Q+A with Amy Bezunartea

You've heard us play a couple songs recently from Amy Bezunartea's debut full-length, Restaurants and Bars. Amy is a Brooklyn-based artist whose experiences working as a waitress have heavily inspired her songs.

Restaurants and Bars comes out this Tuesday, Nov. 2 on Jennifer O'Connor's label, Kiam Records. Recently Girl Germs got a chance to chat with Amy about her record, her inspiration, her dream touring companion (Linda Ronstadt!) and what lady artists she's digging right now.

Girl Germs: How did you get started as a musician? How long have you been performing?Amy Bezunartea: I always sang as a little girl and I started playing guitar as a teenager. Performing has always been a struggle, it's very scary.  But in the last few years I have performed a lot with [Amy's other project]  Clint Michigan and now I'm gearing up for some solo performances.

What inspired you to start making music?

Great songs have always been an inspiration.  I remember when "These Dreams" by Heart was on the radio when I was little and I thought it was so amazing.  Songs like "Free Fallin", "Back on the Chain Gang", "Rocket Man", "Helpless".  I could go on and on, but you hear a song like that and it changes everything.

I remember hearing artists like Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell for the first time and becoming totally obsessed with what they did.

Who are some of your greatest musical influences, male or female?

I'm such a big music fan, it's so hard to say! I love Tom Petty, Dolly Pardon, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Loretta Lynn, Joni Mitchell, Kanye West, Kim Deal, Chrissie Hynde, Tina Turner.  I could go on and on.

How did Jennifer find out about your music and how did your signing to Kiam Records come about?

I met Jennifer when I joined the band Clint Michigan.  Clint and I would do a mix of our songs sometimes and that's how she first heard my music. Kiam records released a Clint Michigan record in 2009 and then Jennifer wanted to release my solo record too.

How does it feel to have your debut record coming out? Does it help to have an established artist like Jennifer standing behind you?

I'm equally excited and terrified about the record.  Part of me is thrilled that I finally did this and the other part is just scared of what people are going to think.  Today I'm happy about it...for now. I couldn't have made this record without Jennifer.  She really pushed me through the entire painful process, from writing to recording, to performing and promoting the record. She is a total go-getter when it comes to Kiam Records. She really wants people to hear the music she puts out and she really believes in it.

What will you do once the album is released on Nov. 2? Any plans for a tour?  

I am doing a Fall mini-tour with Winston Troy.  She's this great one-woman band with looped guitar tracks and effects.  We're playing five East Coast shows.

If you could collaborate or tour with any musician ever, who would it be and why?

Whoa!  One of my favorite records is called "Trio".  It's a collaboration with Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.  It has such pretty songs on it and they harmonize so beautifully together.  I would love to be the fourth wheel in that group.  I think singing and harmonies are one of my favorite things about making music. If I had to choose, I would hit the road with Linda.  She's also from Arizona and her voice is incredible and I think we would have a good time together.

What are some of your favorite lady bands or artists right now?

Joanna Newsom is an amazing songwriter and musician.  I love her records. I just heard the new Sharon Van Etten record and it's gorgeous.  I'm sold on Florence & the Machine after seeing her sing on the MTV Music Awards. I love watching Jennifer Hudson sing too; she always kills it.  Lady Gaga is a star, Rhianna too.  Lots of interesting ladies abound these days!

Buy Amy's (and Clint Michigan's and Jennifer O'Connor's) music from Kiam here, and download some free tracks from Restaurants and Bars (courtesy of Kiam) here.

October's Honorary Lady: Seth Bogart of Hunx and His Punx

The “Honorary Lady” is a monthly feature we do on Girl Germs in an effort to discuss the boundaries that come attached to a radio show devoted to female artists. We wish to challenge what it means to be a girl or lady, and to recognize that artists who fall outside of this gender definition do make huge contributions to the music and culture we celebrate on the show.

One of the non-lady artists we're loving right now is Seth Bogart, a mainstay of the Bay Area garage-punk scene. While in the Kill Rock Stars-signed electro-pop band Gravy Train!!!! (which, if you're a fan of Le Tigre, you should definitely check out), Bogart took the pseudonym Hunx and, in 2008, formed Hunx and His Punx. A nod to '60s doo-wop and girl groups (not to mention poppy garage-rock from days of yore) and featuring an all-female backing band, Hunx and His Punx were soon touring with Nobunny and Jay Reatard, and even had a song featured in a LensCrafters commercial. (!)

Bogart is gay, and has never shied away from the topic of queer love - or sex in general (nor does he really shy away from anything; he even appeared in his skivvies in Girls' "Lust for Life" video). But Bogart doesn't feed into the stereotypes that so often permeate so-called "queer music." His persona is brazen, but still genuine, and his portrayals of gay romance - while tongue-in-cheek and often hilarious - seem to be from the heart. Bogart's music is especially inclusive of ladies - he often plays with female musicians, and he owns a combo vintage boutique/hair salon/record store with Tina Luchessi (who's been in Tina and the Total Babes and dozens of other rock bands).

Hunx and His Punx will release a full-length on Hardly Art in early 2011, and Bogart's side project, H.U.N.X. will release what he called in an interview with Out Magazine, "the gayest dance record ever." We can't wait.

Playlist for 10.26.2010

Shannon and the Clams	The Warlock in the Woods	I Wanna Go Home
The Chiffons	He's So Fine	The Golden Girls Sing the Golden Hits of the '50s and '60s
Kill to Kill	Sugar Sugar	Fighter
Pierced Arrows	This is the Day	Descending Shadows
Doris Day	Teacher's Pet	Doris Day's Greatest Hits
Rilo Kiley	More Adventurous	More Adventurous
Suzi Quatro	Suicide	If You Knew Suzi…
Joni Mitchell	River	Blue
Doomtree	Sadie Hawkins	Doomtree
Glass Candy	Nite Nurses	Love Love Love
Buffalo Daughter	Socks Drugs and Rock n Roll	New Rock
Janelle Monae	Cold War	The Archandroid
Rasputina	Transylvanian Concubine	Thanks for the Ether
Heads and Bodies	The Will of Machines	Ground to Join the Dust [EP]
Screaming Females	Boss	Castle Talk
Shangri-Las	Leader of the Pack	Billboard Top Rock n Roll Hits 1964
Frankenixon	I Hate You	Frankenixon is Dead
Is/Is	Pretty Girl	This Happening [EP]
Marnie Stern	Building a Body	Marnie Stern
Tammy Wynette	Divorce Sale	Tammy's Touch
The Slits	Earthbeat	Return of the Giant Slits
The Slits	Slits Tradition	Revenge of the Killer Slits [EP]
The New Age Steppers	Fade Away	The New Age Steppers
The Slits	Typical Girls	Cut
Hunx and His Punx	Hey Rocky	Gay Singles
Ladies Who Lunch	Bull in the Heather (Sonic Youth cover)	Kims We Love
Dark Dark Dark	Celebrate	Wild Go
The Carter Family	Blackjack David	Best of the Carter Family
Autoclave	Dr. Seuss	Autoclave
Kelis	Good Stuff	Kaleidoscope
The Vaselines	Turning it On	Sex with an X

Girl Germs Concert Calendar

OCTOBER:

24- Blonde Redhead                                                First Avenue 8pm (Saturday)
30- Angel Taylor                                                     Triple Rock 9:30 pm (Saturday)
31- Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles       Cedar Cultural Center  7pm (Sunday)


Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles CD release Halloween Show



November: 


2- Sara Bareilles                                                   Pantages Theatre 7:30pm (Tuesday)
4- Eisley                                                               Varsity Theatre 8pm (Thursday)
9- Marnie Stern                                                     7th Street Entry 8pm (Tuesday)
11- Kina Grannis                                                  7th Street Entry 8:30pm (Thursday)
14- Robyn                                                             Fine Line Music Café 8pm (Sunday)
18- KT Turnstall                                                   Epic 8pm (Thursday)
18- Paula Cole                                                      Dakota Jazz Club 7pm (Thursday)







December:


17- Dee Dee Bridgewater                                          Orchestra Hall 7pm (Friday)
31- Tina and the B-Sides                                           Fine Line Music Café 8pm (Friday)

Playlist for 10.19.2010

Stacy Epps	Motivation	Georgia Anna Muldrow Presents: Ms. One
Phantogram	Let Me Go	Eyelid Movies
The Ting Tings	Great DJ	We Started Nothing
Eternal Summers	Pogo	Silver
June Carter and Johnny Cash	Darling Companion	Complete Live at San Quentin
Belly	Super Connected	King
Pepi Ginsberg	White White White	Red
Dionne Warwick	I'll Never Fall in Love Again	I'll Never Fall in Love Again
Patti Smith	Gloria	Horses
Ill Ease and the Racket	Here Comes Trouble	Turn it Loose!
Heart	Barracuda	Essential Heart
X-Ray Spex	Obsessed with You	Germfree Adolescents
Emiliana Torrini	Gun	Me and Armini
The BellRays	Mother Pinball	Raw Collection
Bell	Housefire	Bell [EP]
Be Your Own Pet	Adventure	Be Your Own Pet
Portishead	Nylon Smile	Third
Esperanza Spalding	Short and Sweet	Chamber Music Society
Queen Latifah	Wrath of My Madness	All Hail the Queen
Spank Rock	Bump (featuring Amanda Blank)	YoYoYoYo
Alela Diane	Pieces of String	The Pirate's Gospel
Joan Armatrading	Down to Zero	Joan Armatrading
White Hinterland	Icarus	Kairos
Mary J. Blige	Everything	Share My World
Juana Molina	Vive Solo	Un Dia
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Maps	Fever to Tell
Sia	Paranoid Android (Radiohead cover)	Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan	Who Built the Road	Sunday at Devil Dirt
Sleater-Kinney	Slow Song	Sleater-Kinney
Regina Spektor	Apres Moi	Begin to Hope

TV Party with Girl Germs!

Girl Germs is known for playing the music of groundbreaking female artists Tuesdays and Saturdays on Radio K. Now Dana and Jenny are taking over Monday nights, too!

Following our summer “Girls on Film” series, which celebrated music-related film depictions of women (and included a showing of the subversive early-‘80s film Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains), we’ve decided it’s time we gave props to groundbreaking and multidimensional portrayals of women on television—because, unfortunately, such portrayals are still hard to come by these days. Plus, we’d be watching these shows at home anyway, and it’s much less sad to watch TV at a bar with other people. Right?

We'll be showing episodes of Daria, My So-Called Life and the Golden Girls at the lovely Red Stag Supperclub in Northeast Minneapolis in November, December and January. All screenings will start at 9 p.m., and the Red Stag will be offering happy hour specials from 9 to close each night: $3 domestics, $4 select taps, $4 select cocktails, $4 Crispin Ciders and $3 house wine. Plus, free parking!

Here's what we're showing and when:


Monday, November 15 - Daria
MTV’s cartoon classic, chronicling the life and trials of a sarcastic teen wise beyond her years.

Monday, December 13 – My So-Called Life
This show only lasted one season, but Angela Chase’s journey through the emotional battlefield of high school still rings true today.

Monday, January 10 – Golden Girls
The adventures of four sassy (and hilarious) ladies in a Miami retirement community.

See you at the Red Stag! (Flyer and gif action courtesy of Allison of Hot Lava and the Catnip Dreams.) TV Party with Girl Germs is sponsored by Radio K and The Onion.

Photos of Les Nubians and Desdamona at the Fine Line

Photo by Andrea Ellen Reed

Check out Andrea Ellen Reed's awesome photos of Les Nubians and Desdamona performing at the Fine Line Music Cafe last week!

Click the photo at left to see all of 'em.

Stream for 10.12.2010

Playlist for 10.12.2010

Thanks to everyone who contributed during our fall pledge drive!

Jeannie C. Riley	Harper Valley P.T.A.	Harper Valley P.T.A.
Roma di Luna	Pearls for Pigs	Casting the Bones
Glasser	Apply	Ring
Tina Turner	Better Be Good to Me	Private Dancer
Rye Rye	Sunshine (featuring M.I.A.)	Sunshine [single]
Royksopp	The Girl and the Robot (featuring Robyn)	Junior
Mala Rodriguez	La Nina	Alevosia
Ms. Dynamite	Fall in Love Again	Dub Selector 3
Dishrags	I Don't Love You	Love is Shit
Magik  Markers	Don't Talk in Your Sleep	Balf Quarry
Sonic Youth	Sacred Trickster	The Eternal
Babes in Toyland	We Are Family (Sister Sledge cover)	Nemesisters
Rosemary Clooney	Mambo Italiano	Essential Rosemary Clooney
The Bird and the Bee	How Deep is Your Love (Bee Gees cover)	Please Clap Your Hands [EP]
Ronnie Spector	Don't Worry Baby	She Talks to Rainbows
Frankie Rose and the Outs	Don't Tred	Frankie Rose and the Outs
Ana Tijoux	1977	1977
Northern State	At the Party	Dying in Stereo
Madonna	Papa Don't Preach	The Immaculate Collection
Stereolab	One Finger Symphony	Chemical Chords
Jenny Hoyston	Bring Back Art	Isle Of
Black Mountain	Let Spirits Ride	Wilderness Heart
Times New Viking	Half Day in Hell	Born Again Revisited
The Coathangers	Tonya Harding	The Coathangers
Superchunk	Misfits and Mistakes	Leaves in the Gutter [EP]
Stevie Nicks	Stand Back	Wild Heart
Zola Jesus	I Can't Stand	Stridulum [EP]
Judy Garland	Dear Mr. Gable (You Made Me Love You)	Dynamic House Presents the Greatest Hits of the Century
Sandie Shaw	Always Something There to Remind Me	Best of Britain
Pointer Sisters	Jump (For My Love)	Break Out
Helen Reddy	I Am Woman	Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits

Basses Wild: Laura Ballance of Superchunk

"Basses Wild" is an opportunity for Girl Germs to showcase a female bass player in a band that we might not normally play on the show - a "wild card," if you will (get it?).

If you're a Superchunk fan, the thing that immediately identifies a song is probably Mac McCaughan's voice. But Laura Ballance, the band's bassist, is just as much a part of Superchunk's history, influence and signature sound as the dudes in the band. Ballance, a founding Superchunk member, has also played a key part in the Chapel Hill, N.C. indie-pop scene (Archers of Loaf, Polvo and Ben Folds Five all started there).

In the early '90s, after Superchunk's then-label, Matador, entered into a distribution agreement with Atlantic Records, Superchunk made the decision to release records on their own terms. Ballance and McCaughan had co-founded Merge Records to release a single in 1989 and, after leaving Matador, went back to their D.I.Y. roots, releasing all future Superchunk records on Merge.

Ballance and Superchunk are still active today (Majesty Shredding just came out this year) and Merge has gone on to indie superstardom, putting out releases by such influential artists as: Arcade Fire, Spoon, Neutral Milk Hotel and Tracey Thorn. Ballance is also a visual artist, creating cover art for several Superchunk records. Her sculpture was pictured on the cover of the Leaves in the Gutter EP.

Pledge drive time!

Radio K's fall pledge drive has started, and on Tuesday we'll be asking you for contributions during Girl Germs. Believe us - we don't like asking you for money any more than you like being asked. But we ask because your financial contributions are vital to the existence of Radio K. There's no other station like Radio K and no other show like Girl Germs in the world. Seriously, where are you going to hear Lil' Kim, k.d. lang, Heavens to Betsy and Wanda Jackson on the same station, let alone the same show? The uniqueness of the station - whether you're a new or a long-term listener - is something you've come to depend upon, and we know you want to see it survive as much we do.

SO...whether you do it now or during Girl Germs on Tuesday night, click that little button above and do just what is says - BE AWESOME - by becoming a member of Radio K.

Here's what you'll get if you do so:
$60 level: CD from Radio K's playlist
$120 level:  Radio K knit hat
$240 level: You'll be invited to attend an in-studio performance in Studio K AND get a Radio K knit hat
$480 level: Attend an in-studio performance in Studio K WITH a guest AND a Radio K knit hat
$1,000 level: Attend an in-studio performance in Studio K WITH a guest AND a Radio K knit hat AND a Radio K t-shirt

Not bad, huh? All that PLUS the satisfaction of knowing Radio K will be able to keep bringing you the best music: new, old, local, international and everything in between. So get that credit card handy and get ready to BE AWESOME by contributing to Radio K!

Playlist for 10.05.2010

Best Friends Forever	Handpocket	Romance Conflict Adventure
Is/Is	So Long	This Happening [EP]
Kleenex/LiLiput	U	Live Recordings, TV-Clips & Roadmovie
Marnie Stern	Female Guitar Players are the New Black	Marnie Stern
The Bangles	Walk Like an Egyptian	Different Light
Matt and Kim	Yea Yeah	Matt and Kim
Sleigh Bells	Crown on the Ground	Treats
Salt n Pepa	Do You Want Me	Black's Magic
Dirty Projectors and Bjork	On and Ever Onward	Mount Wittenberg Orca
Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps	Closing the Door	Backyard Tent Sale
Sally Seltmann	Dream About Changing	Heart That's Pounding
Marissa Nadler	The Whole is Wide	Little Hells
Jucifer	Haute Couture	Warbird [EP]
PJ Harvey and John Parish	Black Hearted Love	A Woman a Man Walked By
Linda Ronstadt	You're No Good	Heart Like a Wheel
Feist	1234	The Reminder
Eternia	Herstory	Get Caught Up
Janet Jackson	Nasty	Control
Arcade Fire	Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)	The Suburbs
Fol Chen	Men, Beasts or Houses	Part II: The New December
Haley Bonar	Save a Horse, Ride a cowboy	The Size of Planets
Neko Case	If You Knew	The Tigers Have Spoken
Faun Fables	A Table Forgotten	A Table Forgotten [EP]
Blonde Redhead	Spain	Penny Sparkle
Cyndi Lauper	Time After Time	She's So Unusual
Miss Piggy	Never Before, Never Again	The Muppet Movie Soundtrack
Claude Lombard	Polychrome	Claude Lombard
Glasser	Home	Ring
Peaches	Boys Wanna Be Her	Impeach My Bush
Speck Mountain	Twinlines	Some Sweet Relief
Hot Lava	The Auctioneer	Split 7" with the Sad Cobras