Live music review: L7 brought remedy for political unease
The 1990’s were a helluva time for music. Grrrl rock, heroin chic and flannel all featured prominently in the music scene. At the heart of it all was Grunge music made by the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and similar artists. Near the center of that magical era was L7. The Los Angeles, all-female, four-piece began their collective career in the mid-80’s. In the 1990’s, the group toured with the likes of Alice In Chains, Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam. Fast forward to the present day and the band seems to be rocking harder than ever. At least they were last Tuesday at Austin music haven, The Mohawk.
Drummer Demetra Plakus, having recently rejoined the group after recovering from a broken arm, destroyed with the opening number, “Deathwish,” which set a welcome, heavy tone for the night. From the start, this set featured concrete angst, frustration and fury at the center of a nostalgia-heavy performance for the ages. Older fans were immediately transported back to that time and place. ”This is what a real band sounds like…” we thought, while taking in the bombastic sonic spectacle.
Early on in their career, L7 founded a political, feminist, pro-choice movement, “Rock For Choice.” This sentiment of assertive awareness was profound and continued with a performance of “Dispatch From Mar-A-Lago,” a product of the band’s recent labors. A leap into the crowd, a couple of mosh-inducing numbers passed and the iconic “Fuel My Fire” queued. This was a crowd-captivating, emotive highlight…a poignant moment during a performance that featured several such highlights. The atmosphere of political distress in need of address was lacerated in a spew of focused, restorative precision.
The context of L7’s decades-long existence played a significant role in the pathos of the performance. Beyond the music, there is the context of the message Donita Sparks and company delivered. While heavily implied and often explicit, the significance of human rights are presented as imperative to our existence as much as water. That subtext was prominent, oozing through every note. The energy L7 exudes during a show is spellbinding, contagious even. The audience’s excitement over the set was clearly palpable. They played a legendary set that resonated long after closure of the performance.
Opening act, art-rockers Le Butcherettes dropped a scintillating set upon some unwary concertgoers, most of whom had little idea what sonic fury was about to be unleashed upon them. Indeed, lead vocalist and guitarist Terri Gender Bender and company destroyed, leaving concertgoers pleasantly suprised and primed for the headliners.
Teresa Suárez Cosío nee Teri Gender Bender split time between Guadalajara and Denver, Colorado (where she was born) growing up. Her mother is Mexican and her father, was a Spanish prison guard. She relocated in Mexico at 13 after her father passed. The imprint upon her psyche is clear. This is not a woman to fuck with. She’s confident, capable and damn fun to watch perform.
After witnessing yet another spellbinding Le Butcherettes gig we’re clear on the idea that these artists never fail to bring it to whichever venue is hosting, stateside or internationally. The combination of punk, garage and art rock leave the crowd in awe of their intensity. It’s rare an opening act matches the fiery fury of a band like L7 but the Mexican-born act easily achieved that feat amid a crowd clearly there for the headliner. Well played LB, well played.
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