If I could list a few bands that have influenced my musical taste over the last couple of decades in my life, the Raincoats would most likely be near the top of that list. Pioneers in the riot grrrl movement, these British ladies have the kind of swagger and attitude that makes penises shrivel and bras burn.
Swagger aside, there’s something beautiful and raw about the Raincoats’ music. Kurt Cobain said it best back in 1993 when, describing the experience of listening to their music, he said, “When I listen to the Raincoats, I feel as if I’m a stowaway in an attic, violating and in the dark. Rather than listening to them I feel like I’m listening in on them.”
Indeed, there’s something darkly comforting and strangely thrilling about their music. Like an all-female Velvet Underground, their percussion is thick, their instrumentation distorted and their voices hauntingly monotone. Their pivotal self-titled album features some incredible tracks, including the anthem-like “Off Duty Trip,” featuring a harmonious chorus and some excellent time changes.
One of the songs they’re probably best known for, though, is their cover of the Kinks’ “Lola,” a song they managed to make all their own by injecting a punk-femme feel into it with their off-kilter singing and drawled out guitars.
Coming out of the shadows this year, Kill Rock Stars will be reissuing the aforementioned self-titled album on vinyl and CD starting Oct. 13 in conjunction with the band’s first-ever West Coast tour. They’ll be starting things off in San Francisco, coming to Portland the day of the reissue to play with label mates Panther and Explode into Colors.
An incredible lineup and a great venue—Holocene is kick-ass for dancing—this promises to be one of those shows that sticks with you for the rest of your life.