By: Gloria
1/24/09
Swing Hailey
Condenada (Chicago)
Bruise Violet
Potential Lunatics
Love Grenades
all or nothing hc
@ Chuco's Justice Center
Before anything I want to thank my dad and Renae for making it possible for me to attend lady fest.
For those who don’t know, lady fest is held all around the world. It is a community-building festival that presents women's talents through film, art, performance, music, literature, workshops and panels. As the lady fest poster said on the wall, “Ladyfest 09 is a dedicated space for women, queer & gender nonconforming people especially of color & youth, to come together to showcase their art, music, films, & skills & build a self reliant community through skills, knowledge, sharing – breaking our dependency on systems that oppress us!”
This year’s lady fest was held at Chucho’s Justice Center in Inglewood California. It was a free three day event that started on January 23.
I was able to go on Saturday the 24th. The workshops started at 1pm and music started at 7 pm.
When entering the first room to your right, art and photography was displayed. One thing that really stood out in the room was the photos and portraits of the casualties of police brutality. The album was thick of photos each giving brief background information. In room 2 there was a workshop about Globalization. There were around 20 people including men and women in which it was asked by the two volunteers what Globalization means and does. Colonization, capitalism, exploitation, imperialism, and expansion were said around the room. They gave a brief history lecture on the beginnings of globalization in which all of us where free to add any more information. The best thing about was the awareness it brought. It was mentioned how the feeling of detachment of the effects of globalization is an actual effect of globalization. In propaganda we don’t see how, who, and under what conditions a certain product is made. A young man mentioned how he stopped shopping Dickies clothing, even though he loves them, because their clothes is made in Nicaragua where he was from. And he doesn’t want to support a system which exploits his people and everything else. It was a wakeup call to resist and become more conscience shoppers.
The largest room on the back, (where the bands played later on) was where tables with different purposes where put. One of the tables had D.I.Y Women Health Pamphlets which included: D.I.Y gynecology, and women’s natural health care. I was able to actually keep the “Herbal Abortion” pamphlet which expanded my view on women’s healthcare. Women have been taking care of themselves for thousands of years with alternative medicine and basic procedures. Now with the advancement in the medical field it just seems that natural medicine has been pushed away. Why shouldn’t we continue?
Another table had organic soaps, lotions, bath salts, and incents made with procedures that don’t destroy Mother Nature.
Groundwork, independent books of anarchy and feminism was being sold. The next table was one of my favorites. It was a school club from a South Gate High school that was collecting signatures to send to Ciudad Juarez to bring justice to those women who have been victims of the killings. The school club was a group dedicated to helping women; where there were not only female participants but males also. It got me thinking why don’t I do something similar in my school and why aren’t there more of these clubs in schools?
Cucci sex toys were selling their products and I know that they had a sex workshop on one of the other days of the fest. There was clothing and band merchandise. I was able to purchase the “This Is What a Feminist Looks Like” shirt. (Coincidently it was the shirt I have been wanting and the perfect size.)
Anarcha LA was present, getting emails from people to inform them of their events. Anarcha LA is a group of anarchists, feminists, and non-gender conforming individuals who work towards building an egalitarian world free from all forms of oppression (patriarchy, capitalism and hierarchy) through creative direct action, study groups, and community outreach. If interested here is the email anarcha_la@yahoo.com
I loved the tables that where giving free zines. The zines were of Manifesta, rape, self-defense, natural birth control, and other related topics. There were alternative disposable sanitary napkins (cloth menstrual pads) for sale and free condoms.
All that were present where then directed to one of the larger rooms, to an open discuss on machismo in the punk scene. The microphone was passed to those who wished to speak. Throughout the discussion women were talking and opening up. A girl said that it just seems that punk girls, either have to sleep with all the other guy punks or be just like a male punk. It was important to introduce and help out these new girls and let them know that they too have a voice.
Another topic that was touched was about how as musicians women have to work harder to achieve success and its extra harder if these women aren’t “attractive”. Female fronted or all grrrl bands tend to receive less support. There are less people present and less people in the pit. This is a sexist act.
A young lady did say something that really made some of us uncomfortable. She said how some girls seem to dress a certain way so that they can receive the treatment as of a slut in other words that girls look for it. Others responded by saying that this is not an excuse for a male to abuse a female in any way. And let’s not forget this whole “its-her-fault” shit is pathetic, and associated with patriarchy since men are excused from their power status. The style of clothing one wears is a basic human right! What exactly does a male have to wear to be considered a slut? Let us not forget that harassment, rape, etc. are abuses of power; INEXCUSABLE! It is crucially important to speak out and actually point out sexism. If you see that a woman is getting harassed, SPEAK OUT! Stop letting things roll, be held accountable, and identify wrongs everywhere, anytime.
Once done with the discussion, we all went to the large room in the back where Food Not Bombs gave out free food.
Shortly after, the bands started to play. Swing Hailey was the first band up. “First time they don’t confuse me with the band’s groupie!” the lead singer said. People danced to their indie songs.
Hir Bois acted/performed songs in between the band set ups.
All Or Nothing H.C was next. Renae wearing a “Put Some Pussy in Your Punk” shirt declared freedom and demolition of homophobia, fear, and sexism through her lyrics. It was in Lady Fest where they performed songs from their new album. One of my new favorites “A lot of Work To Do”. She explained it was written after she expressed her views at a Human Rights Coalition Meeting and a preacher bothered to tell her she had a lot of work to do.
Bruise Violet played next, exciting the crowd madly. Everybody was trying to get their share of the microphone and lyrics.
Potential lunatics a band made up of a brother and sister played after. They charmed their way out by their tender age and talent.
Condenada from Chicago played last. The roared the night away! The drummer took off her shirt exposing her breasts and said “Guys can take off their shirts why can’t I?”
This festival was everything I ever wanted. Coming from a place where I am the only young, colored, feminist I felt I didn’t have enough hands and time to examine everything. I felt I couldn’t reach, read, and hear everything because it was just too much. I was overwhelmed but in a good way. It was just exceeding and blooming with resources and information.
One of the things that made my night was a young man wearing a “My Vagina Is Angry” pin. I told him “Keep rocking it!”
On the side I was able to talk to Condenada’s band members and really encouraged me into starting my own band (which I have wanted to do for the longest!) TrashVicious (the drummer) said it was the best thing she ever did. “You get yourself a support team, you have the best time of your life, really you have nothing to lose.” she said.
The zines have been a great help since they have helped me create my own zine that I pass out in my school now. I will say that it was one of the best experiences ever.
Above everything I will say that my gosh!, all women are beautiful. We are all different in our little ways, sizes, colors, styles, and shapes but we are all beautiful. We all have immense power in our hands to create change for the better especially towards an equal society and world.
Lady Fest was a success!
Ashers Show Review
By: Renae Bryant
1/31/09
Ashers
Viva Hate
Civet
The Howlers
@ Angelo’s Pizza, Pomona
This was a matinee show. The flyer had doors at 3 p.m. Civet had recently replaced their drummer, so they dropped off the show. I was disappointed because every time I see them they are tighter and tighter. This also meant that the show would start later. Yuck. We debated ordering from the menu. One of the coolest things about Angelo’s actual restaurant is that they have a real vegan menu. So super cool… The show started, and The Howlers played first. I enjoyed their set. They were a mixture of Reverend Horton Heat + Misfits. It was two of the musicians’ birthdays, so they were having a great time. One of the things I really appreciated about the show was the fact that all of Viva Hate and the Ashers were actually watching The Howlers play. It said a lot about their bands, showing solidarity in such an intimate venue. Next came Viva Hate. I am so excited about this band. I first saw them play at the Showcase with the Unseen. I was completely won over by the mixture of rock, punk and hardcore that they play. They gave 100% energy at the Showcase to a packed house. They gave 100% at the way smaller venue, Angelos’ too. I want to say that Matt reminds me of Henry Rollins, but it isn’t really true…just some subtlies. Fucking amazing energy all the way around, I will see them whenever they come around. Finally, came Ashers. What a treat it was to see parts of A Global Threat and The Unseen together. I forgot how much I missed A Global Threat. The music was excellent. The live show was brilliant; equal parts music and comedy. Now I have to google Billy Bob Thorton, to see if he really is going to play Freddy Krueger in the remake of Nightmare on Elm St. Gonzo threw another excellent show. This is the all ages venue to go to now.
