Why aren't there more all-girl bands?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: rich-joy
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 11:33 PM

There's always SAFFIRE - those uppity blues women -
and what about England's LUCKY BAGS : Judy Dinning / Julie-Ann Kay / Liz Law / Zena Tubmen - lovely CD called "Delight in Disorder (from 1998 - on Fellside) + another called "Food For Thought" (1996).
But don't forget the most powerful, long-lived, all-women group of them all : SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK!!!

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Peace
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 04:33 PM

No, because they ain't, they ain't and they ain't. Other than that, why not?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 04:19 PM

Does "The Bare Naked Ladies" count?

http://img.atpictures.com/bnladies/bnladies21.jpg

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Seaking
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 02:13 PM

- because there's no-one who can read the map between gigs....

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Cluin
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 01:35 PM

Oh yeah, and also, how many female vocalists does it take to record a cover of "Crazy"?








Answer: All of them.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Cluin
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 10:33 AM

Guys keep marrying them and making them quit.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Pinetop Slim
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 10:21 AM

Check out Po' Girl. They do great covers of Shake, Sugaree and Abilene and a lot of original material that pays homage to earlier jazz. One, maybe both, members of the duo is also part of a larger all-female band in the Seattle area -- the Tanyas, or somethin' like that.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: mooman
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 04:05 AM

The Donnas were mentioned wearlier in the thread. I saw them live in a smallish venue a month or so ago and, if one like good hard driving rock (I do), they are difficult to beat. Good musicians one and all and play as if they've been together 10 years (they have!).

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,dickhead
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 02:49 AM

why aren't there more girl bands in mini-skirts

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Metchosin
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 01:59 AM

There are a lot of really good female musicians and when you are a really good musician, you prefer to play with other really good musicians too and gender is not an issue.

Both my daugters play in mixed bands, one plays bass and the other guitar and mandolin.

The only time they have played in an "all girl band" was when they were really young. It wasn't a conscious effort to be an "all girls band", it was just that, at the age when they began, all their friends were female, the same as with "boys" of that age and as with boys, they decided, "Hey, let's make music".

I believe that the reason that there are so few all female bands is because there are even less female musicians, who believe making music with musicians of only their own gender is of primary import.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 11:11 PM

And of course, the population of all-girls has been declining. It used to be honorable to tell people one was an all-girl. But those days are lost in the distant past of civilization.


A

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 11:00 PM

There was a California group called Blue Rose, back in the 1980s. Laurie Lewis, Sally Van Meter and three others ladies. Every one could either sing, play, or both. I believe Good Ol' Persons and Side Saddle were origionally all-woman groups also.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Miken
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 10:39 PM

Quartette!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 02:56 PM

Great all F ceilidh band called airs and graces.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Peace
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 02:19 PM

I am a Dixie Chicks fan. The lead singer could make a bishop put his foot through a stained glass window. I just never struck me that they were all girls until I noticed none of them were guys. They transcend gender. Maybe the question should be, "Why aren't there more really good bands?"

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 02:13 PM

i dunno, it seems as if a sort of battle-of-the-alpha-females phenomenon occurs. i know my former band wasn't big enough for two women, and i was sent packing. perhaps something about the way men are socialized to interact lets them get together in groups and play music/sing without feeling competitive more easily. as far as all female bands are concerned, the punk-rock end of the spectrum seems to hold the most promise. celtic music has been a bit of a boys club despite the many talented female musicians it has produced of late. there is a lovely all-female band out of finland, varttiina.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 12:39 PM

The other question would be, why are there so many all-male bands, given that every other person is female?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 22 Nov 03 - 03:10 PM

Can't help you with names of Girl Rock Bands, Guest Rick, but this message should take the thread to the top of the forum again. But people are unlikely to email you a list, they will post information to this thread so that anyone interested can also use the information. So do keep checking back on the thread. (If you become a member (free), one of the perks is that you can keep a trace on particular threads that interest you, on your Personal Page, without having to search every time.)

Joan

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Rick
Date: 22 Nov 03 - 12:11 PM

What are your favorite Girl Rock Bands, I know there are some obscure ones out there, I want to find some good Girl Band Rock to make a home CD for myself. If I can get some good info I can probably find the tracks and listen and add them to my library. But I need some good names.

I prefer Rock or Pop Girl Bands, Some even have a male member or two as Musicians but are still considered Girl Band to me.

Give me some good names People. Thanks.

Send list to [e-mail] please

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 05:11 AM

There used to be a good all-girl rock band (I mean a band that played its own instruments, not girl singers who hired backing musicians)called "Fanny" (had a medium hit with "Charity Ball" in the late 60s or early 70s) and another called "Birtha" who marketed a heavyish sound under the slogan "Birtha has Balls".

I can't remember if Cheetah was all girl, or just the two singers (who really made the whole sound).

Then there were a few punk girl bands such as Hole, and the Slits.   I think there are still some all female punk bands, and I'm not sure if one is not called "Riott Grrrls".

There are quite a few current amateur female folk duos and trios, and I can't remember the name but I think one is based in Orpington Friday club.

Perhaps it partly depends on what you mean by "band".

It may well also depend on the normal view of assertiveness. In general society still exects more assertiveness of men than of women.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 12:29 PM

Whoops, sorry, I meant "dearth"

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 12:26 PM

Judging from the responses above, there clearly are many all-girl bands, so the dirth is perceived rather than real.

But how about the REAL minorities? Why are there so few all-left-handed-instrumentalist groups? Or every-member-called-Spike bands? Or all-doctor-ensembles?

DonMeixner gave the best answer above. I fully support his reasoning.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Miken
Date: 07 Jun 03 - 01:38 AM

Well, tomorrow night I'm going to a CD release/concert at the NW Sea port of a group of all lady shantey and maritime singers called "Broadside". I've heard some of them before in other groups, and they're gonna be great! I'll let ya know.
Mike

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Ely
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 11:47 PM

From what I've seen, girls don't get the same encouragement that boys do. There are several "older" (older than I am) male guitarists in my usual music circle and they have offered me advice on occasion, but they seem to feel more comfortable with the boys than they do with me. Younger men either ignore me completely or raise their eyebrows when I set aside my dainty little lap dulcimer for the guitar. There are only a handful of guys who know me really well and have played with me for years that just treat me like any other musician.

I'm not a great guitarist but I still get the occasional "you're good for a girl". One music-store salesclerk asked me once if the strings I was buying were for my boyfriend (I shop elsewhere now). My guitar teacher always used to tell me to "stop playing like a girl" and get some VOLUME out of the guitar. I think I was his only female student at the time.

I don't usually seek out female musicians--I like the train songs, traveling songs, etc. that appear to be the domain mostly of male performers. This isn't to say I don't think females are as good--nobody beats Etta Baker--I just haven't found ones that "grab" me. I never liked the Indigo Girls, Ani DiFranco, etc.; I like Kate Wolf but some of her songs are just too . . . girly for me.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 06:39 PM

"...All-Girl Topless Marching Accordion Band!!!!"

Wow! I'll have to see that!! Topless marching accordions!! Not something you see everyday. ("All-Girl" is some sort of award, no?)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Michael S
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 05:58 PM

Working Northern California in the early '90s, one of the best named bluegrass bands ever--100% female-- "The All Girl Boys."

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 03:48 PM

The Buffalo Gals are 4/5 female, which is probably more unusual than 100%. They play mostly western swing. Doug Lohman, the only male, is NOT the leader. I don't know if the band has an official leader, but Mary DuShane seems like one. She used to be a member of the Powdermilk Biscuit Band on the Prairie Home Companion radio show.

The Tsatskelehs (Boy, did I have a tough time figuring out how to spell that!) are an "all-grrrl" klezmer band based in Minneapolis.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 11:00 AM

I'm taking Applications for My All-Girl Topless Marching Accordion Band!!!!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 08:57 AM

They do more than kids' records; they do lots more. And their concerts are great.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Davetnova
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 06:51 AM

Shine - they are all female and brilliant

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 06:23 AM

The Donnas? On here? I thought i was the only one...
also, about girl groups. girl group dynamics are very difficult to get right, there's usually some sort of bitching/rivalry/jealousy. i know, i went to an all girls school. they'll often drag a lad in just to keep the daggers at bay! rehearsals often descend into "i'll just put the kettle on and we'll have a break" and chatting. Maybe my girl groups were just never really committed enough...

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: sweetfire
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 06:12 AM

What about the Donnas? Anyone heard of them? Play their own intrumets etc, and actually have thier own style...

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 03:41 AM

...back on the jazz kick, I see that despite her MS, Gail Thompson (sax)has formed a new all-woman, all-black band called Noir Femmes.

RtS

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 03 - 12:23 PM

One was a folk duo, two were jazz bands.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: John P
Date: 10 May 03 - 11:52 AM

Strange how different people have different experiences. I've never heard of such a thing.

"Several circumstances"?? Really? Folk bands?

John

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 03 - 11:04 AM

Actually, I disagree that people don't give a damn about gender in the choice of bandmates. The choice of bandmates rarely is just about who the best musician is--it has to do with compatability, with their commitment to the type of music the band plays, with their availability, and sometimes, the musician's gender. I personally know of several circumstances where women musicians have been overlooked because male musicians in the band assumed they would quit the band or slow them down because of child bearing/rearing.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: John P
Date: 10 May 03 - 10:14 AM

Maybe one reason is that most female musicians are, thank god, more interested in making good music in a non-sex-specific way than they are in being in a girl group.

All of the women I am close to are feminists and most are musicians. Everyone knows that, like with most professions, there are more men professionals than women, but the situation is a little better with folk music than with other genres, and no one gives a damn about any of that when it comes to choosing one's band mates.

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 03 - 09:07 AM

Add to that the Pointer Sisters, Four Bitchin' Babes, Silly Sisters, Indigo Girls and a bizillion other women duos.

The real answer is that music is no different from any other industry in terms of the face lift that has occurred as a result of women coming in to the field. Professional music was once a predominately male profession. That has changed, all for the better, with women coming into their own. There isn't anything even remotely reaching parity of numbers between the genders of professional musicians. But considering the list we have accumulated here, we can see that we're off to a great start.

I think the more important question, really, than 'all female' groups, is how many groups are led by women, where the female musician is the one calling all the shots, not the male members. My guess is, there are many fewer of those than there are all female groups. Sexism and gender discrimination is still very prevalent in the music industry.

Musicians like Sharon Shannon, Alison Kraus, Emmylou, etc. are all individual musicians who have back up bands, justg as a male 'star' would. Not a single group with female members to mind where the comes to mind where the female musician in the band is 'in charge'.

Can anyone come up with one?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Strollin' Johnny
Date: 10 May 03 - 07:22 AM

How odd that no-one picked up on michaelr's mention of The Poozies! Best in their early incarnation with Sally Barker (what a singer! What a writer! what a woman!!) but still great through later ones with the delicious Kate Rusby (one of the three best voices in the UK, the others being Kathryn Roberts and Miranda Sykes) and the Scottish lady fiddle-player whose name I've forgotten (Eilidh? Sorry, it's my advancing years killing off most of my grey cells!). Patsy and Mary, two excellent harpers and, of course, Karen Tweed the Guv'nor (Guv'ness?) of accordion players. Absolute Stars - more please ladies!
JB

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 09 May 03 - 09:20 PM

One of the great sea music groups out there is the 5-member all-women The Johnson Girls, based in New York. Great singing and very interesting and unusual repertoire. The Windlasses also come to mind. Time will tell if they inspire other women to form their own sea music bands. Maybe they have already.

In U.S. celtic fiddling, the duo of Athena Tergis (now Athena O'Lochlainn) and Laura Risk have been a direct influence on other young women fidlers. The Boston fiddle band Halali point to Athena and Laura as their inspiration (fiddlers Hanneke Cassel, Laura Cortese, and Lissa Schneckenburger - ok, their guitar accompanist is a guy). Times are changing, and these groups example will no doubt influence and encourage others.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: LesB
Date: 09 May 03 - 04:25 PM

I saw The Witches of Elswick last week at Moor & Coast, & as Vin Garbutt would say 'I think their great'.
Les (not to be confused with Guest LesB)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 May 03 - 03:42 PM

Of course there were the BOSOM BUDDIES out of Lansing, Michigan a couple o' decades ago.

But to answer the question that titles this thread:-----Some might say that there are so few all-girl bands because there are so few all-girls these days.   ((((((((((HUGE SMILE PLUS A GIGANTIC GUFFAW)))))))))))))).

Just a little joke !!!!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 May 03 - 03:28 PM

There's a GREAT band out there these days called "Painting Dasies"

Check 'em Out!

;-)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: open mike
Date: 09 May 03 - 02:58 PM

rob wright, are you any relation to www.sky-web.net/taggartandwright/
the wright in this duo? Is that how you know about their attitudes?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: breezy
Date: 09 May 03 - 09:36 AM

Dangerous curves

there I said it

st Albans Fri5th december

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 09 May 03 - 03:21 AM

....and didn't Rick Fielding's mother play in one of those wartime all-women orchestras, formed when many male musos had been drafted?

RtS

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 08 May 03 - 06:55 PM

The B Good Tanyas?(sp?)
Ray

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Fay
Date: 08 May 03 - 05:24 PM

The Witches of Elswick like to think of themselves as an all girl band, even if some of their habits are a little, shall we say, manly.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 May 03 - 05:16 PM

A very talented all-girl band called 'The Glacial Erratics' does a bit of touring, in the Yukon and on the East Coast of the US. Each of the four (Betsy Sims, Martha Scott Stey, Kim Barlow and Andrea McColeman) is a wonderful musician in her own right, and they have some great CDs out together too. Two of them are from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and two live in Juneau.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,starcam03
Date: 08 May 03 - 04:37 PM

Hmmm... blackcat has a good point... those male groupies would be awfully skanky!! lol... Well, I guess it's not as though there aren't plenty of solo female artists - Sarah MacLachlan, Jewell, Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Bjork, Tracy Chapman, and on and on. And, as Les B. pointed out, there's always the Dixie Chicks. But the only new all-girl band, as of late, that I have heard of on the scene is Lillix
and fortunately, they are pretty tight. It's bad enough that all-girl bands like the Go-Gos, The Bangles or Bananarama only seem to come around once every decade, but if the ones that did come out weren't any good, I just don't think I could stand it.