls don’t sell out to corporate media. You want riot grrrls? Check out the still active bands like Mecca Normal, Bonfire Madigan, and Lucid Nation. Check out the new bands like Sisters of Revolution. All you have to do is google “riot grrrl” and start exploring.
I miss the riot grrl rockers…but the riot grrl credo is alive and well. Just ask any girl or woman who doesn’t think that “feminism” is a bad thing.
Well, how long have you been rewriting press releases ? Were you even there ?
Did you hear what the DJ was spinning ? Were you impressed or insulted ? A vigil is a vigil, not a Party. Did you find the segue from Mia’s murdered corpse at the Pioneer Theater to this debacle at the Delancy at all disturbing?
Don’t get me wrong, I support The Git’s Movie, and I believe in some of the artists who performed at the event. Who introduced the vigil? What other bands performed ? It’s a shame that some people saw Opportuni$y in this. And took full advantage.
Comments on this blog are closer to the truth:
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/07/the_gits_movie.html
I just don’t think Mia would have been down with the way her life was “honored” that night.