[from Portland OR] One of
the first bands I saw in Portland was Mommy Long Legs. They gave me the false
impression that the music scene here is Amazing. A throwback to 90s riot grrrl.
This band, the same. They even have a song called “Babes in Boyland,” a
reference of course to my favorite 90s riot grrl band Babes in Toyland. It
finally occurs to me Portland does this sound well because duh Olympia is just
down The 5. (People on the West Coast put a “the” before their freeways. It’s
the right way. And I’m glad I can now do it again without attracting
attention.) Olympia, home to Bikini Kill. And then Sleater Kinney is both a
band of Carrie Brownstein’s (now of Portlandia fame) and an exit just outside
Olympia, on The 5. I’m actually working really hard to not use these
super-specific genres like “riot grrrl” – why we got to call out that they’re
girls? Why not just: Punk? Why not: Blues Jazz instead of Jam Band? And nobody
but nobody gets to be called Post-Rock or Post-Pop. But even as I’m writing this, I feel myself
weakening…. The riot grrrl bands weren’t exactly punk and these genres evoke a
time and a movement. Except for Post-Rock and Post-Pop. Mr. Wrong were rhythmic
and simple. Shout-singing. Sing-song baby voice. They sort of reminded me of
Those Darlins with their rowdy raucousness. Some Delta 5. There was a Spiderman
in the crowd. I guess young people are taking over like NPR. Just staying
faithful to my nonsense notes here.
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