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September
2005
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Toni
Armstrong Jr |
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A
Look at Women's Music and Its Early Publications and a Very Unique Pholksinger
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As the mocked-up edition of "HOT WIRE: The Journal of Women's Music and Culture" exclaims, Toni Armstrong Jr is a woman of many accomplishments. Click Here to read about just some of them, and for more photos. And of course please listen to her describe the music and culture of those years, highlighted with the music of some of her favorites, including her own music in the band Surrender Dorothy, all in Part 1 of this show. |
For more than 25 years Phranc has been making music commenting on society, starting with her "punk years" and then shifting to folk in the mid-80s. Her music has always told stories, some critical, some angry and some with charm and even silliness. And she ain't done yet, as you'll hear in her latest song of political commentary, "Condoleeza." |
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August
2010. Now you can download Every issue of Hot Wire, from their ten year
history...a Marvelous resource! Click on the logo at the right.
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Playlist:
(airdate September 26, 2005) Part
2 (59:09)
Note:
some images will reveal photos "behind" |
One of my favorite instrumental albums (pictured upper left) is "Naked Keys" by Margie Adam, and I thought it the perfect backdrop for the beginning of my interview with Toni. |
When Alix Dobkin and Kay Gardner were asked by producer Lin Daniels to do several Lavender Jane "reunion" shows, they asked Toni Jr. to be their bass player. They hadn't seen their original bass player since they made their album in the early 1970s. Pictured above: Toni Jr., Alix Dobkin, and Kay Gardner. Below: Toni Jr. with Melissa Etheridge at the 1993 March on Washington. (Photos courtesy of Toni) At the Chicago
Historical Society's 2004 event "Women, Womyn, Grrls, and Kings,"
the lesbian band Surrender Dorothy (Paula Walowitz, Laurie Lee Moses,
Toni Armstrong Jr.) performed together for the first time in almost
20 years. Pictured here: Kristin Lems, Paula Walowitz, Diana Laffey,
and Toni Jr. |
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During the interview you heard us say tha "Musica" was the first publication about Women's Music, with its 6 issues from March of 1974 through the Spring of 1977. Indy Allen, the publisher of "Musica," has graciously given me permission to post every issue of that publication, and I hope it's useful as a resource to those researching the history of early Women's Music. Click Here. |
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The
All American Jewish |
One of the interviews I've wanted to do for a long time was with Phranc, and I finally had that chance on August 25, 2005, when she came to Houston as opening act for The Knitters. I met her at The Continental Club, the location of the show, and the owner found us a sort-of quiet back room in the club. We talked for about 45 minutes, and she's an excellent interview subject, and gee, she even sang me a song...the unreleased track "Condaleeza," which you can hear on this show. I stuck around for the soundcheck and the show and had ample chances to take photos. Well, during the soundcheck (above) I could move around, as I was the only one watching, but during the show I'm afraid all the photos are from the same angle... |
Above, two very different Phrancs.....in Nervous Gender (1977) and as Hot August Phranc (early 90s) |
Above, one of the promotional photos for Island Records, probably from the early 90s, see the Script page for another of these pics, and a pic I didn't think I should put on the "front page" of this show...:) |
Above, Phranc is upper left in the pic of Catholic Discipline, the band she joined after Nervous Gender, and below, as The Tupperware Lady |
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