Screaming Females, a hard hitting trio formed in New Brunswick, NJ in 2005, are a band we at Rock to the Masses have been buzzing about for a while. They have everything you need in a good modern band: heavy basslines, crashing drums, insane guitar playing, and the rabid vocals of frontwoman Marissa Paternoster.
Starting out in the basement scene of their New Jersey suburbs, Screamales thrived as hometown heroes. After successfully solidifying their lineup with Michael “King Mike” Abbate on bass, Jarrett Dougherty behind the drums, and the aforementioned Paternoster taking vocal and guitar duties, the three-piece quickly produced their first album. Baby teeth was released independently in February of 2006 and would eventually earn its spot in Don Giovanni Records’ collection when the band got signed three years later.
With five studio albums, two EPs, and numerous split singles released in six years, Screamales have already made a huge mark on today’s rock scene. Aside from touring with acts like Arctic Monkeys, Garbage, and The Dead Weather, the band has found a close friend in Steve Albini. Albini is possibly best known for recording Nirvana’s In Utero, but has also worked with everyone from PJ Harvey to The Stooges. Albini claims to have engineered somewhere around 2,000 records, two of those being Screamales’ 2012 release Ugly and their soon-to-be-released live album Live at the Hideout.
Aside from being masters at putting out constant, solid material, the band is an absolute powerhouse live. I was lucky enough to have seen them for the first time on their 2012 tour opening for Garbage. At that point, I had close to no awareness of the band, but by the end of the night they had absolutely secured their spot in my personal favorites list.
They’re loud. They’re fast. They’re all power.
As a sucker for rhythm sections, I was lucky to be in front of King Mike the first time I saw them and I was impressed to say the least. We live in a time where bassists aren’t utilized to their full potential, but Screaming Females do not follow that trend…nor do they restrict their drummer to being a timekeeper and a timekeeper only. Dougherty may not be the biggest guy in a room (though, Mike very well could be) but the man hits hard. In a small venue, I bet the band could save time and electricity by avoiding putting mics on his kit and they would still hear him fine.
The real power, though, lies with Marissa Paternoster. I have never been so blown away by guitar playing in my life. Having experienced the likes of players like Josh Klinghoffer and even Eddie Van Halen live, I can honestly promise neither hold a candle to Paternoster. Seriously. The girl has talent bursting at the seams - and she can sing like no other. When she isn’t belting out her unique vocal style, she wraps her mouth around a microphone and screams with all she’s got. It’s an experience that everyone must seize.
Perhaps that is why the band made the decision to record two nights of performances at Chicago’s Hideout venue this past January. Their albums are all a must listen, but the true essence of Screamales lies in their live shows.
Check it out for yourself:
No comments:
Post a Comment