April 2001 GoGirlsMusic.com Showcase GrrlxGrrl Music Fest Gaby & Mo's - Austin, TX March 17, 2001 by Megan McGehee and Madalyn Sklar

Austin's SHADE shines! Listen to the song "Shade" from this show!

CLICK HERE FOR MADALYN'S SXSW SCRAPBOOK PHOTOS

The GoGirlsMusic.com showcase during Austin's South By Southwest lived up to and even surpassed its slogan, "cuz chicks rock!" The GrrlxGrrl Music Fest presented by the fabulous venue Gaby & Mo's allowed GoGirlsMusic.com to provide a wealth of talent to Saturday night's lineup: Elizabeth White (Houston, TX), Edie Carey (New York, NY), Doria Roberts (Atlanta, GA), Ginger & Sarah Band (Austin, TX), Shade (Austin, TX) and Lucy and the Luck Band (Austin, TX). The women of GoGirlsMusic.com tackled the opportunity and gave fantastic performances throughout the evening.

Houston resident, GoGirlsMusic.com assistant editor, and folk-rocker extraordinaire Elizabeth White opened the showcase. As swaying guitar rhythms and a seamlessly beautiful voice floated through the venue, White captivated the early audience with her deeply felt lyrics. The acoustic purity of her performance reveals an uncommon strength in songwriting that speaks directly to the hearts and minds of listeners. Full chords and interior voicings on the guitar masterfully back intelligent lyrics that penetrate straight to the core of human emotion. -Megan

White was joined later in her set by Dallas drummer Trae Hamilton and keyboardist Melissa Collins, formerly of Doris Daze. The two women proved a great addition to White's solo work without subverting her acoustic strength. Hamilton demonstrated great skill in playing appropriately both to the mood of the music and the size of the venue, adding steady and solid high hat clicks and backbeat snares to the mix. Collins provided bass lines and keyboard melodies as well as nice vocal work, highlighted in the snazzy jazz song the Dallas duo played alone at the end of the set. -Megan

After the first wonderful hour ended, Edie Carey took the stage and again won over the audience. Hailing from New York City, Carey pounded out complex guitar lines with remarkable dexterity. She is a master of communication with the audience, both within and in between songs, chatting and sharing secrets of life as if she were alone with only a close friend. She finds kernels of inspiration in everything, from holding hands to ripping off old bandaids, and weaves around them songs that everyone instantly relates to. Above all, Carey's breathtaking singing soared through the venue, leaping from lows to highs and sustaining all with the inescapable magic of her voice. -Megan

Atlanta based singer/songwriter Doria Roberts captivated the now swelling crowd with her unique style. Her music was passionate, sending out powerful messages. The audience enjoyed her heightened climax at the end of the set when she unplugging her guitar and walked off stage, continuing the song as she exited the room. A stroke of brilliance and a real crowd pleaser! -Madalyn

Austin's own Ginger & Sarah Band took the stage and immediately had us captivated with their blend of groovy and infectious pop. Ginger's counterpart, Sarah, was out sick that night. Even though the harmonies were missing, the band still performed an amazing set. This band knows how to keep it real with their blend of pop-funk-rock. Ginger was truly astounding as she belted out tunes with her fabulous voice and accomplished guitar skills. The bassist and drummer added their considerable skills, making Ginger & Sarah a true band to watch for! -Madalyn

A relatively new band out of Austin, Shade, highlighted the evening. They may be new but this band is tight and they know how to rock! Their songs are contagious and stylish. Guitarists Beth and Travis know how to methodically work together to bring great sounds that are then rounded off by Rae on bass and Mike on drums. This band kept the crowd hungry for more. Vocalist/guitarist Beth Puorro knows how to entertain the audience with her wit and humor. Keep a pulse on this band. They are up to something great. -Madalyn

The last band to take the stage was Lucy and the Luck Band, another new Austin band. Roaring and rockin' from the start, frontwoman Sarah Glynn showed us what she's made of. And that is a rocker chick! The band delivered great pop and rock tunes. A great performance that rounded out an incredible and unforgettable night. -Madalyn

ABOUT MEGAN MCGEHEE Presently residing in Houston, singer/songwriter Megan McGehee teams up with her best friend the piano to create a unique mix of songs in a variety of empowered pop dispositions, from fun to sardonic to bitter and sometimes even all the way around to sweet. She is a student at Rice University and an intern at GoGirlsMusic.com. Her web site is located at www.amnesiamusic.com.

ABOUT MADALYN SKLAR Madalyn is the founder of GoGirlsMusic.com, the coolest "chicks that rock" web site around. She started the site back in 1996 to help promote women in music. Madalyn thoroughly enjoyed SXSW, especially hanging at Gaby & Mo's and showcasing great talent at their GrrlxGrrl Music Fest.