Reviews

August 2001 - Article from Wavelength 75
By Mandylion

From the time of your first show 09/25/00 to the present, you’ve toured the States, got a demo and a full length CD, been in Chart Magazine for bringing Ladyfest to Toronto, been featured on 3 compilations, and have taken part in at least 3 festivals. To what do you attribute your rapid success? (Ladyfest originated in Olympia WA. Cheryl Steele and Shannon Mitchell organized it in Toronto to raise money for Interval House Women’s Shelter.)

Shannon & Cheryl: Were really hard working and dedicated in what we do. Were also really honest in what we write about, and the way we go about life. I think people really appreciate that in a band. When we go onstage there is no big transformation into “rock stars”. We are just ourselves.

What was your most choice happening during your trip to the U.S.A.?

S & C: It was totally about the people we met. We met so many great people from bands, people who set up shows or individuals who were somehow connected to the venues we played at. People were so good to us, we’ve made a lot of really great friends and that to us is the most important element.

And your worst?

S & C: Getting fucked over by the promoter of the Kali Maa Fair in NYC. She made many empty promises and lied about everything. The festival was an absolute joke. If it weren’t for all the lovely people at the Meow Mix who saved our asses, we would have been screwed. They put us up for 3 nights in NYC and were some of the greatest people we have ever met.

What drawbacks have you had in the music biz being all girls? Any creepy men asking you to show more skin for their buck?

S & C: One of the biggest disappointment to us is the experiences that we have had with sound guys. We don’t understand it since there are so many female musicians now a days. We just find some of them are so ignorant and think girls can’t set up or carry their own gear. It really pisses us off.

We’ve only had one instance of a guy heckling us and being kind of sexist, that just makes us even stronger. We have too much self-respect to let somebody get away with treating us that way. If people think they can come to one of our shows and exhibit that behaviour they are sadly mistaken.

How do you feel about baby humans? Can’t stand ‘em myself. I think the world is overpopulated.

S: I’m not really a fan of babies. I think it’s very unfortunate that so many unwanted babies are born a day. There are too many deadbeat parents out there. It makes me really sad.

C: Yes the world is over populated, however if creative people with open minds start having more babies then the world will be a better place.

Does the word human bother you?

S: That’s a tough one, I usually make bold statements like I hate humanity and people suck, but then I meet someone really cool who makes me question those thoughts.

What do you think are the most annoying things about men?

S: I’m not a man-hating lesbian, I honestly love them. Though when it comes to misogynist men, they can just go fuck themselves.

C: Just as in any group of people there are always the assholes. In my travels I’ve encountered a lot of really great guys.

I hear a lot of Guns ‘n Roses in your sound, especially Mr. Brownstone. Are they a major influence for you or what?

S: Ok I don’t know who tipped you off about our current run INS with Guns N Roses. We don’t even understand the Guns N Roses significance with us. For some reason they haunted us on our entire tour. We brought the cd with us for the irony, but then no matter where we went guns N roses would either be playing, there would be pictures of Axl or others would bring them up in our conversations. We just got more and more obsessed with the album through our travels. As for being influenced by them, I don’t think so.