Get Educated: These Are The Ladies Who Rock Central Texas by Amanda Hixson

November 1, 2012 by verymandy | 2 Comments

I know there are many women who rock all over this planet– personal preferences may vary. And there are many woman that I love that are currently representing Central Texas! I adore their talents and their music– it is true! I am a fangirl for them.

Read on to find out about these Central Texas ladies (& more!):

Kat & Autumn

Sitina & Carrie

Isis & Brenda

Belle & Meagan

Jaimee

Background: Alt Text “Confessions of an aging fangirl: I like women who rock.”

I confess I am obsessed with women who rock. It is true. For example, Janis Joplin (all time favorite — you are my Texas lady until the day I die! <3 <3 <3), Gwen Stefani, Cyndi Lauper, Chrissie Hynde, The Ronettes, Heart, Whitney Houston, Hole, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, Janet Jackson, Salt N Pepa, Pat Benatar, Vanessa Carlton, Lauryn Hill (Fugees Forever!), and Debbie Harry are some of my personal faves, obsession-level pretty high. I love them so hard that I freak out. I have cried while listening to these ladies, because I just love them so much. Sometimes it is the lyrics. Sometimes it is the melody and just the feeling I get from the music. Sometimes I am just rocking out, jammin’ in my own little world.

If you are dude and you are losing respect for me for knowing that — guess what, I never had respect for you. (These are usually corny, self-important men. You suck.) I think it is a sign of an engaging person to love the arts so much and to love beautiful things and people and artists. A lot. Sure, there is a time to be serious, but there is also a time to love rock stars and rainbows. Get over it.

I think the ones that have made me cry the hardest are The Ronnettes (balling. Oh, Wall of Sound. Oh, ladies – you are the originals.), Heart (balling when I saw them live), and Whitney (balling. She wails! Nobody was better. She was the best.). Joan, Janet, Debbie, Hole (Courtney!!), Pat, and Salt N Pepa just make me run around and dance and scream and freak out. I copy their style. I think they are cool. I love them so much! Gwen Stefani is just so amazing. She’s in a category of her own. I have seen her live 3 times. She screams, “F*** you, I’m a girl!” And means it– I am a girl; I like girl things. What up? And I have cried for Chrissie, Cyndi, Lauryn, Stevie, and Vanessa too while listening to their records, over their music. Too much emotion. I can’t handle it. I’m that into it. I fear not embarrassment over this fact. I defy you haters.

I’m always on the look-outs for new ones too… I like Adele, Juliet Simms (from The Voice!) and Lana Del Ray! Lots of others too.

Also, I can easily go into “annoying fan” mode about these people so I watch myself. I don’t force my tastes on other people. I know you don’t want to be the one stuck at my house being forced to watch youtube videos of my favorite ladies. I could watch Janet Jackson videos for like 10 hours straight if I let myself. Still. At age 36. I still love Rhythm Nation. And Control. And The Velvet Rope. (And BTW, there are many dudes in music that I love too but this is about the women.)

Anyway, it’s all for you, ladies! Nobody knows what it is like to be a true FAN. Nobody knows our passion! I think Sapphire from Almost Famous said it best (about new fans), “They don’t even know what it is to be a fan. Y’know? To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts.” That movie spoke to me on so many levels when it came out.

Fast forward to the present: These are the incredible ladies of Central Texas who rock.

I know there are many women who rock all over this planet– personal preferences may vary. And there are many women that I love that are currently representing Central Texas! I adore their talents and their music– it is true! I am a fangirl for them too. They rock!!!!! I love pop & rock & even country– all flavors are good to me– indie, bubble-gum, folk, punk, glam, new wave, retro! I love it all.

For those who don’t know who they are, I will educate you. These are “Ones To Watch: The Up-And-Coming New Breed of Lady Rockers in Central Texas.”

The first batch are three that are actually Bohemian Bloggers!

Isis Lee is in the new band FingerJane. Their first show will be at:
DNA and TRH House show! December 4 at 7:00pm 525 N 32nd St. Waco TX. She has been making sounds with any instrument she can get her hands on and playing guitar since she was a kid. Some of her musical influences are The Ramones, The Misfits, and Wendy O Williams. Book them!

Autumn Mercy sings all over Waco and likes to invite her friends to the woods of Cameron Park to sing and play. She has performed at Legacy Cafe & Art Gallery, Art Forum of Waco, and hosted poetry and music at The Waco Cultural Arts Festival. Book her! Autumn sings cover songs and also hosts shows. Some of her musical influences are Kimberly Perry and Sia.

Meagan Smith is a thoughtful, open, and lyrically-vulnerable singer/songwriter in her song, “Lesson Learned.” She has performed at Beatnix Burger Barn. She went to California for awhile and now she’s back in Central Texas — Belton. Welcome back Meagan. We love you. Book her!

These are some of our lady rockers of Central Texas that Bohemia has featured within its pages. We love you, ladies:

Carrie Burt is the keyboardest and back-up singers for Married With Sea Monsters, Johnny’s Body, and Beat To a Pulp. Carrie is grom Gatesville, TX. Her bands have played at Ace’s Bar & Grill, Fast Eddies, True Love & Beatnix Burger Barn. Carrie is a mamma and a teacher. You can download Johnny’s Body on itunes. You can listen to Married With Sea Monsters on Spotify or buy a CD from the band.

Grab a shotgun, it’s Kat Dixon. She is a singer/songwriter. She performs solo and with her KILLER band Married With Sea Monsters. Kat has performed at Beatnix Burger Barn, Art Forum Waco, Cafe Vin, Treff’s, Fast Eddies, The Dancing Bear, and True Love. Kat likes Lady GaGa & Courtney Love, and The White Stripes– but her sound is unique. She does a great version of Crazy by Gnarles Barkley. You can listen to Married With Sea Monsters on Spotify or buy a CD from the band. Kat has an incredible stage presence. “The urge will only intensify.”

Brenda Flores is the front woman of Beautiful Disturbance. If you are a fan of Evanescence then you will like Beautiful Disturbance. You can watch their videos and buy their CD and other BD merch to support the band. Fans are family on the BD team, very tight-nit. I enjoy their rock & also when they do acoustic sets. Brenda has an incredible stage presence.

Maribel “Belle” Sabido is an amazing woman who plays bass for Beautiful Disturbance. She rocks. <3

These are some rockin’ ladies who have performed at fundraisers for Bohemia. J’adore, j’adore, j’adore. I know these humble musicians are about the music and not about the fame, but being a performer invites fans. It’s just the way it works:

Jaimee Harris is a singer/songwriter from Waco, TX who currently resides in Austin, TX. Central Texas loves it when she comes home. She has performed at the Croft Art Gallery and Common Grounds. I’ve had the great pleasure to become familiar with her music over the past year or so. Her songs are incredible folk rock diddies. She’s got some shows coming up in Austin in November and December. Check out her website to find out more! Jaimee is influenced by Bob Dylan and has an incredible stage presence.

Hey Voo Doo mamma… Sitina Gutierrez is one of the hardest working female rockers in Central Texas. Her performances are really intense! In Spore 333, she utilized sequenced beats, synthesizers, bells & percussion. In Project Tea Aguilar, she utilizes bells and auxiliary percussion to help create an incredibly unique sound for the band. Sitina also creates artwork. The Tea Aguilar Band has played at True Love, Headhunters, and Hemingway’s Watering Hole. The Tea Aguilar Band just put out a new CD! (YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!)

Other female rockers in Waco:

Ladies (and man) of the new band FingerJane. FingerJane is new so I am honestly not as familiar with their work but from what I have heard so far — I am excited.

Isis Lee founder and lead vocalist, ukulele, guitarist, keys
Julia Tiger Lily Mathews vocalist guitar, ukulele, bass, keys
Heather Grace Ranelle (mohawk) vocalist, guitar, bass, keys
Eathan Fonville drums

FingerJane is based on shared tastes and similar goals as a musicians. They play covers and originals, written individually and as a whole. FingerJane is a band that has an alternative grunge feel combined with a touch of bluegrass and folk. Influences include early 90′s grunge, rockabilly, punk, classic rock, blues, and metal.

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Shout-outs to all the other female rockers in Central Texas. Keep doing it. Keep rocking! Love you guys too.

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