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Articles "I was always into rock, even when I was very little. I really liked the beat and the speed, the toughness." -- LIZ PHAIR Previous Articles: Where Were All The Students?! (April) Girls Rock! Showcase (May) The sky's the limit and women hold it up.	Nectar Presents the First Ever Women's Stage at SF Pride 2001 by L. Hayle & D. Mauro You'd think it would have happened already - a women's stage at the SF Pride Celebration. Nope! This year, four determined women who call themselves Nectar Productions pulled it off! The very first stage for women performers in the thirty-year history of SF Pride. This amazing venue is the brainchild of Kendall Nichols, Executive Producer, Carmen Morrison, Co-Producer, Sini Anderson, Co-Producer, and Andrea Burnett, Publicity Director. These local women have over 50 combined years of experience in music, arts and event production. Did I tell you they are volunteers? Isn't that just like women to roll up their sleeves and create change rather than merely complain about what needs to change. Nectar Stage featured music, poetry slams, comedy, dance, and spoken word. It was as Kendall Nichols put it, "..a venue for women from every walk of life to gather together to dance, play, laugh, and celebrate in a new way to cap off a week of Pride activities." We caught the Brooklyn dynamic duo, Bitch and Animal, before they went on… Bitch sings and plays the electric fiddle or bass while Animal holds down percussion on the jimbe or uke and sings! "We're about reclaiming words," said Bitch. On the point of what a difference words can make, they spoke to us about a performance they were booked for at the Hudson Arts Council (a somewhat conservative audience) and were told it was okay to sing "Best Cock on the Block," but not "Pussy Manifesto." Hmm, interesting choice, men. When asked about how the Bay Area music scene looks to them, Animal said "Audiences here give it up." and that San Francisco audiences are supportive, but not the venues. This is not news to us in SF, but that's another article in itself! Their music is so unique; I had to ask what some of their musical influences were. They listed Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Cindy Lauper, Nina Simone, Liz Phair, and Kinnie Starr. Bitch and Animal hope that girls will have the confidence to play instruments and perform - even if it takes "self-assertion classes for little girls." This pair is inspired and inspiring. Their set at Pride was electric, despite some technical difficulties the sound crew had. Bitch and Animal delivered a high-powered and engaging performance. People packed the street as far as the eye could see. There was whooping, hollering, and singing along. It's no wonder they have a cult following; they're unique, amazing, and outrageous. As it states on their website, "The Pussy Revolution is a spread-it-yourself revolution born inside the eggs of us all." Kindness, a talented trio made up of three veteran entertainers: Katharine Chase, Shelley Doty and Dawn Richardson, who shared a few minutes to talk with us after their performance. Shelley Doty is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who has been performing since 1989, and recently joined Kindness. She played a short solo set before the full band, treating the audience to her clear strong voice and powerful stage presence. Shelley spoke with us about how hard it is for musicians to survive financially. Adding to commentary on the club scene in SF, Katharine Chase said, "There is just not a good circle of booking agents now - and it's killing the music scene… even though, music in the Bay Area is incredibly diverse. Bands from across the spectrum are here - playing together." Former 4-Non Blondes member, Dawn Richardson said "there are always cliques in the music scene, and the ups and downs are cyclical. But I am glad there's more room for experimental music here than other places." Each woman in Kindness has a particular female performer who influenced her musically. For Katharine it's Tina Weymouth, Shelley praised Nancy Wilson, and Dawn said, "…well, the only female drummer then was Gina Shock of the Go-Go's." Kindness has a special way of making audiences feel good, and their set at Pride was no exception. Katharine Chase is radiant with her crystal clear vocals and formidable bass playing and Shelley Doty is pure energy on stage. She moves, and we all move with her. Dawn Richardson mixes solid drumming with sampled percussion. Their music is an appealing blend of raw rock and sampler technology that puts audiences under a blissfully rhythmic spell. You can't help but dance when Kindness in on stage. The Butchies came a long way from home to rock the Nectar Stage. These three young women hail from Durham, North Carolina where they have been a band for the past three years. They graciously took some time to speak with us before their set. When we asked about the music scene in Durham, they told us there wasn't one. Move here, girls! Kaia told us their music is about "…connecting with each other, love, passion, communicating and personal feeling." The three have been enjoying the huge "lezzie scene" here, and were thrilled to play at Pride. It's their hope that girls won't be afraid to pick up electric guitars and make some noise. When asked about their musical influences, The Butchies said there were so many - but each woman managed to name one: for Kaia it's Helen Reddy, for Alison - Joan Jett, and Melissa named Chris Williams and the B-52's. The first ever stage for women performers at SF Pride was a raging success thanks to the hard work of Nectar Productions. The turn out was huge, the performers gave 100%, and now we are all looking toward the future in the Bay Area. What's next? A women's stage at Dyke March? A street fair for women featuring several stages? A series of events across the country? The sky's the limit and women hold it up. www.nectarproductions.org	Women's Stage Performers Sista Boom DJ Gray Mutama Once Shelley Doty Laura Chandler DJ Edaj Melissa Ferrick Marcus Renee Van DJ Olga T & Black Betty Bitch & Animal Marga Gomez DJ Anita Lofton Kinnie Star Elitria & Kali Kassy Kayaitos DJ China G The Butchies Tribe 8 DJ Mixtress Page Hodel www.bitchandanimal.com "We're about reclaiming words," said Bitch. "Audiences here give it up," said Animal. www.kindnesstheband.com "...music in the Bay Area is incredibly diverse. Bands from across the spectrum are here - playing together." Katherine click to see Shelley's review www.thebutchies.com "our music is about connecting with each other, love, passion, communicating and personal feeling." Kaia Girlfriends Magazine, On Our Backs, Curve Magazine, Good Vibrations, Mary's Futons, & San Francisco GLBT Community Center sponsored this event.

Articles

"I was always into rock, even when I
was very little.
I really liked the beat and the speed, the toughness."
-- LIZ PHAIR

Previous Articles:

Where Were All The Students?! (April)

Girls Rock! Showcase
(May)

The sky's the limit and women hold it up.

Nectar Presents the First Ever Women's Stage
at SF Pride 2001
by L. Hayle & D. Mauro

You'd think it would have happened already - a women's stage at the SF Pride Celebration. Nope! This year, four determined women who call themselves Nectar Productions pulled it off! The very first stage for women performers in the thirty-year history of SF Pride. This amazing venue is the brainchild of Kendall Nichols, Executive Producer, Carmen Morrison, Co-Producer, Sini Anderson, Co-Producer, and Andrea Burnett, Publicity Director. These local women have over 50 combined years of experience in music, arts and event production. Did I tell you they are volunteers? Isn't that just like women to roll up their sleeves and create change rather than merely complain about what needs to change.

Nectar Stage featured music, poetry slams, comedy, dance, and spoken word. It was as Kendall Nichols put it, "..a venue for women from every walk of life to gather together to dance, play, laugh, and celebrate in a new way to cap off a week of Pride activities."

We caught the Brooklyn dynamic duo, Bitch and Animal, before they went on… Bitch sings and plays the electric fiddle or bass while Animal holds down percussion on the jimbe or uke and sings!
"We're about reclaiming words," said Bitch. On the point of what a difference words can make, they spoke to us about a performance they were booked for at the Hudson Arts Council (a somewhat conservative audience) and were told it was okay to sing "Best Cock on the Block," but not "Pussy Manifesto." Hmm, interesting choice, men.

When asked about how the Bay Area music scene looks to them, Animal said "Audiences here give it up." and that San Francisco audiences are supportive, but not the venues. This is not news to us in SF, but that's another article in itself!

Their music is so unique; I had to ask what some of their musical influences were. They listed Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Cindy Lauper, Nina Simone, Liz Phair, and Kinnie Starr.

Bitch and Animal hope that girls will have the confidence to play instruments and perform - even if it takes "self-assertion classes for little girls." This pair is inspired and inspiring. Their set at Pride was electric, despite some technical difficulties the sound crew had. Bitch and Animal delivered a high-powered and engaging performance. People packed the street as far as the eye could see. There was whooping, hollering, and singing along. It's no wonder they have a cult following; they're unique, amazing, and outrageous. As it states on their website, "The Pussy Revolution is a spread-it-yourself revolution born inside the eggs of us all."

Kindness, a talented trio made up of three veteran entertainers: Katharine Chase, Shelley Doty and Dawn Richardson, who shared a few minutes to talk with us after their performance. Shelley Doty is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who has been performing since 1989, and recently joined Kindness. She played a short solo set before the full band, treating the audience to her clear strong voice and powerful stage presence.

Shelley spoke with us about how hard it is for musicians to survive financially. Adding to commentary on the club scene in SF, Katharine Chase said, "There is just not a good circle of booking agents now - and it's killing the music scene… even though, music in the Bay Area is incredibly diverse. Bands from across the spectrum are here - playing together." Former 4-Non Blondes member, Dawn Richardson said "there are always cliques in the music scene, and the ups and downs are cyclical. But I am glad there's more room for experimental music here than other places."

Each woman in Kindness has a particular female performer who influenced her musically. For Katharine it's Tina Weymouth, Shelley praised Nancy Wilson, and Dawn said, "…well, the only female drummer then was Gina Shock of the Go-Go's."

Kindness has a special way of making audiences feel good, and their set at Pride was no exception. Katharine Chase is radiant with her crystal clear vocals and formidable bass playing and Shelley Doty is pure energy on stage. She moves, and we all move with her. Dawn Richardson mixes solid drumming with sampled percussion. Their music is an appealing blend of raw rock and sampler technology that puts audiences under a blissfully rhythmic spell. You can't help but dance when Kindness in on stage.

The Butchies came a long way from home to rock the Nectar Stage. These three young women hail from Durham, North Carolina where they have been a band for the past three years. They graciously took some time to speak with us before their set. When we asked about the music scene in Durham, they told us there wasn't one. Move here, girls! Kaia told us their music is about "…connecting with each other, love, passion, communicating and personal feeling." The three have been enjoying the huge "lezzie scene" here, and were thrilled to play at Pride.

It's their hope that girls won't be afraid to pick up electric guitars and make some noise. When asked about their musical influences, The Butchies said there were so many - but each woman managed to name one: for Kaia it's Helen Reddy, for Alison - Joan Jett, and Melissa named Chris Williams and the B-52's.

The first ever stage for women performers at SF Pride was a raging success thanks to the hard work of Nectar Productions. The turn out was huge, the performers gave 100%, and now we are all looking toward the future in the Bay Area. What's next? A women's stage at Dyke March? A street fair for women featuring several stages? A series of events across the country? The sky's the limit and women hold it up. www.nectarproductions.org

Women's Stage
Performers

Sista Boom
DJ Gray
Mutama
Once
Shelley Doty
Laura Chandler
DJ Edaj
Melissa Ferrick
Marcus Renee Van
DJ Olga T & Black
Betty
Bitch & Animal
Marga Gomez
DJ Anita Lofton
Kinnie Star
Elitria & Kali
Kassy Kayaitos
DJ China G
The Butchies
Tribe 8
DJ Mixtress Page Hodel

www.bitchandanimal.com

"We're about reclaiming words," said Bitch.

"Audiences here give it up," said Animal.

www.kindnesstheband.com

"...music in the Bay Area is incredibly diverse. Bands from across the spectrum are here - playing together." Katherine

click to see Shelley's review

www.thebutchies.com

"our music is about connecting with each other, love, passion, communicating and personal feeling." Kaia

Girlfriends Magazine, On Our Backs, Curve Magazine, Good Vibrations, Mary's Futons, & San Francisco GLBT Community Center
sponsored this event.