Review of "Invasion of the GoGirls" SXSW Showcase I Trophy's Bar & Grill - Austin, Texas March 14, 2002 by Dona Edwards

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Wow! And whew! Let me start by saying the lineup for tonight's show was amazing. Like an amusement park ride whirling at top speeds, you barely have time to catch your breath before being swept away by another amazing performance.

The night started out with a performance by Chicago's The Locals that drew the crowd in. Yvonne Doll fronts the group with the comfort and style of an artist that loves the stage. Instantly likeable, the group offers power pop with a touch of rock and folk. Distinctive vocals and catchy lyrics are fleshed out by masterful backing instruments, including an electric violin that is bowed with all the intensity of an exorcism. Guitars, bass and drums all masterfully entwine to create a sound that pleases and stirs the appetite for more.

The Locals

Second to take the stage was the fabulous Carol Plunk and her band. Soulful and energetic, she cannot be ignored. Furious guitar strumming and more head-whipping than a Rick James concert, this power packed performer puts her whole being into a show. Sweat-matted hair creating a "cousin it"-like curtain around her lovely face, Carol Plunk had them. She had us all. Hailing from Memphis, this hard-rocking group comes together to create a strong, independent sound all its own. If this gal is unsigned by next year's festival I will be truly surprised.

Carol Plunk

As the bar really began to fill, the lovely Susan Robkin took the stage. She has a huge voice - clear as the Texas skies - which is surprising since she hails from Seattle. Susan sings with polished pop perfection and it is shocking someone so at ease with the stage has not been performing that long. With vocal elements reminiscent of Pat Benatar and Laura Branigan, Susan mixes silky ballads with driving pop. Robkin's crystal vocals and intelligent lyrics climb and mesh with the backing band to fill the crowding room. Susan has been winning awards left and right in her native Seattle and the reasons clearly show. Talent, style and delivery make this woman one to watch.

Susan Robkin

As the crowd swelled nearly to overflowing, we were all surprised and delighted by an appearance by San Fran punk legends, Tribe 8. Whipping up a few shirts and showing off the "new" cleavage (this being butt cleavage) the grrls introduced a band well-known to many in the crowd, Austin's own Shade.

Tribe 8 introducing Shade to the stage

Like a magical day you can't imagine getting better, Shade is like your birthday, Christmas and Independence Day all colliding into the same space. Beth Puorro and the rest of Shade pulled out a flawless performance, whipping the crowd into a stage-rushing frenzy. Shirts were ripped off, dancing, writhing, shouting and pure bliss was happening simultaneously on stage and in the crowd. Intelligent lyrics, amazing musicianship, including Travis Cohee's masterful guitar work and Rae Goldring's throbbing bass licks, Shade captained the journey for a wall-to-wall crowd's trip to musical frenzy.

Shade

Continuing the GoGirlsMusic.com riotous showcase and closing out the night, Austin's Vera Takes the Cake took that and more. Sexy, melodic and pop-rock-rific, this band knows how to entertain and feed you jewels, one at a time. Performing under a relatively new name, Vera Takes the Cake was known this time last year as the Ginger and Sarah band. Combining sexy stage presence, talented guitar licks and stylishly-meshed vocal offerings, this band does not disappoint.

Vera Takes The Cake

As I mentioned before, this show was a wild ride from start to finish. Is Austin amazing or what? Tonight GoGirlsMusic.com showed the town and South By Southwest, 'We don't need no stinkin badges!"

The Crowd

The GoGirls who made this happen!
Rae Goldring, Dona Edwards, Kirsten Johnson, Madalyn Sklar

See ya next year!

ABOUT DONA EDWARDS Dona is the coordinator for GoGirls events in Austin, TX. You can reach her at dona_edwards@hotmail.com.

All photos on this page copyright © 2002 Dona Edwards
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