The Ladies of SXSW

The Coathangers at Ms. Bea's (by Shelley Hiam)

A friend alerted me to Roseana Auten's breakdown of women in bands at South by Southwest this year, which I found enlightening. We were indeed were out en masse, whether in bands, as poster artists exhibiting at Flatstock, or in the Film and Interactive portions of the fest.

ATL's Coathangers and Seattle's Tacocat both took me back to my late high school/early college riot grrl days. NYC girl group Vivian Girls put on a fair show, though the harmonies failed to live up to those on their debut album. I really wanted to like Angel Deradoorian's set, since I love her soulful debut EP Mind Raft, but on stage solo with just her guitar inside at Mohawk, she was drowned out by female-fronted Canadian thrashers AIDS Wolf, which played outside and was pretty awesome.

Viola player Anni Rossi has some definite Laurie Anderson potential, but playing the Central Presbyterian Church was not the best venue for her sharp, plucked strings. Thao Nguyen was a pleasant, poppy surprise at Waterloo Park. Despite losing her voice the day before, local MC KB the Boo Bonic showed potential behind the mic.

Nite Jewel: I don't get it.

PJ Harvey: I am not feeling your new album, but that fact that you came out onstage dressed like a psychedelic virgin mermaid makes me love you even more.

On the horizon locally, Church of the Friendly Ghost is organizing a monthly series of female artists, from May-August, guest curated by locals Alissa DeRubeis and Amanda Lewis.