Waxahatchee at the Electric Ballroom

Waxahatchee
Girlpool
Pinkwash
Electric Ballroom, 10 June 2015

A few years ago I was bemoaning how few new female rock bands there appeared to be. After the riot grrrl revolution of the 1990s it felt like there should be so many more. Turns out they were all hiding away praticising or releasing cool little indie records. This year I've been lucky enough to see quite a few of them, most clearly influenced from that golden era in the 90s (and a even a couple actually from that time) and tonight was yet another kick-ass line-up full of talented women, it was inspiring to see.First band on was actually a male female duo though called Pinkwash, led by guitarist/singer Joey Doubek and featuring the awesome Ashley Arnwine on drums (who also happens to be Waxahatchee's drummer). Doubek looks like a crazy, mean, big-haired heavy metal dude and when he plays he screams, sounding something like a cross between Judas Priest and Helmet, but funnily enough when he speaks inbetween songs, which are big, distorted, riff-laden punky metal-type things, he is so soft-spoken and sweet, like some nice hippie dude. The main appeal for me though was watching Arnwine do her thing on the drums, which were actually at the front for this performance. She is truly exciting to watch: a powerful, energetic and dynamic drummer who makes every song sound big and interesting. They were a cool opening act.

It was clear there was a big buzz over the next band because not only did the crowd suddenly get bigger but, unusual for a support act, lots of press photographers also emerged eagerly awaiting their arrival. The band in question were a girl duo from Los Angeles called Girlpool who play punky, harmony filled music with Americana undertones that has been compared to everyone from Babes In Toyland to Juliana Hatfield. I'd probably say it was closer to the latter, as the lyrics are more like angsty but fiesty teenage girl diary entries, but Harmony Tividad (bass) and Cleo Tucker (guitar) - who genuinely are teenage girls aged 19 and 18 years old respectively - really have a sound all of their own. I enjoyed the first part of their set the most - a mixture of the more upbeat songs from their first EP and recently released debut album. Then they bring on Ashley Arnwine to play drums with them on the song Crowded Stranger and it sounded so good I did wonder what a whole set with drums would sound like. The last few songs were slower affairs and less interesting but overall they were a fun watch and looked tremendously cool too (I loved Cleo's quirky hair that made her look like both Bjork and Dominique Swain's Lolita).

Like Girlpool, it's easy to tell that Waxahatchee are hot right now (to quote Zoolander) because the front of the stage is swarming with photographers and they stay for five songs (usually it's two or three). There's no doubt that Katie Crutchfield looks incredibly cool when she walks on stage with her Bettie Page-style haircut and black leather jacket. Waxahatchee is her solo project but tonight she has a full band, mostly women too and includes her twin sister Allison (I actually didn't know she had a twin sister and was surprised when I saw the two of them together, foolishly thinking "they must be related"), who looks equally cool with her short hair and flowery maxi dress.

The full band makes perfect sense, since Waxahatchee's first two albums did have a more intimate sound but her latest, Ivy Tripp is fuller and bigger sounding. It times Crutchfield reminds me of Liz Phair, other times bands like Fuzzy and the Juliana Hatfield Three, but definitely firmly in the 90s. It's funny how that sound is coming around again because for me it doesn't feel that long since it was all happening originally but since the Crutchfield sisters are only 26 they probably barely remember it the first time around and it's true that many of the youthful audience members weren't even born then (thankfully there are quite a few my age and older too). 

She begins the set with one of the most tuneful and radio friendly tracks from the new LP, Under A Rock, and eases us into the new material by switching back and forth between Ivy Tripp and her previous album, the excellent Cerulean Salt. It's surprising how rocking it all is and I know some have said that live the loud guitars take away from the delicacy of her voice, but I thought it made her voice sound even stronger. As a performer, Crutchfield is fairly shy and instead for the most part looks lost in the music, closing her eyes when she sings and concentrating on her playing (most of the set she played guitar but a few songs she moved behind a keyboard).

The main set, which although 17 songs long, seemed too short (always a good thing) and ended with the feedback-drenched Bonfire with the sisters harmonising over slow discordant guitars, sounding both atmospheric and dynamic. For the encore she arrives back on stage alone this time but all smiles. She tells us that this is her biggest show to date, which given the show she just gave seems absolutely crazy. Here we get a taste of the more intimate Waxahatchee songs, with Crutchfield just playing guitar and singing. Although this is the only time we hear any songs from her debut American Weekend and the crowd seem to go crazy for these quieter songs, I must admit I prefered the more upbeat and louder, full band moments. 

Still overall this was a great night and as soon as Crutchfield and her sister walked on stage they just looked and felt like the headliners, so it's no surprise there's such a buzz about them. Ivy Tripp is easily one of the best albums this year and if they carry on playing as welll as this, I'm sure there will be even bigger venues than the Electric Ballroom for them in the future