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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Bratmobile| image =| caption =| image_size = 280| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Olympia, Washington|Olympia , Washington (U.S. state)|Washington United States | instrument =| genre = Riot grrrl , Punk rock | occupation =| years_active = 1991–1994, 1999–2003| label = Kill Rock Stars , Lookout& #33; Records|Lookout! | associated_acts = Mocket_(band)|Mocket Last.fm artist page for Mocket (proves connection) http://liveweb.archive.org/ http://www.last.fm/music/Mocket/+wiki| website = http://www.killrockstars.com/bands/bratmobile/ killrockstars.com/bratmobile| current_members =| past_members = Allison Wolfe Erin Smith Molly Neuman | notable_instruments = Bratmobile was an American punk band . Bratmobile was a first-generation " riot grrrl " band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground. It was influenced by several eclectic musical styles, including elements of pop music|pop , surf music|surf , and garage rock .
Beginnings
Bratmobile formed when University of Oregon students Allison Wolfe and Molly Neuman collaborated on an influential feminist fanzine, Girl Germs . At first, Wolfe admitted that they were "a fake band" because they did not play instruments, but they had written some songs which they performed a cappella. Neuman's friend Calvin Johnson, an indie musician in the Olympia scene, asked her to play a show on Valentine's Day in 1991 with Bikini Kill and Some Velvet Sidewalk. After confessing that they were not into a band in an attempt to get out of it, they agreed and sought the help of Some Velvet Sidewalk member Robert Christie. Christie let Bratmobile borrow rehearsal space and equipment and advised them to listen to the Ramones for inspiration. In response to that advice, Wolfe states that "Something in me clicked. Like, okay, if most boy punk rock bands just listen to the Ramones and that's how they write their songs, then we'll do the opposite and I won't listen to any Ramones and that way we'll sound different."Marcus, Sara. Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution , 59-61. With five original songs, the band played its first show as a two-woman act at Olympia's North Shore Surf Club on February 14, 1991, with Neuman and Wolfe sharing duties on guitar, drums, and vocals.
During spring break 1991, Allison and Molly went to Washington, DC to follow Beat Happening and Nation of Ulysses on tour and try to work on a new form of Bratmobile that, at that time, included artist Jen Smith and Christina Billotte , of Slant 6 and Autoclave , in the line-up. Together, they recorded and released a cassette tape entitled Bratmobile DC . Beat Happening's Calvin Johnson (musician)|Calvin Johnson had previously introduced Molly to nascent guitarist Erin Smith from Bethesda, Maryland during the Christmas holiday in December, 1990 at a Nation of Ulysses show in Washington, DC. Smith was co-author, with her brother, of the much-revered TV pop culture fanzine Teenage Gang Debs when Allison and Molly asked her to jam with them. It clicked, and in July 1991 the trio played their first show as a 3-piece with Molly Neuman on drums, Erin Smith on guitar, and Allison Wolfe on vocals. They were just in time to play at the historic International Pop Underground Convention in Olympia, Washington, becoming the only band to appear twice.
From their first shows, Bratmobile were considered an exciting and important addition to the fertile early '90s NorthWest scene. From 1991 to 1994 Bratmobile released a classic album, Pottymouth , and an EP, The Real Janelle , on Kill Rock Stars , as well as The Peel Session (Bratmobile)|The Peel Session recording before the intense media scrutiny and inner pressures of the Riot Grrrl movement hastened the band's breakup (on stage) in 1994.
Hiatus
After the break-up Molly Neuman moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and began working at East Bay punk record label Lookout& #33; Records , which she now acts as general manager and co-owns. She also played in The PeeChees and The Frumpies . Allison Wolfe moved to Washington, D.C, and she and Maryland-based Erin Smith started a new band together called Cold Cold Hearts . Wolfe has also been active on feminism and activism .
Reformation
In 1999, the band decided to reunite for a low-key show in Oakland's Stork Club and the band was relaunched to go on tour with Sleater-Kinney .
In 2000, Bratmobile released their second full length studio album, Ladies, Women and Girls . The album was critically acclaimed and earned Bratmobile new fans as they toured with Sleater-Kinney , The Donnas , The Locust , among others. Ladies, Women and Girls was released on Neuman's Lookout& #33; Records and produced by Tim Green of Nation of Ulysses and The Fucking Champs . Jon Nikki ( Prima Donnas , Gene Defcon , Mocket , Sarah Dougher , Sir , Puce Moment ) added guitar, bass and keyboard parts to the minimal Brat sound.
On May 7, 2002, Bratmobile released their third album, Girls Get Busy . On Girls Get Busy , Audrey Marrs , ( Mocket , Gene Defcon) added keyboards that gave the album its distinctive new sound. Marty Violence ( Young Pioneers(band)|Young Pioneers ) also contributed bass.
After dedicating most of 2002 and 2003 to promoting Girls Get Busy via touring, each of the principal members went back to do other things. While the band didn't formally break up, Allison Wolfe did post a message on January 30, 2004 in the Bratmobile message board concerning the status of the band:
Cquote|Yeah, sorry to say i think Bratmobile is through. We never had a certain incident where anyone said "I quit" or whatever, so it's been vague and drawn out. Sorry if that's been confusing to people. I think all 3 of us just have different ways of doing things and different things we want to do now, in and outside of music. Molly has just been so busy with managing the Donnas and the Locust, and as co-owner of Lookout& #33; Records . Erin is also working full time at Lookout& #33; Records. I've been living across the country in Washington DC, working 2 part-time jobs, and now doing other musical things. I'm now in Hawnay Troof , BabyTruth , and also a new girl band in DC called Partyline .
Discography
Studio albums
Pottymouth (1993) LP/CD/CS (Kill Rock Stars)
Ladies, Women and Girls (2000) CD/LP, ( Lookout& #33; Records )
Girls Get Busy (2002) CD/LP (Lookout& #33; Records)
EPs
The Real Janelle (1994) LPEP/CDEP (Kill Rock Stars)
Live albums
The Peel Session (Bratmobile)|The Peel Session CDEP (Strange Fruit)
Singles
Kiss & Ride 7" ( Homestead Records (1983)|Homestead Records )
DEFAULTSORT:Bratmobile, The Category:All-female bands Category:Musical groups from Olympia, Washington Category:American indie rock groups Category:Kill Rock Stars Category:American punk rock groups Category:Riot grrrl Category:Musical groups established in 1991
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