Today marks the long-awaited release of "Now We Can See," the fourth album from Portland’s own The Thermals. The album was reviewed in the "Buzz" issue of Bitch, but as a huge fan of the band, I thought it deserved a bit of blog attention as well. Check out the video from their single, "Now We Can See"! It just came out today. I should warn you, though, it contains enough handclap-y happiness to last you all week long:
I love The Thermals, and what’s not to love? They’re an amazing band; they tackle a variety of important political issues in their catchy songs; they’re super-fun live; they recently signed with the awesome, feminist, Kill Rock Stars; and they were nice enough to sit down for an interview with yours truly! (All that and I didn't even mention their extreme cuteness.) Read on for some of Kathy Foster’s (bass) and Hutch Harris’s (vocals, guitar) thoughts on the new album, and of course, feminism. Hooray!
I got a full night's worth of sleep and the weather is beautiful in Portland, but sometimes you just need a little more to get through a Monday. So, consider this clip my gift to you:
Seeing those girls give Kathleen Hanna a run for her money just makes my riot grrrl heart grow three sizes bigger.
I wasn’t even alive for the 70s, but there’s something about looking at photos from the decade – with their washed out lighting, feathered hair, and polyester galore – that makes me nostalgic. I picture myself cruising between N.O.W. and Black Panther rallies, with a stopover at a Germs or Blondie show thrown in for good measure. The 70s got to see some of the idealism from the late 60s take form in both policies and protests, but aside from free love, Black Nationalism, and second-wave feminism (and aforementioned polyester), the decade also provided us with some great music from some stellar ladies. This list took me weeks of thought and is my eight favorite tracks, all female-fronted, all 70s-licious.
So, I know that I talk about Bratmobile all the time (this is not my first time using the "bratmobile" tag), but I really can't emphasize enough how large of a role they played in my understanding of feminism and general personal development.
Read more of my gushing and watch some awesome videos after the jump!
Portland is a mecca of greatness. The city claims the Bitch offices, more coffee shops than you can shake a stick at, bicyclists galore and tons of musicians. Some better-known Portland acts include M. Ward, The Shins, Spoon and The Decemberists. But woe unto you if you think the Portland music scene ends there. There’s much more to be heard!
Wednesdays can be rough. They're just a bit too far from the previous weekend to complain that you're bummed it's over and not quite close enough to the next weekend to revel in its proximity. In order to help you get through your Wednesday, I've thoughtfully selected a fantastic video by the amazing Athens Boys Choir. Check it out:
As most of you are aware, a few of us from Bitch Headquarters traded rainy Portland for sunny Austin, Texas, last week where we spent six days burning our Pacific Northwest skin to a crisp and listening to some bands at SXSW. The highlight of the week for me, without a doubt, was GAYbiGAYGAY, a fabulous backyard party filled with queer bands and artists (and the queers who love them.)
Well, we're back from Austin and from fulfilling our arduous duties as Bitch correspondents at sxsw. As many of you know (due to our complaining), we were without internet access during our trip. That means that throughout this week we'll be posting photos and reviews of all of the shows we saw and the people we were lucky enough to meet. Read on for a brief highlight reel! Here is a photo of some Bitch fans with some cutie pie matching leg tattoos to get you started:
Billy Idol was right: solo dance parties are the jam, and we all know it! So here is a mix of tunes that always get my feet movin' and my hips shakin'. Work it!
The Kill Rock Stars show was great! The floor was full from noon o’clock on, when Portland locals Explode into Colors hit the stage. This three piece trio wowed the crowd outside their Pacific Northwest with Klaudia’s vocals and the awesome drumming from Lisa and Heather. The Paper Chase, Horsefeathers, Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down, Marnie Stern, and the Thermals followed!
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