Rah Rah Replica: Kathleen Hanna Tribute Show @ Knitting Factory 12/11

 

By Star Morales

Although only vaguely familiar with the work of Kathleen Hanna from her time in political dance-punk trio Le Tigre, I boldly decided to purchase a ticket to see Rah! Rah! Replica, a tribute to celebrate the music of Hanna, and also a benefit and video shoot to support a documentary by Sini Anderson. It seemed fun and a good way to get to know more of her music, even if they were just covers.

You might already know that Hanna is considered a feminist icon in the punk rock world and is a founder of the '90s Riot Grrrl Movement. She's a political activist who has worked to respond to sexism in punk and has a do-if-yourself ethic. She's a rebel girl, speaking out about the issues that matter to her without fear. This is inspiring. She's a voice to those in need and that's a powerful thing. But we haven't heard from her much recently. She's done collaborations here and there and some production work for Christina Aguilera's  last album Bionic, but none of her own music. So why are we hearing about her now? First, a documentary is being made about her career. Second, there's also Hanna's new band, which world premiered a new song and played some music from her project Julie Ruin and even threw in a Le Tigre song. The band featuring Kathi Wilcox from Bikini Kill and they called themselves The Julie Ruin. Cool, right?

The sold out show was packed with presumably big time Kathleen Hanna fans from New York or currently living in New York and fans of all ages in a true sort of D.I.Y. setting, even though this was not at what you'd consider a D.I.Y. space. The venue gave me a similar feeling to that of the old Knitting Factory's tribeca NYC space: a venue you could be free to express yourself in with no barricade or security guards or idiots in the crowd. Everyone takes care of each other. For this tribute to a punk feminist icon there was more dancing and singing along than highly spirited punk fist pumping, two-stepping, and most pits. I'm not sure what the crowd reaction was to Bikini Kill and Le Tigre in their heyday, but the show seemed to lack a crowd energy. at points. Sure there was cheers of excitement and moving but I felt like something was missing. There was no need to worry about getting hurt or pushed or anything and for a sold out the room was comfortable, packed which is a testament to the respectful crowd and nature of the music of Hanna. But part of me just wanted to go nuts for some songs but it didn't seem appropriate. Everything was happening so fast, and I was trying to document it, and pay attention to the music and performers all during any particular song. Though, I picked a few opportunities to enjoy the music. I sang during Toshi Reagon's version of "Keep on Living" and danced around to Care Bears of Fire's stellar, loud, fun, punk rock performance of "My, My Metrocard" and headbanged d to Hilly Eye's angsy version of "Bang! Bang!" These were some of my standout moments where I was able to let loose.

Now, the only known similarity between everyone at this show was an interest, perhaps, a love or like for Kathleen Hanna's music. Some may have just liked Bikini Kill, others Julie Ruin, or like myself Le Tigre. So does it matter who made up the audience? I think not, but the different types of people in the crowd does speak to perhaps the market or appeal of the music that was brought to perhaps only a few different types of people, if the 300 people in the room was to be taken as a sample of who likes Hanna's music. I feel that the issues and concerns Hanna speaks of could appeal to all kinds of people, like women of color, to provide just one example. But where were the Hispanics at the show? I don't think I knew or saw any, except a friend who is half Puerto Rican. But a conversation with fellow writer, friend, and one of the night's performers, Amy Klein, made me think about why there are so few Hispanics at the shows I attend, including this one. I wonder if it's a problem. While I know fellow Puerto Ricans from my hometown of Newark, NJ who are into punk they don't often have a chance to go to shows. I'd think that the ideals of Hanna, particularly heard in the Riot Grrrl Manifesto, which was brought back to life with a reading from Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, speaks to many voices. While not particularly moving in the way it was recited, the words Gordon spoke were moving and surprisingly this was the first time I heard the manifesto. I want to print it up in tiny zines and leave it in public spaces. I think it's that powerful.

From Kaia Wilson's acoustic rendition of the obscure Suture song "Pretty Is," straight to Bridget Everett's energetic and sexy performance of Le Tigre's "After Dark," the sets were awesome. Toshi Reagon got the crowd singing with "Keep on Livin," and She Murders (featuring Coco, Kim Gordon's daughter) made fists raise with "Rebel Girl." Overall, it was a fun night and got me more interested in Hanns's music. I told JD Samson how great This Island sounds on vinyl, which was pretty cool!! On another note, Hanna still make catchy as hell music! The night made me think about my place within this feminist punk rock world and made me realize how much I like dancing to Le Tigre. If there's something I can say about her music is that it allows me to feel comfortable, free, unafraid, and that ,my friends is a beautiful thing. So there's my take.

Murray Hill introduced The Julie Ruin saying: 

....The best part I loved about the Le Tigre shows is the energy of all the young kids. (cheers) That's right. And all the different kind of people that the band and Kathleen brings together. This music and Kathleen actually means something, ladies and gentlemen. When entertainment has a message and a fun fucking message, you know what I say to that ladies, and gentlemen: showbiz. Alright kids, are you ready? The world debut. Ladies and gentlemen, and gay people and queer people: The Julie Ruin!

See below for photos, the Riot Grrrl Manifesto, and complete setlist from the evening.

Kaia Wilson performing Suture's "Pretty Is"

Toshi Reagon performing Le Tigre's "Keep on Livin'"

She Murders performing Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl"

Hilly Eye performing Le Tigre's "Bang! Bang!"

Care Bears on Fire performing Le Tigre's "My, My Metrocard"

The manifesto is inspiring. It talks about rejecting gender ideas, inclusion, acceptance, speaking out, confiding, and more. The manifesto was published in a 1991 via Bikini Kill Zine 2. Reject, rebel, represent.

RIOT GRRRL MANIFESTO

Kathleen Hanna

BECAUSE us girls crave records and books and fanzines that speak to US that WE feel included in and can understand in our own ways. 

BECAUSE we wanna make it easier for girls to see/hear each other's work so that we can share strategies and criticize-applaud each other.

BECAUSE we must take over the means of production in order to create our own moanings. 

BECAUSE viewing our work as being connected to our girlfriends-politics-real lives is essential if we are gonna figure out how we are doing impacts, reflects, perpetuates, or DISRUPTS the status quo.

BECAUSE we recognize fantasies of Instant Macho Gun Revolution as impractical lies meant to keep us simply dreaming instead of becoming our dreams AND THUS seek to create revolution in our own lives every single day by envisioning and creating alternatives to the bullshit christian capitalist way of doing things.

BECAUSE we want and need to encourage and be encouraged in the face of all our own insecurities, in the face of beergutboyrock that tells us we can't play our instruments, in the face of "authorities" who say our bands/zines/etc are the worst in the US and

BECAUSE we don't wanna assimilate to someone else's (boy) standards of what is or isn't.

BECAUSE we are unwilling to falter under claims that we are reactionary "reverse sexists" AND NOT THE TRUEPUNKROCKSOULCRUSADERS THAT WE KNOW we really are.

BECAUSE we know that life is much more than physical survival and are patently aware that the punk rock "you can do anything" idea is crucial to the coming angry grrrl rock revolution which seeks to save the psychic and cultural lives of girls and women everywhere, according to their own terms, not ours.

BECAUSE we are interested in creating non-heirarchical ways of being AND making music, friends, and scenes based on communication + understanding, instead of competition + good/bad categorizations.

BECAUSE doing/reading/seeing/hearing cool things that validate and challenge us can help us gain the strength and sense of community that we need in order to figure out how bullshit like racism, able-bodieism, ageism, speciesism, classism, thinism, sexism, anti-semitism and heterosexism figures in our own lives.

BECAUSE we see fostering and supporting girl scenes and girl artists of all kinds as integral to this process.

BECAUSE we hate capitalism in all its forms and see our main goal as sharing information and staying alive, instead of making profits of being cool according to traditional standards.

BECAUSE we are angry at a society that tells us Girl = Dumb, Girl = Bad, Girl = Weak.

BECAUSE we are unwilling to let our real and valid anger be diffused and/or turned against us via the internalization of sexism as witnessed in girl/girl jealousism and self defeating girltype behaviors.

BECAUSE I believe with my wholeheartmindbody that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can, and will change the world for real.

Kathleen Hanna Tribute Show Setlist:

(Thanks to Rebecca Keith of the Roulettes for providing most of the setlist! I filled in the details.)

Featuring songs, readings, and dance from Kathleen Hanna's projects including: Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Julie Ruin, and Suture.

1. Mindtroll-Carnival (Bikini Kill from Revolution Girl Style Now! 1991)
2. Schwervon+ friends -Aerobicide (Julie Ruin 1998)
3. Anna Copa Cabanna-I Like Fucking (Biking Kill from I Like Fucking 7'' single 1995)
4. Toy Sugar -I wish I was him (Rendition of Kathleen's Ben Lee cover from Rock Stars Kill compilation, 1994)
5. The Fancy -Les and Ray (Le Tigre from Le Tigre, 1999)
6. Kaia Wilson-Pretty Is (Suture from decomposition 00 7''1991)
7. Toshi Reagon-Keep on Living (Le Tigre from Feminist Sweepstakes, 2001)
8. She Murders -Rebel Girl (Bikini Kill from Pussy Whipped 1993)
9. Hilly Eye -Bang, Bang (Le Tigre from The Desk of Mr. Lady, 2001)
10. Emily Wexler -I Like Fucking (a dance interpretation of the Bikini Kill song)
11. Love Tribe -Fake Country Song (The Fakes, Real Fiction, 1995)
12. Care Bears on Fire -My, My Metrocard (Le Tigre from Le Tigre, 1999)
12. Making Friendz- Stay Monkey (Julie Ruin from Julie Ruin,1998)
13. Dan Fishback -Answering Machine Message (from the end of "Heartbeat" from Mike Watt's Ball-hog or tugboat?, 1995)
14. Bridget Everett -After Dark (Le Tigre from This Island, 2004)
15. The Fancy (Christy & Emily)-For Tammy Rae (Bikini Kill from Pussy Whipped, 1993)
16. The Roulettes (Rebecca Keith)-Feels Blind (Bikini Kill from Bikini Kill EP, 1992)
17. Electric Child (Allison Clancy) -The the Empty (Le Tigre from Le Tigre, 1999)
18. Kim Gordon-The Riot Grrrl Manifesto (reading from Bikini Kill Zine 2, 1991 )
19. MEN -Double Dare Ya (Bikini Kill from Revolution Girl Style Now!, 1991 tape)
20. Caroline Polachek (via Video) -Rah! Rah! Replica (Bikini Kill, The Anti-Pleasure Dissertation, 1995)

The Julie Ruin:
1. This is Not a Test (Bikini Kill from Revolution Girl Style Now!)
2. V.G.I. (Julie Ruin,1998)
3. Radical or Pro-Parental (Julie Ruin, 1998)
4. Hot Topic (Le Tigre from Le Tigre, 2004)

Encore:
Cookie Road (The Julie Ruin, new song, 2010)