Women Bassist Matthew Flegel and Drummer Mike Wallace, Photo: ERICA TIMMERMAN
ERICA TIMMERMAN, Suite 101, Apr 09
Don’t be fooled by the band’s name. Women are actually an all-male under-20 rock band who delves into lo-fi, psychedelic rock, reminiscent of 1960s Velvet Underground. Not that they ever consider themselves of the same caliber.
“We’ve even been compared to the Beatles which is unacceptable, untouchable territory. You can’t say our band is like that,” said bassist and vocalist Matthew Flegel in an interview with Suite 101.
Maybe then of the same caliber as ambient punk peer, Deerhunter, perhaps? Women’s self-titled debut album flips back and forth between catchy pop songs, like the well-received ‘Black Rice’, and ominous industrial post-punk, such as “January 8th.”
One thing that stays the same throughout the album, however, is the constant tape hiss and the far-away voice of main vocalist, Patrick Flegel, singing songs in a monotone drone.
Childhood Friends
Women were signed onto Calgary label, Flemish Eye Records, where the band’s hometown is. Through the help of Indie legend, Chad VanGaalen, they were able to get the retro sound they wanted by recording on tape in basements, culverts, anywhere an echo was likely to be heard.
The quartet are childhood friends and family who grew up together and went to the same school. “Mike [Wallace] the drummer lived a block away from us. Pat is my brother and I’m the oldest by three years. We’ve been playing together since we were 12,” said Flegel.
Flegel admits he and his band mates were avid listeners of 60s music and pointed to the Everly Brothers and Skeeter Davis as inspiration for their own music. At one point they dispersed as a band and went on to play back up for Xiu Xiu and Hella.
By 2008 the friends got back together, formed Women and sent some demos in to Ian Russell, president of Flemish Eye. Within three months they produced their album, released it in October 2008, and since then have been on the road touring throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
“We’ve covered so much ground in such a short period of time,” said Flegel. “We’re actually getting really used to it. Like I’ll get home and get really antsy. This is all I ever really wanted to do.”
Non-Stop Touring
In March and April 2009 Women went on a tour across the West Coast with Chad VanGaalen, playing in locations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. They received many positive reviews, -the San Diego CityBEAT described Women as “basement rock goodness” – and even sold out concerts.
“Everything has been mind blowing,” said Flegel. “In Calgary the shows are a really small, closed in scene. Some 50-60 people come. But touring we have filled up venues with people who shouldn’t even know who we are.”
This summer Women will be packing up again and touring throughout Europe which they are very excited about because they’ll have a chance to meet rock heroes Sonic Youth and The Jesus Lizard.
“At the Primavera Sound festival [in Barcelona, Spain] we will be setting up a point system. Like you’ll get five points talking to this person or that person,” explained Flegel. “I’m going to try and get a conversation with Neil Young, that will be worth 100 points.”
Sure Writer 