Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

The first in a series of Free To Fight 45s from Candy Ass Records is getting a lot of attention on WCUW (91.3 FM). The releases follow the highly influential CD of the same name from the Portland, Oregon-based interactive self-defense project for women and girls. "Each one [of the series' four releases] has a theme, and this one's is girls fighting girls," says Judy Ricardi, host of Double Dare Ya!, now heard Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. "Free To Fight is using music and spoken word to incite thought and inspire action. It breaks free of stuffy, PC feminist bullshit and rocks hard."

The first release features Sleater-Kinney ("Big Big Lights"), Cypher in the Snow, and two spoken-word pieces by Staci the Self-Defense Instructor. The package includes a booklet of letters, columns, and cartoons. "Its message is that empowering ourselves includes mediating conflicts and violence amongst ourselves, but also preparing for defending ourselves against a possible female assailant."

San Francisco's Cypher in the Snow's "Blame the Victim," tells the truth about lesbian battering, according to Ricardi, who's also been playing tracks from their Badass and Free CD (Outpunk). "`She's Not' takes on the racism that exists in the supposedly liberal, punk-rock dyke scene."

Another release from the now-defunct Outpunk label by Sister George ("a now-defunct British queercore duo") is also stirring up the airwaves. "Drag King was a very necessary `up yours' to the traditional rainbow-worshipping gay community." The disc includes "100 x No!," an update of the Tom Robinson Band's "(Sing If You're) Glad To Be Gay."

"It features the voice of Aileen Wuornos, the famous lesbian serial killer who killed all those johns down in Florida and said it was in self-defense. They [Sister George] sing it hardcore style with her chanting `We kill in self-defense' underneath. She's the real-life Hothead Paisan [Diane DiMassa's radical-feminist cartoon character]."

It took a while for Boston's Cheesecake to get their music onto CD (recordings were done in 1995; the group broke up shortly afterward). You're Soaking in It (Girlie Records) includes "Disgracis" (originally released on the initial Free To Fight CD) and "White Wash," which addresses difficulties non-whites experience in the punk-rock scene.

Portishead (London/Go Beat!) remind Ricardi of an earlier age. "It's just like when I heard the Smiths at 14. It's so depressing -- it's awesome!" You may have caught them performing "Only You" on Saturday Night Live last week. "[The label] Trip Hop doesn't cover this spooky, beautiful music. They're morbid -- exquisitely morbid. "

In upcoming weeks, expect to hear plenty of tracks from Sugarsmack's major-label debut, Tank Top City (Sire). Early readers to this column can catch Ricardi's annual tribute to Janis Joplin on January 22.

Ricardi makes a cameo appearance in Boston film director Shoshana Rosenfield's Scent uVa Butch, which has its world premier on February 3 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, in Brookline. "It's a quick shot of me and Tina D'Elia dancing to Black Rose Garden at Worcester Pride last year." The movie documents contemporary butch-dyke culture through the lives of more than 20 women ages 23 to 65. "Very simply, it's an important part of lesbian culture that hasn't been fully explored," says Ricardi. "There's a real diversity to it."

SEVEN HILL PSYCHOS visit Laurie Zylick's Groupie Hour this Monday (January 26) at 8 p.m. on WSCW (94.9 FM). They're promoting their upcoming show with Chillum at Worcester State College on February 5.