Best Girl Band

[Mac da Knife]

I nominate:

Heart
The Bangles
Indigo Girls

What say you?

[NoNoNanette]

Chrissy Hynde (without the Pretenders, maybe?) :)

[Mac da Knife]

Good choice, but gotta be all babes.

;)

[Gourmondo]

2nd the Bangles...

For simple garage fun, I always liked the Pandoras. We pulled out this album for my wife's totally 80's birthday party earlier this year. Hint: play it LOUD!!


horrible video quality, but fun music and check out the clothes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nC7lLPaNB8&feature=related

[JRO]

My vote will have to go to Heart

[Suzy Wong]

The Spice Girls?;)

Seriously,
The Supremes? The Ronettes?
The Go Go's? In a campy sort of way...........

[Mac da Knife]

Nah.....

Girls who actually play instruments.
Not just singers.

Girl Bands.

(I think the Wilson sisters have it beat hands down)

[Suzy Wong]

You're too technical!;)

Then my answer is The Go Go's....

Nah.....

Girls who actually play instruments.
Not just singers.

Girl Bands.

(I think the Wilson sisters have it beat hands down)

[Mac da Knife]

The Go-Go's??

I'm waiting for Turbodog to weigh in on this.

[flyinbayou]

Didn't George Michaels and Boy George do a duet album??

[GuySajerForgottenSoldier]

He said girls, not queens.

[Turbodog]

O.k. Mac, here I am.

I agree that Heart was a good band back in the day. I saw them live at City Park, summer of 1975, I thnk it iwas. Anyway, the Wislon sisters are talented, and made some good records. However, they did have significant male participation in the band most of the time, including longtime member Howard Leese and others, including early on, Roger Fisher.

When I think oi girl band, I think all girl band. If we are including mostly girl or prominently girl bands, my favorite is the Muffs (two female guitarists with male rythym section on 1st record, then a 3 piece after one of the girls left for the next few records, all in the 1990's). The Muff's frontgirl was Kim Shattuck, formerly of the all girl garage band the Pandoras.

So, back to all girl bands. Obvious choices are the Bangles and the Go-Go's. I liked them both, actually. I was also a fan of the Runaways. L7, the Breeders, Bratmobile and the Donnas.

So, here are my opinions.

The best all girl band was........the Runaways (without them, we would not have had the Go-Go's, or the Bangles; for influence reasons only, I give an honroable mention ot the Shaggs).

Best bands with strong female presence.....the Muffs (I really dig Kim Shattuck). Hornorable mentions to Heart, 4 Non Blondes (was originally all female,but replaced a founding member, guitarist Shauna Hall with a male guitarist (Roger Rocha) before their 1st record came out), the Fastbacks and the Breeders.

[Low-N-Slow]

What, no Girlschool?

Also, last year's Paul Rodgers: Live in Glasgow features Howard Leese on lead guitar. Still gots the chops.

[Great Danish]

The Tom Tom Club was kind of fun - it was Tina Weymouth from the Talking Heads and some other female musicians. They had a few nice songs.

[Mac da Knife]

Great report, TD!

4 Non Blondes was a great band.

Although I stand by Heart & The Bangles (both backed by males; but then which woman isn't?)

Waiting for the fallout...

[Roman09]

Hole, Doll Parts was amazing.

[Great Danish]

Mea culpa…my mistake….Tom Tom Club as a group and its eponymic first album were begun by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth in 1981.

Does anyone remember a group called "Toxic Shock Syndrome"? I don't remember their music but that name always cracked me up...

[Turbodog]

Dansih, Tina and Chris are married. Love the Tom Tom Club (Wordy Rappinghood!). BTW, Chirs and Tina contributed backing vocals to records by the britsh band Gorrillaz (led by former Blur frontman Damon Albarn).

Mac, I don't blame you for standing by your choices, as they are good ones.

BTW, the Bangles were all-girl, all the time. I do not recall any male help on tours, although perhaps they did have some other players helping out on records. I met Vicki Peterson when she was living in New Orleans (she played in the Continental Drifters when that was a great band, as well as the Psycho Sisters duo with Susan Cowsill). Vicki is a hottie!

[peychaud]

Le Tigre
Cub
The Runaways
Sleater-Kinney
Heavens To Betsy
Tiger Trap
The Slits
Shonen Knife
The Raincoats
LiLiPut
The Shaggs
Fanny
Pee Shy

If you wanna open up the voting to include bands with males, I'd probably add Liz Phair (for her first three albums only), Hole, Bikini Kill and the SF Seals.

[Mac da Knife]

I remember a Talking Heads concert at the Warehouse (A Warehouse, to be correct), and Tina Weymouth absolutely kicked ass on her bass.

To this day, I remember her exquisite ass shaking as she was Burning Down the House, way before that song was released.

One of the finest bands ever, IMHO.

Damn, I'm old.

[Turbodog]

peychaud, nice call on Cub.


Roman, I agree the 1st Hole record weas damned good, but Courtney could not maintain that level of quality.

Mac, the T. Heads are one of the best bands ever, I totally agree.

That brings up an interesting point. Many good bands really evolved over their careers. Some basicall just kept doing what they were doing. do you prefer that your favorite bands push the envelope a bit or stick to their tried and true sounds.

The Talking Heads (from arty new wave to african influened percussion pop and back) would be a prime example of a changing/eveloving sound. So would Wilco (from rollicking country rock to atmospheric mellow jams), or one of my favorite bands of the recent past, Slobberbone (from cow punk/insurgent country to more mainstream rock). All of these groups continually refined/changed their sound, which alienated some fans along the way.

Thoughts?

[Alex]

The Runaways
Shonen Knife


somwhat honorable mention:

Kittie - first album - even though it was written by one of their dads. It was all right.

[Jeeves]

Shades of Blue

http://images9.fotki.com/v199/photos/7/77640/428680/Shades-vi.jpg

This doesn't really fit in timewise, but Shades of Blue was an all girls band in the 30s and my Mom played the trumpet for them. She was called "Hot Lips Latino". She's all the way to the left in the picture. Their band travelled and played in several states. The male drummer in the picture, Ernie Ulmer, was frequently made up and dressed as a woman to fit in with the theme of Shades of Blue. Other members were Lorraine Aibilich Mule', Marceil Peterson Terry, Thelma Gonzales McDonald, Julie Huth and Jeanne (Jennie) Spato.

[NoNoNanette]

Oh, Jeeves! What a GREAT picture! :)

[Suzy Wong]

How about:

The Carrie Nations;)

Jeeves,
Cool picture!

[Turbodog]

If we open this up to girl fronted bands, there are plenty more good ones.

Just for starters

Tuscadero
Sleeper
Other Star People (featuring Jennifer Finch, aka "Precious", from L7)
Pretenders
Trailer Bride

[Mac da Knife]

Agreed.

There was also the Stone Poneys.
And don't forget The Cold (Babs, I had many a sleepless night due to the way you clenched your skirt).

[Jeeves]

Agreed.

There was also the Stone Poneys.
And don't forget The Cold (Babs, I had many a sleepless night due to the way you clenched your skirt).

"Hey, Babs! Do the dishes!" :) http://www.threechordcity.com/babsb&w.htm

[GuySajerForgottenSoldier]

Shades of Blue is undoubtedly the most musically talented band of any listed in this thread. Just look at those gals!

[Turbodog]

Mac, I almost listed the Cold on my most recent post, but I thought about it and that band really was a band. I don't know if I consider Babs a frontperson, or just a member of the band. They were, a very good band, with my old friend Chris Luckette pounding those skins.

Back in the day, I liked the Cold, but I thought the Normals were the best band from NO. As a matter of fact, I think the Normals were the best rock band ever to come out of NO. Way ahead of their time for this area.

I might have just hijacked this excellent thread.

[Mac da Knife]

Agreed TD.

The Normals *were* the signature rock band.

[Mac da Knife]

I'll tell ya something else that I'm sure I'll get heat for, but really, I don't give a sh*t.

I liked the St. Louis Sheiks.
There. I said it.

I thought they were WAY talented.
Yep.

[Turbodog]

One of my best friends loved the Shieks, so I saw them a lot. Damn fine group. Very good musicians. Michael O'Hara and the boys. I partied with those guys a few times.

[Jeeves]

Shades of Blue is undoubtedly the most musically talented band of any listed in this thread. Just look at those gals!

They have all passed away, Guy, with the exception of Hot Lips. She just turned 94 this month and is still a hell raiser. You should hear her stories of when they were on the road doing one-nighters! http://images116.fotki.com/v721/photos/7/77640/753362/43-vi.gif Ernie was a very lucky young man!

[globe9]

I really like:

1. The Veronica's
2. Veruca Salt
3. The Donna's
4. Luscious Jackson
5. Sugababes
6. Hole

As for 80's era New Orleans bands...I LOVE The Press. Great band! U2 actually opened for The Press at Jimmy's(I think it was Jimmy's).

[JRO]

One of my best friends loved the Shieks, so I saw them a lot. Damn fine group. Very good musicians. Michael O'Hara and the boys. I partied with those guys a few times.

Very good band IMO, saw them many times.

[Turbodog]

Back to the girl band topic, I forgot a really good one.

I saw these girls (and met a couple of them) at the Bloodshot Records annual SXSW afternoon party at the Yard Dog (Art Gallery) in Austin, March 18, 2007 (I think that was the date). The band is the Gore Gore Girls, from Detroit. They rock, with plenty of attitude.

[cstoehr]

What, no Dixie Chicks? just kidding

I would have to say Heart.

[Mac da Knife]

Actually, I think The Dixie Chicks are not only quite good, but have made serious headway for female musicians.

Unfortunately, their politics distract from their talent.

[Turbodog]

I totally agree on the Dixie Chicks, Mac. Way talented. I don't listen to them at all anymore, although I do own several of their records. I particlarly like White Trash Wedding. Loyd Maines (Emily's brother) is a top player in texas and a great producer.

[Turbodog]

Great thread Mac. Just wanted to thank you.

[Mac da Knife]

Well damn, Turbo, I'm flattered.

You once stated that we couldn't be friends.
We might already be just that.

[cstoehr]

Music trumps politics any day! :D

[NoNoNanette]

"MUSIC IS THE BEST"

- Frank Zappa

[Turbodog]

Well damn, Turbo, I'm flattered.

You once stated that we couldn't be friends.
We might already be just that.

That's ironically funny, Mac. I was thinking that last night.

Chris, you are so right, and of course Nanette is, she's quoting Zappa!

[RouxTheDay]

Wow, this thread makes me feel so "Top 40"....and to think I consider myself a huge fan of music.

(at least I can chime in on The Cold and The Shieks...I pass what was once "Old Man Rivers" quite often and flash back to seeing both of those bands there many many times...along w/ Jed's-? Jimmy's-? )

As for girl bands, of all mentioned I only own stuff from the Indigo Girls.

Interesting topic.