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There are a few reasons behind my decision to buy the debut album by L7. I'd heard a buzz about a group of rowdy chicks in L.A. that were in a band called L7. College radio and college journals raved about how rad this L.A. band was. I had my doubts cuz all my experiences with L.A.
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bands had been big fancy hair and lots of glamorous make-up - on both the boy and girl musicians. And most of these bands declared to be heavy metal or at least hard rock...but always turned out to be nothing more than prissy pop shit. So, I wondered how much of what I'd been hearing about L7 was real and what was just plain hype, for which L.A. is notorious.
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When I found out the girls were playing a gig at the way cool Covered Wagon Saloon on Folsom Street in San Francisco I figured I'd go just to give the band some BITCH magazines and then leave by mid-set to check out the new club called Faster Pussycat in The Haight. As I enter the backstage area I find myself standing in the middle of a half dozen people, and not being able to distinguish the boys from the girls...but in a good way. "Is there anyone in here from L7 or what man...," I wanna know. The one person properly slouching on the limited furniture available - and the one with the most fucked up hair - says in an unenthused voice "Yeah, me..."
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All conversation ceases at this point. Another gruff voice from behind me says, "Yeah, I'm in the band..." Blank stares from every other pierced face person in the room. Hmmmmm, NOT what I expected... and that's a good thing.
L7 is LOUD. L7 is FAST. L7 is HEAVY. L7 is GOD. Donita Sparks (the one slouching in the chair backstage) and Suzi Gardner (the other chick who answered me) are the guitar wranglers and vocal mamas. Jennifer Finch is the bass guitar manipulator, and has the best face for rock and roll photography. Demetra is the ass-kickin' drummer. I've never experienced anything like L7 before -and you know I've been around!
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They scream their funny lyrics until you think your head's gonna explode. And Jennifer plays the HELL out of her bass, man...she jumps and thrashes all around and never not once does she miss a note. All ya see onstage are blurry faces and swirls of wasted hair whipping anyone who is too close. They don't slow down for no one, man. So if you can dig that, baby, check this band out live and experience the magik.
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L7 introduced themselves by opening with "Bite The Was Tadpole", and I think that title says it all. We were in for a bloody good time. During "Uncle Bob" the pit of slam dancers dutifully and loyally drudge forward for the full 25-minutes of this taxing song until the last erratic note of feedback squeals and sputters through the amplifiers. I dig the different time messures the band goes through in just one song, like on "I Drink". Ya never know what's gonna happen next in an L7 ditty.
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And after I hear the line "You can call me a tramp but don't unplug my amp!" - I know I'll find myself at Reckless Records tomorrow buying the self-titled debut by L7.
Tell ya what. Next time you find yourself with a head full of untamed hair think of L7 and then go buy their album.
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