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Photograph by Tim Bram Glitter Mini 9 (l - r): Skinfill, Lesley Poirier, Chá Levias. All That Glitters is Gold By Lisa Hayle and Denise Mauro Glitter Mini 9 is a Bay Area band with a long list of accomplishments. These women have opened for Duran Duran and Third Eye Blind, are featured in indie filmmaker Kuang Lee's documentary, and are currently recording a full-length CD due out next spring. We spoke with singer/bassist Lesley Poirer and drummer Chá Levias, bandmate, guitarist/singer/songwriter Mauri Skinfill was on tour in Europe with Preston School of Industry. There is a simple story behind their tongue-tickling name. "I was at a bar with a friend, and I told him I wanted to start a band," Lesley explains, "and he said I should call it Glitter Mini 9 ... remember the glitter kitty stickers with the wink? There used to be a sheet of nine mini glitter kitty stickers." When asked what the name means, they have answered anything from a dildo to a satellite. The first ground we cover is the local rock music scene itself. "When I first started playing with Glitter Mini 9 three years ago, there were tons of bands around and more places to play," says drummer Chá. "The dotcom thing changed the neighborhoods and your options of where you could play and what nights. Also, when Downtown Studios closed, it caused a lot of bands to break up or disappear. The clubs changed the type of music they play -- getting into the 'velvet rope' kind of music, making room for rock only on Wednesday or Thursday nights. But there are some rock clubs that stay strong, like Bottom of the Hill and Starry Plough." We commiserate on a San Francisco that is looking more and more like San Jose. The SF scene used to be made by and for its residents, and now seems to be a consumable for out-of-towners. Lesley adds, "What epitomized SF turning that way was the fucking Beauty Bar on Mission Street ... it's like the Marina right here in the Mission. People will think nothing of paying six dollars for a cocktail, but hesitate to spend seven dollars to hear rock bands." Does the "new" generation prefer the instant gratification a DJ offers to sinking time into live music? Is it an attention span thing? Too much X? We delve into what bands could do to turn things around and ask, where are all the good songwriters? "I mean -- there's Sleater-Kinney, and who else?" Lesley asks in bewilderment, adding "... we can't blame the scene when no one is exciting." "We're going through the phases of the boy band, and the whole women in rock thing is a little faded. We've got all these female musicians, hopefully a couple of light bulbs will come on and they'll go whoa," says Chá optimistically. Lesley responds, "I don't think light bulbs have ever gone off and I don't think they ever will. The problem with women in rock is the women who don't like women in rock." Perhaps it is simply the case that men want to be the male rock star on stage, and women want to fuck him. Talented songwriter Lesley says she takes her inspiration from the likes of The Beatles, Sonic Youth, Pavement, The Pixies, and Guided by Voices. Chá was determined to rock whether her mother approved or not. She was truly inspired by Missing Person's drummer Terry Bozzio. In fact, she took lessons from his teacher. When asked about doors that may have opened or closed for them because they are an all female band, Lesley recalls, "On tour we were repeatedly asked to turn our amps down. The sound guys give advice -- they want to help you." Chá responds, "They think that because you're a girl band that you're going to be cute and quiet. Then they say, 'You guys really rock -- you can really play,' and you want to say well fuck you, of course I can play. I think we surprise people, and to this day I don't know why ... we're real, we're genuine, and you don't see that on MTV." Lesley sums it up succinctly, "We don't have a sex. We get emails worldwide from women, girls, boys, men -- every conceivable audience. So the people who like you will seek you out. They'll hear you and like your music. They don't give a shit if you're women, black, gay, or straight -- they don't care. They love you for the music and those are the people that you have to pay attention to. The only way you'll be great is by being what you are, making it the most of it you can." "And hanging in there," Chá adds with a smile. Make sure you catch this band, and what better a time than at a benefit for SoundSafe: Sun/25, 7pm. El Rio, Mission at Cesar Chavez, SF. $12 donation. Lisa Hayle, singer/songwriter/musician and Denise Mauro, musician and dedicated supporter of local music, are founders of Voice Is Venom -- eZine and promotion tool for women who rock. Look for other upcoming, unsigned bands and articles at www.voiceisvenom.com. [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]