Bratmobile

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Bratmobile
Bratmobile in 1994
Bratmobile in 1994
Background information
OriginOlympia, Washington, U.S.
GenresRiot grrrl, punk rock, indie rock
Years active
  • 1991–1994
  • 1998–2003
  • 2019
  • 2023–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitekillrockstars.com/.../bratmobile

Bratmobile is an American

punk band from Olympia, Washington, formed in 1991. They are known for being one of the first-generation "riot grrrl" bands. The band was influenced by several eclectic musical styles, including elements of pop, surf, and garage rock
.

Beginnings

Allison Wolfe (from Olympia, Washington) and Molly Neuman (from Washington, D.C.) met during fall 1989 while living next door to each other in dorms at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.[1][2] The two had been raised in activist families: Wolfe had been raised by a lesbian activist mother, and Neuman's father worked for the Democratic National Committee and had introduced his daughter to leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).[2] Their shared musical influences included punk, hip hop, and the Olympia band Beat Happening.[2][3] Neuman was influenced by the writings of Eldridge Cleaver.[2] Together, Neuman and Wolfe took classes in women's studies and music, traveled to Olympia on the weekends, and started collaborating on influential feminist fanzine Girl Germs in 1990.[1][2][3][4]

History

1990–1991: Origins

Neuman's and Wolfe's friend

Michelle Noel.[2] They played only a couple shows with this line-up, including one with The Melvins
and Beat Happening, also at the Surf Club on May 16, 1991.

Initially, Wolfe and Neuman thought of Bratmobile as a loose organization that would have different branches in different cities.

Nation of Ulysses show in D.C.[2] Erin Smith was co-author, with her brother, of the much-revered TV pop culture fanzine Teenage Gang Debs when Neuman and Wolfe asked her to jam with them.[2][5] They rehearsed at the Embassy, a group house in D.C. that served as headquarters for the Nation of Ulysses. When Beat Happening, Nation of Ulysses, and Autoclave toured the east coast that spring, Bratmobile DC had its first performance at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey. The newly minted Bratmobile DC lineup of Neuman, Wolfe, Erin Smith, and Billotte spontaneously got on stage. Back in D.C., they recorded with Tim Green of Nation of Ulysses in the Embassy's basement studio. Around this time, Jen Smith, who lived at the Embassy, recorded with Bratmobile DC and played a show with them.[2]

This lineup with Billotte and Jen Smith released a cassette tape entitled Bratmobile DC.[3][8] Thereafter, Bratmobile became a trio with Wolfe, Neuman, and Erin Smith.

1991–1994: Pottymouth and breakup

Bikini Kill toured with Nation of Ulysses in May/June 1991, converging in D.C. with Bratmobile that summer.

The Peel Session.[3][15][14]

On May 7, 1994, under the backdrop of intense media scrutiny and inner pressures within the riot grrrl movement, Bratmobile infamously broke up onstage at the Thread Waxing Space in New York City.[14][16][17] With the members of Bratmobile already stressed from a lack of practice and having to perform in front on several high-profile individuals, several women in the audience stole the band's microphone to accuse a male audience member of assault whilst also criticizing Bratmobile's failure to provide a safe space, thereby "[stopping] the show for a span of time at least as long as [the band] eventually played", according to Spin journalist Ann Powers.[16][17] Wolfe said: "All of a sudden not only was I supposed to serve as talent that night, I was also supposed to serve as club manager and security! [...] everybody was screaming at each other. It was like slapstick comedy or some kind of crazy performance art, and we just broke up".[17]

1994–1999: Hiatus

After the break-up, Molly Neuman moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and began working at East Bay punk record label

Lookout! Records. She also played in The PeeChees and The Frumpies.[18] Allison Wolfe moved to Washington, D.C., and she and Maryland-based Erin Smith started a new band together called Cold Cold Hearts.[citation needed] Wolfe has also been active in feminism and activism.[19]

1999–2003: Reformation and second breakup

In 1999, the band decided to reunite for a low-key show in Oakland's Stork Club and the band was relaunched to go on tour with Sleater-Kinney.[citation needed]

In 2000, Bratmobile released their second full-length studio album,

Nation of Ulysses and The Fucking Champs. Jon Nikki (Prima Donnas, Gene Defcon, Mocket, Sarah Dougher, Sir, Puce Moment
) added guitar, bass and keyboard parts to the minimal Brat sound.

On May 7, 2002, Bratmobile released their third album, Girls Get Busy. On Girls Get Busy, Audrey Marrs, (Mocket, Gene Defcon) added keyboards that gave the album its distinctive new sound. Marty Violence (Young Pioneers) also contributed bass.[citation needed]

After dedicating most of 2002 and 2003 to promoting Girls Get Busy via touring, each of the principal members went back to do other things. While the band didn't formally break up, Allison Wolfe did post a message on January 30, 2004, in the Bratmobile message board concerning the status of the band:[citation needed]

Yeah, sorry to say i think Bratmobile is through. We never had a certain incident where anyone said "I quit" or whatever, so it's been vague and drawn out. Sorry if that's been confusing to people. I think all 3 of us just have different ways of doing things and different things we want to do now, in and outside of music. Molly has just been so busy with managing the Donnas and the Locust, and as co-owner of

Lookout! Records. Erin is also working full time at Lookout! Records. I've been living across the country in Washington DC, working 2 part-time jobs, and now doing other musical things. I'm now in Hawnay Troof, Baby Truth, and also a new girl band in DC called Partyline.

In 2018, Kill Rock Stars produced a podcast series about Bratmobile titled Girl Germs.[8]

2019–present: Reunions

In 2019, Bratmobile's original lineup reunited to perform at Tobi Vail's birthday party. In 2023, Wolfe and Neuman reformed Bratmobile again to perform at the Mosswood Meltdown festival in Oakland, California, where they were joined by Tiger Trap’s Rose Melberg on guitar, Marrs on keyboards, and Marty Key on bass.[20][21] Erin was unable to join the band for this reunion due to "other commitments".[21]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Live albums

  • The Peel Session
    CDEP (Strange Fruit)

Singles

  • Kiss & Ride 7-inch (1992) (
    Homestead Records
    )

Split 7-inch

Compilation albums

  • Kill Rock Stars compilation, CD/LP, (Kill Rock Stars)
  • A Wonderful Treat compilation cassette
  • The Embassy Tapes cassette
  • Throw compilation CD (
    Yoyo Recordings
    )
  • International Pop Underground live LP/CD/CS (K Records)
  • Neapolitan Metropolitan boxed 7-inch set (Simple Machines)
  • Teen Beat 100 compilation 7-inch (Teen Beat)
  • Julep compilation LP/CD (Yo Yo)
  • Wakefield Vol. 2 V/A CD boxed set (Teen Beat)
  • Plea For Peace Take Action compilation CD (Sub City)
  • Boys Lie compilation CD (Lookout! Records)
  • Yo Yo A Go Go 1999 compilation CD (Yoyo Recordings)
  • Lookout! Freakout Episode 2 compilation CD (Lookout! Records)
  • Songs For Cassavetes compilation CD (Better Looking Records)
  • Lookout! Freakout Episode 3 CD (Lookout! Records)
  • Turn-On Tune-In Lookout! DVD (Lookout! Records)

Notes

  1. ^ a b "WATCH: Riot Grrrl Retrospectives - The Birth of Bratmobile & Girl Germs". Museum of Pop Culture. April 30, 2020.
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Huff, Chris (July 10, 2018). "Riot Grrrl and the true spirit of rock n' roll". Disc Makers.
  4. ^ a b Barton, Laura (March 3, 2009). "Grrrl power". The Guardian.
  5. ^ .
  6. .
  7. ^ Gentry, Brandon (November 10, 2014). "Christina Billotte Of Slant 6: 'I Wanted To Make A Record Where Every Song Was Good'".
  8. ^ a b Gunnery, Mark (March 8, 2019). "Rebel Girls: D.C. Women In Punk". WAMU.
  9. .
  10. ^ Hopper, Jessica (June 13, 2011). "Riot Grrrl get noticed". The Guardian.
  11. ^ "WATCH: Riot Grrrl Retrospectives - 'Girl Night' at the 1991 International Pop Underground Convention". Museum of Pop Culture. May 28, 2020.
  12. Chickfactor
    .
  13. ^ "Melvins / Mecca Normal / Girl Trouble / Beat Happening / Bratmobile / Fugazi". Concert Archives. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Kelly, Christina (December 6, 2018). "Before #metoo, there was Riot Grrrl and Bratmobile". Grok Nation.
  15. ^ Anthony, David (April 14, 2014). "Bratmobile's "The Real Janelle" sparked a dialogue with the pop-punk community". The A.V. Club.
  16. ^ a b Powers, Ann (August 1994). "Live! Bratmobile". Spin. Vol. 10, no. 5. SPIN Media, LLC. p. 95.
  17. ^ .
  18. .
  19. .
  20. ^ Geraghty, Hollie (2023-07-09). "Watch Bratmobile reunite for first gig in 21 years". NME. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  21. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (2023-07-03). "Bratmobile Set Off a 'Cherry Bomb' With Linda Lindas at First Show in 20 Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  22. ^ https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2000/CMJ-2000-12-25.pdf#search=%22bratmobile%22
  23. ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2002/CMJ-768-2002.pdf
  24. ^ https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1994/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1994-05-02.pdf#search=%22bratmobile%22

External links