Where's all of this heading then? As I stated in an earlier post, Riot Grrrl was a short lived component of the music industry, but has grown into something spectacular... women in music are popular and powerful today.
So, what (in my opinion) is the equivalent of these supposed riot girls today? I have a few...
Toxic Lipstick
Brisbane based band Toxic Lipstick - although not popular, is a very prevalent example of Riot Grrrl in the modern world. Combining both grunge, punk and disgusting taste with a little bit of Vicky Pollard of Little Britain, then perhaps you've scraped the surface of Toxic Lipstick. To begin with... they were fourteen when they released their EP. They list Nikki Webster and Bec Cartwright as their influences (those cheeky madams), but their lyrics contain sentences such as, "Why don’t you like me? Is it ‘cause I told my friends, about the size of your erection?" They had the following to say of their album, “Each song on the CD, is like a chapter of our lives to date. There is that time we smoked our vomit, behind the bikeracks, those boys that never called back, that pony we always loved and who’ll ever forget that day mum wasn’t home and we got to swear heaps and try on her good black g-string." ......gross. But nevertheless... a "riot"!
Portishead
The band released their first album Dummy in 1994, and despite the fact that they rejected a lot of press coverage of the album, it sold a huge number of copies in both the US and Europe. Their most famous single off this album was "Glory Box". Lead singer Beth Gibbons dressed as a man for the film clip for it, this saying something in itself of the band's image that they wanted. Not that Gibbon's was in fact man, but that they weren't to be labeled as another pop group. They have been categorised as Trip-Hop, but I believe that they stem off the Riot Grrrl scene because of the style in which Gibbons' projects herself, and the unconventional music that is produced. Brilliant.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O embodies Riot Grrrl in a more subtle way. New York based band, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs formed in 2000 and from that day forward, Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been critically acclaimed as being "trashy, punky and grimy"... why is this Riot Grrrl? Because the words commonly used to describe Yeah Yeah Yeahs are also used to describe the movement that is Riot Grrrl. I think it's fair to say that the band is one of the most popular 'indie' band of today, but of course it does have a female "frontwoman" which tends to set them apart from other "indie" bands, and results in them being categorised as "girl rock" which is a post term for Riot Grrrl. Although they aren't as crazy and forceful as the likes of Bikini Kill or The Slits, Karen O still has a powerful and well-known and distinguishable voice, much like the forementioned groups.
The Grates
Patience Hodgson fronts Brisbane based band The Grates. Another 'girl rock' band. The Grates have gained their popularity in 2006 with their debut album Gravity Won't Get You High. "Lies are Much More Fun" and "Science is Golden" along with "19-20-20" and "Inside, Outside" became huge hits for the band, who are regularly described as "fun". Hodgson says that she, "has fun and wants others to have fun too." Her live shows consist of her dancing around the stage in over the top questions, with mammoth energy. The crowd loves it, screaming, dancing and laughing along with Hodgson who makes everyone comfortable with her presence. She digs performing in her hometown and often brings it home for the audience to be able to walk away with an awe of appreciation for the girl fronted male membered group. She's sexy and dirty but although she is a bit pop, her band can be described as post-Riot Grrrl because of the very obvious influence that early Riot Grrrl groups have. You can hear Kathleen Hanna in her voice, and you can pinpoint the rock goddess type stage demeanour that Patience has. She embarks upon a journey of fun, and allows everyone to join in, and enjoy every moment of it.
I Heart Hiroshima
Another Brisbane band, the band isn't so much fronted by a woman, but does quote a few Riot Grrrl bands as their influences. They say that the Raveonettes are one of their influences, and you can see this in drummer/vocalist Susie Patten's voice. I actually have to give huge props to Patten for drumming and singing at the same time, with absolute ease. The group even had their song included on one of Vice's CDs. Vice, being an international publication, but still including a Brisbane group on one of their compilations is a huge compliment to the band. The band isn't just Riot Grrrl because of the sometimes female vocalist, but because they follow the conventions that Riot Grrrl had.
CocoRosie
CocoRosie are categorised as "freak-folk"? They are an American duo who have based themselves in France. They aren't exactly rock, but their lyrics are very feminist, and have a huge obvious influence of Riot Grrrl on them, obvious by their lyrics in Werewolf "yeah I suck dick..." and the song also talks about a "schizophrenic father" which, if true, can be one of the attributes that make them a feminist band. CocoRosie is an interesting band because, in my opinion, their isn't any other successful band out there that have the same vibe that CocoRosie has. The band is compiled of sisters sisters Bianca Leilani "Coco" and Sierra Rose "Rosie" Casady. The band is young, they formed in 2003, creating their first unreleased hip hop album in Sierra's Parisian apartment bathroom. The girls, only 25 and 27 today, use exotic noise makers to create their original sound. Their song, "By Your Side" is a gorgeous little tale about how they just wanted to grow up to be someone's housewife, "I'll bake you apple pie... I'll try not to cry... I just want to be your housewife, only wants to be your housewife..." But, clearly, they changed their original path. Sierra, at 14, was kicked out of home by her father (another feminist influence?), and as a result, Bianca lost touch with her. In 2003, Bianca, bored with the mundane routine of life, embarked on a world-wide trip and unexpectedly turned up at her sister's door in Paris, and the two joined forces to begin their musical venture. Their music is heartbreakingly beautiful, and although they are screaming, punk or rude, they, for me, embody Riot Grrrl subtly in the message that is contained within most of their songs. But then again, in the tradition of Peaches and Bikini Kill, they have titled one of their songs "You Know You Want To Fuck Me".
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a different story altogether. Again, they are sisters. The two lesbians are rumoured to have relationships with...each other? Eeeeek. That ain't a Riot Grrrl... but it's a riot.
The two girls, who have been performing since 1995 have previously expressed their frustration that although they are gay, they shouldn't be labeled as a "gay band" - no puns. The band has gained a huge indie success through their past albums, and their most recent album The Con was released in 2007, and was their most successful one to date. They relate to Riot Grrrl because they again, havea strong influence of the girl music scene on them. Mainly an acoustic sound, the girls often talk about their strong connection with the female sex (ya reckon?!) and in my opinion appear to have some Joni Mitchell influences in their music. 'The Con' is a gorgeous melody, and the girls should be praised for being a successful girl duo, which tends to be rare within the music industry. They don't use sex or violence or swearing to up the anti, instead they just rely solely on their song writing ability to produce popular, and fine, music.
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco has long since been recognised as a feminist, heavily influencing the music industry. DiFranco belongs to record label Righteous Babe - which she started herself - and started out as a busker performing Beatles' covers with her guitar teacher at the age of 9 before gaining her own solo success. DiFranco labels herself as a bisexual, saying that she is able to connect with both sexes. She was awarded a "Woman of Courage Award" and has always, since the beginning of her long career, has been a feminist activist, often singing at feminist events, and writing songs concerning the fragile topic. Her song "I'm not a Pretty Girl" has so many lyrics that embody this.
"I am not Pretty Girl, that is not what I do... I am no damsel in distress, I do not need to be rescued...
I am not an angry girl... but it seems I've got everyone fooled...
Imagine you're a girl just trying to finally come clean, knowing well they'd prefer you were dirty, and smiling
I am a patriot... I am fighting the good fight.."
She embodies Riot Grrrl because she is totally active when it comes to rejecting the males in the industry, and creating a name for herself which labels herself as an all woman talented musician, who sings about the power and beauty of women. Buffalo News labeled her as "the leading lady of music."
Having released over 20 albums over her years as a performer, DiFranco deserves the right to be known as a massive influence over the rock industry. She has been an icon for many, and also a beacon of hope for other young female musicians who are trying to make it big in a male dominated industry. Ani DiFranco is the name behind the modern feminist movement.
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