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Tuesday, June 17th

20 Ladies in the Scene that aren’t in Paramore or iPod Commercials

Let’s face it. When reading music blogs it seems that the ‘movers and shakers’ of our scene are men. The women who do happen to fall into the limelight land on a Mac commercial or the Juno soundtrack. But there are a ton of extremely talented women who rarely ever get press, even though they’re super awesome. Here are our 20 favorite ladies to listen to:

	#20 Caithlin from Rainer Maria Redheads are supposed to be all crazy and emotional, right? Judging from her vocals, Caithlin doesn’t seem the type to sledgehammer an ex’s subcompact out of jealousy or spite, but you never know with these artistic-types.
	#19 Maria Solheim Maria (hitched to Extol drummer, David) graces the mic with acoustic folk pop, garnished with lyrics that smack of the seasoned maturity of much older artists. We award her extra points for putting the words “Christmastime” and “killing” in the same line.

	#18 Beth Cameron from Forget Cassettes It was years ago, when I first heard Beth on the odd-timed Ms Rhythm and Blues off the Instruments of Action album. Her vocals are tough as nails yet delicate like a warm summer breeze.
	#17 Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation I absolutely adore Sharon den Adel, in spite of her being in goth rock band. She incredibly beautiful, and she has a great voice to back it up. She provides the perfect backdrop against the mix of orchestra strings and distorted guitars. She makes the annoying genre seem less so, at least.

	#16 Neko Case She’s the successful, expressive female musician that so many of us single music nerds quietly hope we end up with. Her trademark smoky, Patsy Cline-esque alt. country sound is sexy and captivating. Plus, she’s in the New Pornographers and lives up to the sassy redhead stereotype. What’s not to love?
	#15 Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond Worden has a mysterious vibe about her. It’s almost as if she wasn’t meant for this time or place. Whether she’s playing her own music or performing in Sufjan’s band, she channels sounds from a made-up world from a century ago. It’s very intriguing. And that’s hot.

	#14 Maura Davis from Denali and Ambulette Although rumors abound about a Denali reunion, Davis is keeping busy with her brother, Keeley Davis, the former lead singer of Engine Down and member of Sparta. The two, with help of Cornbread Compton, also of Engine Down, released a debut album entitled Harmonium, under the name Glös.
	#13 Michelle DaRosa of Straylight Run She’s the sister of former Taking Back Sunday member John Nolan, who asked her to join his band on keys. DeRosa is married to Jeff DeRosa, formerly of The Exit and most recently The Dropkick Murphys.

	#12 Blake Hazard of The Submarines Hazard formed her indie act with boyfriend John Dragonetti after the two broke up. They put their solo woe filled songs together to make their debut album Declare A New State.
	#11 Kori Gardner of Mates of State A mother of two, Gardner sings and plays the keyboard along with her drumming husband Josh Hammel. They are set to release their fifth album Re-Arrange Us in May of 2008. If you’re keen on information about motherhood, go to her blog Band On The Diaper Run and read excerpts oozing about her kids.

	#10 Kelly Crisp of The Rosebuds She’s the keyboard player, co-lead vocalist along with husband Ivan Howard on the Merge Records. They might have never been formed if not for a leg injury which sidelined Howard’s promising NBA career. You probably haven’t heard of them yet, but comedian Todd Barry has.
	#9 Bella Gleason of Action Reaction Some might remember “Bella” from her days in Element. Yea, then they became Element 101 and broke up two albums later. That said, her entire body of work (no, not body, you sickos!) is impressive and that’s why she’s on this list.

	#8 Emily of Tsunami Bomb There’s nothing hotter than a chick singing about graveyards and being in a punk rock band, especially when she delivers the words with such nonchalance in their video.
	#7 Emily of Holy Roman Empire The Rubenesque, inked-up frontchick of HRE has a set of pipes that would destroy even the emptiest of American Idol heads - and she wouldn’t be covering that annoying Four Tops song either.
	#6 Beth Ditto of The Gossip The corpulent cutiepie front girl of The Gossip kicks out fun lyrics with a voice like warm butter. Although she’s a great singer, and is known for a strong stage presence, I really know her more for things like this.
	#5 Kaki King She puts most male metal guitar “shredders” to shame with her tapping and percussive guitar playing, and she pretty much forged herself her own genre.
	#4 Susan Enan A soft voice that can move mountains - Susan breaths gorgeous melodies like some people drink water, and she even does that better.
	#3 Marnie Stern A talented guitarist, playing some of the most spaced out prog-rock. Although I think she’s amazing, I can’t listen terribly long. Her songs conjure up memories of the girls I was scared to take home to mom.
	#2 Noelle from Damone Being an leather-clad rock ‘n’ roller is all the rage with the hipsters these days, at least at those annoying 80’s parties, but how many really live the life? The Mediterranean, doe-eyed Noelle fills all your Joan Jett rock-pop requirements.
	#1 The ladies of X-AM These ladies play fast and loose with their own brand of grindy electronica. While it’s rare to see a girl-fronted grindcore band, a grindcore band comprised only of girls is even moreso. Kudos to them for carrying that flag.

Written by Buzzgrinder Staff
> Music, Opinion, Other Review | 11:00 am |
More on: Beth Ditto, Forget Cassettes, Holy Roman Empire, Kahki King, Rainer Maria, The Gossip

49 Responses to “20 Ladies in the Scene that aren’t in Paramore or iPod Commercials”

On 06/17/08 12:11 PM, marilyn manson said:

Great list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On 06/17/08 12:17 PM, Shanetera said:

You forgot Alli from Bloodlined Calligraphy. She left the band, but was super brutal.
On 06/17/08 12:20 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

Shane, we can only fit 20 people in a list of 20 people.
On 06/17/08 12:46 PM, Rick Roll said:

Well from a hardcore standpoint…
i like that chick from flee the seen.
her vocals were well done.
and i guess shes a good bass player too.
On 06/17/08 2:03 PM, michael said:

#21- Shannon Burns of The Forecast
On 06/17/08 4:06 PM, sammy said:

I looove watching Kaki King play, but can’t get into the recordings. I also saw St. Vincent last year and she was sooo rockin live. Are these ranked though? because Maura Davis is obviously the most awesome.
On 06/17/08 4:09 PM, Dylan said:

#22-Emily Haines of Metric and The Soft Skeleton
On 06/17/08 4:46 PM, Shanetera said:

That chick from Flee the Seen is super hot. Good call on that. I wanna do illegal things to that gir.
On 06/17/08 5:41 PM, NapaWino said:

Yea, only 20, too bad, check out Tiffany Sotomayor from Bella (drummer) and That Girl With Dark Eyes. I think you’ll be seeing more of her in the near future. Oh, she’s the dark haired one and one with dark eyes!
On 06/17/08 9:15 PM, tom said:

i thought it was confirmed denali actually was reuniting in july.
On 06/17/08 11:15 PM, GoGoGadget Supa said:

X-AM is annoying as shit. Denali kicks ass, it’s just too bad that Maura Davis is a crazy biotch. Had a the hugest crush on her for years.
On 06/18/08 5:07 AM, Tim O. said:

Sarah from Pink Daffodils?
On 06/18/08 7:19 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

Every female from every band ever?
On 06/18/08 7:55 AM, Katie said:

Oh, I absolutely love Within Temptation and My Brightest Diamond. They’re both really good bands
On 06/18/08 10:58 AM, seymour said:

X-AM are the best! I saw them live on saturday and they were fucking nuts.
On 06/18/08 2:07 PM, Bringontherock said:

Melissa from The Breakup
http://www.myspace.com/thebreakup

amazing female drummer
On 06/18/08 2:37 PM, Matthew Moore said:

I guess when we say this is a music opinion site, we mean our opinion kthx. ha
On 06/18/08 4:31 PM, April said:

I love Emily from Tsunami Bomb…or well, pardon me–The Action Design. :p
On 06/18/08 6:05 PM, jerry said:

Never heard the Gossip before until I checked that link out..very nice…Beth Ditto…I’d hit it.

But then again, I’m a sick mofo..There’s a lotta things about me you don’t know anything about. Things you wouldn’t understand. Things you couldn’t understand. Things you shouldn’t understand.
On 06/18/08 7:49 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

michael, good one - The Forecast is pretty good.
On 06/19/08 1:15 AM, joe said:

yeah! Kaki King!
On 06/19/08 5:19 AM, Paul A Harper said:

I would have liked seeing Emily Haines on this list.

But, yeah, I was at that show, and I took video of X-AM. It was an amazing performance.

here is some of the footage I shot.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=47bMnV5WSaY
On 06/19/08 12:46 PM, Jason said:

Not sure Maria Solheim is still with David.
But that’s just gossip.
On 06/20/08 8:40 AM, michael said:

thanks, jay

do you have any of the forecast albums? (my favorite is “in the shadow of two gunmen”)
On 06/20/08 9:05 AM, Sean Cannon said:

i’m a loner dottie, a rebel.

jerry, FTW!!!
On 06/20/08 9:20 AM, Pimp dude said:

this
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On 06/20/08 9:21 AM, Pimp dude said:

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On 06/20/08 9:21 AM, Pimp dude said:

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On 06/20/08 9:36 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

Pimp dude pwned by gravatar text wrap issues.
On 06/20/08 9:38 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

mike, no I don’t, but the stuff on their myspace may prompt me to make some cr00sh-ill purchases soon.
On 06/20/08 11:53 AM, jerry said:

sean–wasnt sure if anyone got the reference but I’m glad you did.

“shhhhh..I’m listening to reason!”
On 06/21/08 5:56 AM, Sean Cannon said:

i think what you’ve quoted are my favorite bits. there’s also “…keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting…”
On 06/21/08 7:21 PM, ericalynn. said:

It’s about time that Emily (#7 on the list) gets some attention. She has a better voice than Hayley Williams ever will, even though I like Paramore quite a bit.
On 06/21/08 9:41 PM, The 1/3 said:

Shawna from Avec: http://www.myspace.com/avec

Floor Jansen from After Forever (much more metal and way better than Within Temptation): http://www.myspace.com/afterforever
On 06/22/08 3:05 AM, joshua said:

that x-am album kills. i wish they would tour because i would love to see them live
On 06/23/08 1:46 AM, jesstaylor said:

i second shannon burns.
she (as cheesy as this sounds) inspired me to start playing bass. she is amazing. so nice too.

jay you have to pick up their albums. both are amazing and a new one, according to their drummer, tony, is in the works.
On 06/23/08 7:28 PM, jerry said:

hey Sean, just for you..

Pee-wee: [holding a pen] Exhibit “D”! Jimmy, what is this - too late! Chip?
Chip: Uh… it looks like a pen.
Pee-wee: Exactly! I bought this pen one hour before my bike was stolen. Why? What’s the significance? I don’t know!

heh..classic.

p.s. I’d still do Beth Ditto.
On 06/23/08 8:01 PM, Sean Cannon said:

so good. “do you have something to add amazing larry???”

and you know, sometimes i see beth ditto and i think “she holds her weight well.” some women can pull it off, you know.

other times i see her, i think “not so much.”
On 06/24/08 2:32 PM, John said:

#23 Laura Nichol from Light this City- really, really cute…
On 06/25/08 11:18 AM, Jay DiNitto said:

ericalynn, have you heard Rosematter? Her voice might be as good as Emily’s. I found out about them after this post was published so I didn’t mentioned them.
On 06/25/08 1:33 PM, jerry said:

Laura Nichol from LTC is definitely cute but the girl has no breasts..I mean, you gotta have something stare at while you talk to her.

guys, am I right?
On 06/30/08 2:55 PM, johnny b said:

the chick from the anniversary is bad fucking ass!
On 08/25/08 4:42 PM, Scott said:

I personally couldn’t have left Laura Veirs off a list like this, but then again, most of the girls on your list scare me a little bit…
On 08/25/08 6:50 PM, Andrew said:

Neko Case is desperately needed on this list.
On 08/25/08 8:51 PM, England said:

What about the chick from iwrestledabearonce?
On 08/25/08 11:56 PM, uhiuhi said:

GILLIAN WELCH

yeah…i would marry her for her voice…and we would buy a cabin somewhere in Appalachia.
On 08/25/08 11:59 PM, jordan said:

Mates of State have been in commercials
On 08/26/08 12:46 AM, PJ said:

@ Tim O. - Good name drop on a band approximately 15 people remember.

Thank god you included Caithlin from Rainer Maria. Everyone should own a copy of their CD/DVD.

Would have loved to seen the girl from Indecision, Elizabeth Elmore, and the chick that used to do I Stand Alone Zine on the list.

But my scene sensibilities expired sometime in 2001.
On 08/26/08 7:24 PM, Josh Mock said:

@Andrew: Um. Neko Case IS on the list.

Tuesday, June 17th

20 Ladies in the Scene that aren’t in Paramore or iPod Commercials

49 Responses to “20 Ladies in the Scene that aren’t in Paramore or iPod Commercials”

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