Reviews

"I think, being women, we got a lot of shit from people, particularly because we didn't always come across as rowdy and boisterous, good-time girls. we gave the audience a harder time in terms o f coping with our music. We took ourselves seriously."
-- GINA BIRCH
THE RAINCOATS

www.gertruderock.com

Don't Let the Dowdy Old Name GERTRUDE Fool You!

L. Hayle

It was my distinct pleasure to catch the London Based group GERTRUDE, on April 13th at the Covered Wagon Saloon in SF for the first gig of their West Coast tour. The electric cello waiting on stage excited me before I even heard them. Quirky would not even begin to describe the stage presence and music of this cast of characters. A partner in odd for the cello was the clarinet, played by Iona Tanguay, a Pippi Longstocking looking girl who also played the guitar and sang. This group makes an unusual first impression but the listener is soon charmed by the sweet scruffy vocals of lead singer Zoe Gilmour, that stretch unbelievably well over the broad dynamic range of the music. Zoe is also the cellist in the group - and yes - sometimes she does both at once! GERTRUDE's drummer, Dawn Rose, manages to nail down driving beats as well as do more random and spiced percussion that is the foundation for the poetic and angry coming from the other musicians. Ayesha Taylor makes her distorted guitar scream its passionate angst, giving the songs a rhythmic accessibility. Audiences have the tendency to feel the bass, rather than actually listen to it - but Debbie Vanozzi's bass playing is impossibly good. Her command of the instrument both physically and technically gives the music an irresistible groove and power. Few bass players have impressed me as this woman has. GERTRUDE amazes not just because of the individual talents of its members - but because together these women evoke a musical carnival. The songs come to life because of their energy on stage. This ensemble's inspiration is infectious. Inside one of their CD's they have written: We are committed to writing songs and music collectively.

We send out a shout to all girls playing guitars and banging drums in bedrooms.