StarBeat Music: Live Review: Each Other's Mothers, Resistor, Trophy Wife, Titfit @ Stolen Sleeves Collective (photos)

photos & story by Star Child

It was so casual walking into the house. You wouldn't think in just a few hours a show was going to start, had it not been for a few instruments obviously displayed. I arrived at seven, the time advertised on the flyer. I thought that was odd considering this thing I still haven't gotten used to called "punk time." The show wouldn't start for another two hours, though, I was informed by the host that it would start around 8. Two bands still hadn't arrived. It happened to be the two local acts on the four band bill. While I waited I made myself useful and offered my muscle power to Trophy Wife, who arrived the same time as me. I helped bring records, cymbals, and other drum gear up. After, I got directions to a falafel place, then quickly walked back, to make it in by 8, but alas the show still hadn't started. I spoke with a few peeps, tried getting a grasp of when the show would start but the host didn't know. Host? Promoter? Those words sounds far too formal for a show like this. Perhaps ''the guy who threw the show'' is better. Anyhow, all this had me wondering about D.I.Y. shows and how they are hardly ever on time and lack organization.The show would finally start at nine and a band who I had never seen would take to the floor for an aggressive, riot-grrrl influenced punk set.

Tit Fit tells it how it is. Their lyrics are about personal experience. Honest. Vulnerable. "Girls and queers up front," called out singer Heather. Tit fit. Shit fit. What fit? A few songs in she said, "We all love Huggy Bear," and then went into a cover of Huggy Bear's "Her Jazz." She made it a point to speak about and introduce the songs. Some were about sexual consent. Others, like the one below, is about evil ex's:

as radicals. as feminists. as anti-patriarchy, anti-panarchy queers. we owe it to each to be good to one another. we owe it to each other to be honest with our lovers. we owe it to each other to take care of one another. WE OWE IT TO EACH OTHER TO BE HONEST WITH OUR LOVERS. you're a lying, selfish, user abuser, manipulative, LIER. LIER. bullshit.

you can go to hell, you can go to hell (you can). you can go to hell, you can go to hell (you can). you can go to hell, you can go to hell (you can). you can go to hell, you can go to hell (you can).

This song was brilliant! Goodness, we need more bands to be open about stuff like this. How true are these lyrics? To paraphrase, vocalist for this song and guitarist otherwise: there's nothing better than screaming your heart out, saying what you need to say, to make you feel better.

Resistor from North Carolina also played. I could barely hear the vocals, but I could see the passion in the singer's face. Trophy Wife, now from Philly, formerly from Washington D.C., played a heavy set. The guitar and drum duo ripped! I was headbanging away.

Each Other's Mother only play one show a year, so for many this was a special show. The four members are heavily involved in others projects, work, and musical endeavors, so it's no surprise they only get together once a year. It's better than breaking up, I say. As long as they can keep it going and at least play a new song or two every time they perform, it can certainly work. Rachel (guitarist) plays for Bridge & Tunnel and does work with Ghost Robot Ninja Bear, I believe; Angie (drums) has been in so many projects in the last year it's almost hard to keep up, Kathi (guitarist) is the drummer for Zombie Dogs (who is releasing a 12'' LP soon), and Allison (bassist) makes jewelry.

I saw the band for the first time last year at Silent Barn with Algernon Cadwallader, Taigaa, and Songs for Moms. That show was my first real look at the Queens/ Brooklyn D.I.Y. scene. The place was packed, hot, and alive. I was completely floored. At Stolen Sleeves Each Other's Mother energy was pretty great, albeit a shy looking Allison playing in the back. Rachel, Kathi, and Angie looked super into their performance. All three display a passion for playing that was nice to see. The instrumental noodly music is danceable and just fun to watch. They started with a Metallica medley. "Extra Extra" the band's only song with lyrics, "extra, extra, read all about it" got the crowd excited. The band closed with "Three," a jammy, impressive guitar song.

It was a show that gathered together fans, friends, lovers, bikers, queers, feminists, and musicians for a show that highlighted a successful D.I.Y show, in terms of turnout and sound quality. The floor was packed and so was the second level, where folks were sitting down and watching down on the show.

Rachel said it best: "I play music because it's fun and I want to make people feel awesome." Similarly I attend shows to have fun and feel to awesome. Rachel, Each Other's Mothers, you made me feel great! In the end, while lack of timeless bothered me, waiting was so worth it for these bands.

I'm a geek, so I picked up a setlist and kept track of set times (can't help it, I'm the queen of time), and also took photos, which you can all see below.

Allison and Angie