The Hot Chicks of Rock

The adrenaline rush of Super Bowl week has started to kick in and it is starting to feel like I’m on a Benzedrine overload. Late night and early morning spent reading the re-writes of the previous days blurbs that all blend together to the point that the only thing I remember is something in I read stating that Bill Belichick will murder Tom Coughlin.
Whatever your feelings are on football, it is still a great excuse to throw a party. As far as Super Bowl Parties go, it is tough to top the PVD Social Club’s bill of a matinee punk rock headlined by iconic stalwarts of loud hard and fast, the Hudson Falcons and Boston’s The Ducky Boys (Record Release Party for Chasing the Ghost).  The bill is also features Pinkerton Thugs, Drunk Robb and The Shots, and Reason to Fight. The show is all ages and will not interfere with watching the game because it starts at 2PM– so if you are like me, set an alarm, or two. Not only is this the perfect way to release some pre-show aggression but you can stay or come for the game, which will be shown on huge projection screens throughout the entire club. At halftime, there will be a burlesque show so you have something more enticing than watching a washed up Madonna and there will be complementary appetizers served. Seriously, Madonna playing the Super Bowl, what diehard football fan wants to see that? Speaking of burlesque, with Valentine’s Day around that corner, it is time for our 5th annual Hot Women in Local Rock to celebrate this special day, well for single males and women in relationships. So without further adieu, let’s roll!

Malyssa BellaRosa and Christine Hauck from Fall and Bounce

Singer Malyssa BellaRosa (featured on the cover) and bassist Christine Hauck (right) lead Fall and Bounce, which is a relatively new band that has a solid classic rock feel. Think a female fronted Doobie Brothers meets something more contemporary like Beth Hart. I use the Doobie Brothers as a reference because the song they’ve been opening with borrows the melody from “Jesus is Just Allright.” Nothing wrong with that. I borrow my swagger from Michael MacDonald too. Fall and Bounce really go over the map from bluesy guitar solos to crunchy grunge riffs to even folksier singer songwriter stuff. Hauck locks in the rhythm groove on the bass that’s allows freewheeling diva BellaRosa to showcase her substantial pipes. Fall and Bounce have seemingly been playing everywhere as of late, but BellaRosa told me recently the band were looking to scale back on performing out this month to work on recording some material before resuming than normal busy schedule in March or April. In addition, BellaRosa released her first solo album at the end of last year, titled Open Up, which is more of a stripped down intimate affair as is often the case with solo projects. Fun fact, the name of the album was to be called “Music is My Soul” after one of the tracks up till about a week before its release, till I told her it was the corniest album name I’ve ever heard.  Making a difference, that is what I am here for. Standout tracks on Open Up include “Moving On” and “Never Be.”

Jess Powers (Jess Powers Project/Curator of Chanteuse)

I generally try to somewhat mix it up from year to year as to who gets featured because otherwise I’d might as well just copy and paste the previous year’s entry. Jess Powers might hold the record if I kept track of such things, but of course I don’t. Think of it has winning the Best Female Artist Grammy every year, just a little less prestigious and a lot less lucrative. Powers made it first as a vocalist with Route .44 (with Teri Pimley) and now has made the list in back-to-back years since going solo and as the brains behind her own Chanteuse series. Powers makes it seemingly every year, not just because she is both talented and “hot” but because she is actively doing something big and in this case with Chanteuse, which extends beyond her own career as far as bringing musicians together to collaborate.  The first anniversary show of Chanteuse is coming up on Feb 11th and features a who’s who of local female talent like Tig & Bean, Michelle Cruz, VulGarrity, The Sugar Honey Ice Tea, Miss Wensday, Kristin Minsky, and of course Ms. Powers herself.

Jess Powers celebrates the 1st anniversary of her Chanteuse series at Fete inProvidenceon February 11th.

Tai Awolaju (Boo City)

Tai Awolaju is known for both her stage costumes and her sweet harmonies as a co-lead vocalist forBooCity. This sultry vixen ofBooCityhas both the pipes and charisma to dominate the room from the stage. Boo City had a big 2011 between winning the WXIN Rock Hunt and the December release of their Midnight Folklore mix tape. As I’ve said in past Midnight Folklore was really more of experimental fusing of different styles, Boo City are planning on releasing a full length that will keep more to their traditional R&B and soul roots. That said, I really dug the tracks I’ve heard of Midnight Folklore. Boo City are currently holding a kickstarter to raise funds so they can go toAustinto perform at the SXSW Festival.  If you can spare any change to support a great band, go to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boocity/help-boo-city-go-to-south-by-southwest-in-austin-t to donate.

Missa Hills

(The Jesse Minute)

The list wouldn’t be complete without a woman from the punk end of the spectrum and for that the honor goes to Missa Hills of The Jesse Minute. I don’t think Hills has made the list before but then again after 5 years of differing lengths I can’t say. Hills vocals hover over The Jesse Minute’s powerhouse pop- rock attack. To some hardcore punks, the band’s pop element may be a little too sweet but I dig that element. The Jesse Minute has undergone some lineup changes in the past months but I am hoping that they get that filled fast and re-emerge as soon as possible.

Tracy Garrity (VulGarrity)

One half of the sinister sibling dynamic duo, VulGarrity, Tracy Garrity brings the blonde bombshell sex appeal.  Tracy and her brother, Shawn, flip flop between bass and drums belting out post-punk meets stoner rock escapades about the boogie man, plane crashes, and zombies. After winning the WXIN Rock Hunt in 2010, VulGarrity united the belts in 2011 by winning the WBRU Rock Hunt. Not one to sit still, VulGarrity has already gone coast-to-coast a few times on tour and are currently working some new jams that will hopefully hit the street sometime soon.

Galvanize and Vertigo Twin Double CD Release

75orLess Records presents a double release party for Galvanize and Vertical Twin on February 10th. Galvanize’s self-titled disc come off as noisy indie rock with a distinct ’80s flair. I dig the tune “Audrey Meadows” and “The Sane Coupon” has a bit of an early Yo La Tengo feel. Galvanize is a gold mine for fans of aggressive ‘’80s fuzz infused indie rock.

Vertical Twin’s sophomore release, Geezer Wheelie (75orLess Records), is another dose of motor punk thunder.  Vertical Twin have one wheel in ’70s stoner rock with the other one in punk rock. Tunes like “One with the Asphalt” and “Rabbit” remind me as much of Foghat and Grand Funk Railroad as they do of the Supersuckers. My favorite tune on Geezer Wheelie is “Rainbow Unicorn,” which sounds like a ’60s psychedelic garage rocker on amphetamines.

Galvanize, Vertigo Twin, and Six Star General will bring da noise to the Pvd Social Club inProvidenceon February 10th.  Be warned that the fun starts early as the show will run from7PMto10PM.

Quiet Riot

1980s metal titans Quiet Riot make a rare return to the area to bring some old fashioned head banging action to the Rock Junction inWest Greenwich. Quiet Riot these days have been greeted with some skepticism since the death of vocalist Kevin DuBrow in 2007. Currently, the band has no original members and the lone remaining member from the Mental Health glory days is drummer Frankie Banali.

I was among the doubters but after seeing some YouTube videos I’ve got to say they sound alright. The band hit stardom of the strength of their 1982 cover of Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize.” They never really had the same success when it came to writing their own tunes. That said, metal enthusiasts consider both Metal Health and Critical Condition to be classic albums. I’d totally go to hear those tunes performed in a club.

Quiet Riot will be at The Rock Junction inWest Greenwichon February 4th.

Odds & Sods:

Huge night of local rock ‘n’ roll happening right now at Firehouse 13 with Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One (ex-Darkbuster), The McGunks, Sharks Come Cruisin’ Barroom Heroes, and Phil McCaffrey of the Doll Eyes on February 2nd. Last Good Tooth, Pete Everett, Smith & Weeden, and independent Man are at the Local 121 on February 2nd.  Jonesin’ some hotNew Orleansstyle funk and soul? Go head to Met Café for Soul Rebels also on February 2rd.  The local kings of ska, The Agents, join forces with Route .44 for an epic show at The Spot Underground on February 3rd.  Atlantic Thrills, Movers and Shakers, and Yankee Bang Bang are at the Local 121 on February 4th. The quirky kind of indie rock of The Universes hit the Met Café of February 8th. The Figgs and The ‘Mericans join forces for a huge show at The Local 121 on February 10th. Viral Sound and Cosmic Dust Bunnies hit The Spot Underground on February 10th. Santa Mamba and DJ Face get the party shaking at The Spot Underground on February 11th. Barn Burning is at The Met Café on February 15th.  The metallic female fronted indie rocking Panther Moderns are at The Met Café on February 16th.

Email music news to staysick@aol.com