Written by:
Pam Huwig
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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 11 #5
The Butchies, Kaia Wilson, Melissa York and Alison Martlew, are at it again, girls. And, oh my, lemme tell you that they’ve got a good scald on their new record, “3,” which they recorded and mixed in eight days flat. They’ve been playing together for three years now, driving the girls wild with their sassy stage presence, wit and sex appeal.
“Before you start asking us questions, let me ask you this,” begins Butchies guitarist Kaia Wilson, who playfully continues: “I wonder if you’ve noticed that there are three of us in the band and that the new record is appropriately entitled ‘3’?”
Ooh, the goosebumps — I did notice. Tell me about it.
“There are three of us, the new record is called “3,” our combined age is 84, which of course is divisible by three, and we’ve been together for three years,” she clarifies.
I see. You girls have a lot of free time, huh?
Wilson laughs. “Actually, we don’t. But we still have plenty of time to come up with all this,” she says.
What it all really adds up to is that the Butchies have come into their own with a fierceness that can’t be denied. Smart lyrics, thumping drums, and flawless bass — by all indications, this is only the beginning.
“So many great things are happening now,” says bassist Alison Martlew. “When I was 3 or 4, I told my parents, ‘I want to be a concert pianist,’ and so I took piano lessons for about 11 years. Needless to say, that wasn’t my thing. I don’t know what I was thinking. Now here I am, in a great band — I feel like I’ve come a long way.”
She’s right. In addition to being on tour bills with Sleater Kinney and the Indigo Girls, the Butchies were personally asked by Amy Ray to contribute to Stag, her debut solo album released last April.
“It was a blast,” says drummer Melissa York. “[Ray] hauled ass to North Carolina and set up in my basement. It was rocking. At times, I’d look up and see her rocking out, and I’d be like, ‘Holy shit, Amy Ray is jamming in my basement.’”
The results were divine. The Butchies not only played on songs like “Hey Castrator” and “Lucystoners,” but also toured with Ray last spring.
“We’re really excited about the whole Amy Ray thing — we’re psyched, we’re honored to be playing with her and that she has no problem with us doing our own set,” Wilson says excitedly. “When we play with her and/or the Indigo Girls, it just feels right. I’m so flattered that she likes our new stuff, too.”
Like their previous two releases, the Butchies are releasing 3 on their own dyke label, Mr. Lady Records. Wilson and her girlfriend, Tammy Rae Carland, founded Mr. Lady years ago in hopes of creating a vehicle for the Butchies, as well as other budding rockers, including Doria Roberts and the Haggard.
“We wanted to be out about our feminism, sexuality, and politics in general,” says Wilson. “Now, you know, you have to mention my girlfriend when any reference to Mr. Lady Records is made — she is so devoted to making this label run smoothly and without her, we’d all be a mess — but especially me.”
It’s no surprise that the crew needs a guiding hand. Between touring, practicing, and holding down “regular” full-time jobs, the Butchies’ time is splintered.
“Doing it all is demanding,” says York. “But it’s so worth it. Musically and otherwise, I’ve freed myself more on this album. I think we all have. My drumming has definitely gotten better over time, thank God. We’ve pulled together as a band more, and have only gotten closer as friends over time.”
When asked what they most want fans to know about them, they each agree with Martlew:
“Tell everyone about how much the Butchies love each other, and how we’re family, and how we get along amazingly well,” she says.
“And how we love each other,” adds York.
“Hey, you should mention how much we love each other,” laughs Wilson.
See http://www.thebutchies.com for touring info.
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