Chaos in Tejas Preview: Screaming Females

UPDATE: Apparently Marrissa had to cancel due to illness, but we’ll leave this up because we love the band. We’re just a few short days away from Chaos in Tejas, but we still have a few bands we think should be on your radar. Screaming Females is one such act, and one that you surely have to be aquainted with by this point…but if not, here’s the good word.

The New Jersey trio have been working tirelessly since o5/06, with five full lengths to their name–including this year’s excellent, Ugly LP. There’s all kinds of ways you can label the band, from punk to garage to perhaps metal (if you consider their recent tour with Tragedy), but the band has one key element that makes them something entirely unique, something you might consider a spectacle; they have Marissa Paternoster.

Marissa is probably one of the most unassuming women in rock n’ roll, that is until you catch the band live.  She stands about 5 foot tall, average fashion sense, almost shy in appearance.  But, when she steps onto the stage, something transforms her into one of the most powerful women in rock n’ roll.  She slings her guitar around as she furiously strums, and that voice, dear lord that voice.  I remember the first time I caught the group as they were opening for Ted Leo a few years back (and you all know I love Ted) and she almost blew Ted off the stage.  This by no means indicates that Jarrett and Mike (the other two) don’t own their instruments as well, but if you’re looking for a live performance that will change the way you look at music, then you don’t need to go any further than by watching Screaming Females.  I promise you, if you want to catch one band, it’s this one.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Screaming-Females-Expire.mp3]

Download: Screaming Females – Expire [MP3]