This review is the first in a series on Bad-Ass Lady Bands of Atlanta
I knew I would like the Vintage Vixens as soon as I saw their set-up: Peace symbols, a colorful backdrop, and floral scarves festooned the stage. The “tip jar” was a lunchbox painted with flowers, more peace symbols, and tiny guitars. Mini VW buses added vibe to the merch table. But, best of all, there were name signs next to each of their instruments: Starshine, Harmony, Moonchild, Gypsy Wolf, and Wildflower. It was like Strawberry Shortcake and Friends had tuned in, turned on, and transformed Strawberryland into a communal hippie haven.
Additionally, these middle-aged Josie and the Pussycats wore the hippest of hippie costumes, or, what some (not naming names) would consider, groovy everyday clothing (my favorite was Starshine’s patchwork jumpsuit and floppy hat). They all flashed peace signs for their Obligatory Picture with the Famous Music Critic.
Who cared if four or six decades had passed since they or their music might have been considered “cool”? These ladies had found their like-minded friends and were going to spread the timeless message of peace, joy, love, and music with extra whipped cream and a cherry on top. I bought a hot-pink t-shirt and immediately put it on.
My soul sisters cranked up Gimme Some Lovin’ for their opening number. “Right On!”, I thought, and I skipped out happily to the dance astroturf, expecting that soon I would be joined by some free-spirited Cantonese.
It was not to be.
Behind me were some women who were kind of attempting to groove a little in their chairs, so I called over to them, like a pied piper clown:. “Come on, ladies, you look like you want to dance…You can’t make a bigger fool of yourself than I am!”
“You go ahead, dear,” said one, in the way that only a southern-schoolteacher-near-retirement can say it, her smile stretched out and her eyebrows slightly raised. Her posse gave me some not-quite-but-almost mean girl smiles. Nobody else- in a crowd close to 200- made a move toward the dance floor either.
Well, fine, I thought to myself, only slightly miffed. I remembered my motto, which is, “Life is Short. Be Extra”, and I continued to dance solo - adding in some surfer and hula girl moves for good measure.
I defiantly continued on as the lone dancer for the entire first set and most of the second, except for a baby who had escaped from her mom. Also a gal who appeared to be overserved, and I’m not sure she was actually dancing.
As they continued down their set list, my Very Clever brain had a startling and wonderful insight: girl bands would play girl songs! Yes, it was true!! The set list included songs from 50’s girl bands – the Marvelettes, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, and the Ronettes. There was some Linda Ronstadt and Jefferson Airplane. “Groovy!’’ I thought, as bumper sticker logos came to mind: “Flower Power!” “Give Peace a Chance!” Girls Rock!”. I was living the 60’s.
There were some real music highlights in the Big Chill-like setlist. First, Gypsy Wolf could do Grace Slick (Grace Slick!!), and the Jefferson Airplane songs were executed particularly well. She sang White Rabbit like a gothic Lewis Carroll, and added in some rocking guitar flourishes that made the song the band’s own. Moonchild kept that psychedelic trance tempo that keeps it so unnerving and perhaps the most convincing Just Say No message ever.
Harmony’s voice was perfect for 50’s girl band standards, and I especially loved Be My Little Baby, where she managed to sound like all three Ronettes. The other band members made great support players for every song, and it was fun to watch their stage dynamics, which I have noticed is more collaborative in girl bands than in most of the boy bands I see.
I did wish for a tighter, more focused setlist. I would lose the dreary Beatles and Stones songs, keep the tempo and mood light and happy for the most part, and do even more girl songs. I would love to see this band perform some Janis tunes, perfect for Gypsy’s voice and persona, and some Aretha tunes that Harmony would belt out like a Natural Woman. Covering songs of these ladies and other rocker chicks would create a stronger band persona and get their message across more succinctly, in my opinion.
Toward the end of the evening, and I mean the very end, people RSVP’d to Harmony’s invite to Do the Twist. A few even stayed up for Twist and Shout. And, perhaps the school marm had finished her third Mint Julep, because she, too, joined in, albeit just barely and while standing by her chair. And her friends followed (of course).
In the last song of the set, the overserved gal got up, yelled, “Who’s got a lighter??!!!”, realized that nobody did, and so encouraged them to flash their phone flashlights instead. Harmony asked them to sing along and do the wave to Na Na Na Na Hey Hey-e, good-bye. And they did. It took awhile, but there was joy to the world, and to almost all the boys and girls.
So in addition to enjoying the most fun evening I’ve had in a long time, my take-away was this: Some people will loudly proclaim the peace, joy, and love that make this life worth living and do so unabashedly, because they know this show doesn’t last forever. Others might get up and “dance”, but need an invite, clear directions, some time and patience, and the support of their peers. Some will never dance or sing their song at all, and that is the saddest thing in the world.
The Vintage Vixens belong in that first category. Not only can they do the songs of the best time in music history and proclaim the message of what the 60’s was all about, but they are “far out” in every way while doing it. That gives others permission to be the same. And that’s what made them a bad-ass girl band.
