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

Previous Articles:

San Francisco needs some waking up!

I met some
of the most talented female musicians to
add to the fray I call the Kali Korporation

She confided to
me that it is the best music to
have sex to. I can die a happy girl now - I have created good ole fuck musack!

.

..girls are the next big thing!

I sold my soul to rock-n-roll!

by Angelique X

Welcome to July! I sold my soul to rock-n-roll or really to the Gun & Doll Show these last two months and now I'm back and ready for battle. One thing, among many things that I learned, was that San Francisco needs some waking up! Good news is that there are vacancies and the rents are going down according to the S.F. Chronicle, but most of the artists have moved away to L.A. you may say "never fear…I ain't going down there to breathe the smog and look at plastic boobies." I receive my recommended daily allowance here just fine, thank you!

So what started as an interview with the Gun & Doll Show ended up as me joining them as a member of their infamous 50 Guitar Orchestra to dance, sing and help produce the whole event. I used to be in a dance company back in the day, but that didn't beat the 4 costume changes I did for this show. The stress we all went through! Someday maybe we can be friends again! Kidding! Actually they were a joy to work with - totally dedicated individuals. The 50 Guitar Orchestra waited 2 hours in the cold for their few minutes of fame. Believe me, we gave them as much beer as we could afterwards at Killer's (aka Killian, leader of GnDshow) house and watched part of a video made from the event.

Well, there will be more on all that later...look for my detailed report to come. It is a lot to write about and I have to reflect on it a bit. But the thing I can mention now is that I met some of the most talented female musicians to add to the fray I call the Kali Korporation. Like the Goddess, meant to destroy old thinking and birth something new, these women are joining the rest of us at Voice is Venom to save the local scene.

I would like to introduce Liz Pisco, my fellow singer in the Gun & Doll Show's all girl band. She is a brilliant solo artist who will be writing reviews for Voice Is Venom, so keep an eye out. Biachi, from the most amazing, melodic Castles in Spain, who played guitar in the "Girl Band" and her cohort the lovely Jasmine graced our largest ever military cheerleader group. Alex stage managed the dancers at the Fillmore and made sure from 9am to 2:30 am that everything went smoothly, is also a photographer, who I will be modeling for soon.

Wednesday, June 27th was "Dominant Women Night" at the Paradise Lounge. If you didn't make it, let me tell you that this is where my hope renewed itself in chicks who rock hard! I got one of the best compliments from a Tribe 8 member… her girlfriend can't and won't take my Venus Bleeding CD out of her player. She confided that it is the best music to have sex to. I can die a happy girl now - I have created good ole fuck musack!

I would love to review the show but I had band practice till late and scurried over the bridge as fast as I could so I'll share what I can. After the lovely bartender Barbara, who also danced with us at the Fillmore, made me a drink, I had just enough time to catch the Hail Mary's and see their infectious passion take over the blue room. They can do what doesn't come easily to us hard rock girls - make a ballad you can eat whole. Hellfire Choir, lead by the beautiful bartender Shelly from the CW Saloon featured a player I recognized from the awesome band Cameltoe, who outdid their Supersuckers comparison in presence alone. I love their name and I hope to see it everywhere. Fabulous Disaster, our lovely signed (yay, Pink&Black!) girlfriends with the catchy punk hooks showed the crowded room that even Fat Mike can see that girls are the next big thing. Did I mention Mr. Nancy is one of my heroes? Bless her heart for making it, she has worked so hard to get us little folks in the door and hasn't stopped yet. Oh la la, when Betty Blowtorch hit the stage, all hell broke loose! I loved watching those Reality Check T.V. guys mosh to "size queen", BBT's ode to large male phalluses. Maybe there is hope for the guys getting it done after all. I had to berate them for missing "Live Nude Bands" - all that full frontal and they weren't there!! (I showed them a Polaroid.) With the promotion the Gun & Doll Show are capable of, I can't believe they missed out. I have to say they were the most enthusiastic besides the screaming Kamala of Violet Discord. I gave her a copy of Betty Blowtorch's CD and we've adopted some of their songs for our personal anthems. My only regret is that I missed watching Polly rock out with Psychedelic Wedding. I still hold on to their first 7'' (includes a great song called "Drug Slut"!) and replay their cover of Agent Orange's "Bloodstains" at the Coco Club show in my head from 5+ years ago! I also missed one of my faves - Violet Discord, their harmonies and attack on issues I hold dear to my soul. I always long to hear Kamala, who also joined the "girl band" at the Fillmore breaking hearts and playing bass. She rules!

Well, on Sat night, June 30th yours truly rocked the Paradise at Blue Period's Glitz Night. Venus Bleeding played with All the Pretty Horses from back east, who are lead by the most amazing, Venus! The Hell Bros opened and the night was finished off by Blue Period. Also upstairs at the Paradise are booths to make you fancy, and the lovely Margo, DJ and model, hosted Dark Sparkle in the upper bar. The return of dark glamour was welcomed by people in black vinyl!

Also in July, check out Venus Bleeding for our show at the Pound in SF with The Fixx. Yes, it is that Fixx. Thanks to Kat of the Hail Mary's, for suggesting us to play! "One thing leads to another!"

Featured Performers:

Gun and Doll Show
Angelique X
Liz Pisco
Castles In Spain
Hail Mary's
Hellfire Choir
Fabulous Disaster
Betty Blowtorch
Violet Discord
Psychedelic Wedding
Venus Bleeding
All the Pretty Horses
The Hell Bros.
Blue Period
Margo

Venus Bleeding featuring Angelique
www.venusbleeding.com