My partner Nik is sort of a juggernaut when it comes to contemporary music--he reads lots of music sites, mines the best of bands before they hit it big, and goes to tons of shows. I, on the other hand, can't really stop listening to the mainstays of my high school days--Patty Griffin, Shannon Worrell, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt's old stuff, Common, Mos Def etc.
A couple of weeks ago, however, Nik said that he'd gotten me a ticket to a show at Bowery Ballroom to see a band he really thought I'd like. I was a bit skeptical, not because he doesn't know my taste, but because a lot of indie rock sounds like white kids whining to me.
Low and behold, I discovered my new favorite band: Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down. Thao is a badass lady who stomped around the stage in her cowgirls boots, strumming on her guitar, and belting out her totally original and awesome lyrics. She and her band members (two dudes, one a guitarist, the other a drummer) played a really riveting, spirited show; none of the blasé apathy characteristic of the band before it. When dudes yelled idiotic things at Thao (who is super cute) from the audience, she just went on doing her thing--a consummate professional and, I can't help but guessing, a feminist superstar.
Check out her music here, and definitely splurge for tickets if she comes your way.
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yay, i love thao!
i KNOW! i love thao and the get down stay down! i saw them in st louis about a month ago and thao was so badass jumping around and totally rocking out.
Oh, Man, I love Thao. She's still in my playlist as Thao Nguyen. I was so sad when she moved from VA.
She's also an activist for Oxfam America: http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/08/30/bumbershoot-music-lounge-day-1-thao-with-the-get-down-stay-down/
:D Thanks for the info on Thao! I didn't know about Oxfam, and haven't seen her live (yet). Big fan of her melodies, lyrics (and how the two work so well together when the feeling of each might be contradictory when apart) and her voice. Heck, first time I heard "Bag of Hammers" on the radio, I liked the androgyny of her voice (to my ears) and was singing along by the end! And they're on Kill Rock Stars, which will always hold a place in my heart.
Bands usually aren't good at describing their music, IMO, but they nit the nail on the head with this one, from the link BB posted above: “tangles of guitar, knots of singing, threads of beat and thump make a rope fit for hauling the heavy machinery of your day”
Commence to haulin'!
me and thao were women's studies majors together at the college of william and mary! so i guess i can confirm your suspicions that she is a feminist. go thao! go women's studies! h'ray h'ray!!
Thao is awesome! Maybe one of my favorite discs of the summer, for sure (even though it came out in Feb.) Pissed I missed her in STL last month.
I love Thao Nguyen!!! I got so excited when I heard she got signed onto Kill Rock Stars. And that is awesomer (ha) that she was a WMS major. It's not really the same kind of music, but you should check out Carol Bui as well. She's from the same area (Washington D.C.). I kinda get excited when I hear awesome Vietnamese American musicians. :P
I saw Thao with the Get Down Stay Down open for Rilo Kiley in June. I love Rilo Kiley, but Thao stole the show. Love them.
Thao puts on SUCH a great live show, and she is a super friendly and funny lady to boot. 'We Brave Bee Stings And All' is for sure going in my top 5 this year - she's the real deal!!