kristin hersh plus 4 muses
31 Mar
Musicians like Kristin Hersh and Tonya Donelly of Throwing Muses were a huge inspiration to me as a teenage girl guitarist trying to feel at home in a sea of punk rock boys. Records like The Real Ramona and Hips and Makers acted as rafts for insecure girls like me to climb on top of and play without drowning.
During my teen years, there were only a handful of known female musicians who could really play and who played in undeniably great bands. And they all seemed to know each other. Throwing Muses, Belly, and The Breeders shared and traded members like the MVPs of the underground pop scene.
After Throwing Muses broke-up, Kristin went on to play solo, at times playing all of the instruments on her records. She’s complicated, authentic, and wears her truths on her sleeve. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, and later, bi-polar, she’s had some heavy demons to battle, and her albums show the scars.
What happens to the punk rock kid when she grows up becomes a mother? Does she put that part of her to sleep with a lullaby?
Apparently not.
Kristin Hersh is now the mother of four sons, and she’s still throwing muses like a punk rock girl. She devotes her time to her four children, her husband, and her latest band, 50 Foot Wave. She’s also a published author of a children’s book called Toby Snax and is working on another book. She inspired me when I was young, and it’s great to see her still performing as a mom.
“More than one night up all night with a song and I sorta lose patience. ‘Cause the kids still get up every morning and the pancakes aren’t gonna make themselves and blinking sandpaper eyelids is distracting, to say the least.” – Kristin Hersh
Do watch the following videos. This first video is an interview with Kristin for the not-yet-released documentary
Rock-n-Roll Mamas.
This next video is for the song “Clara Bow” by Kristin’s band, 50 Foot Wave. That first guitar riff, the unmistakable sound of a distorted Gibson SG is about as nostalgic for me as an old basketball player hearing the sound of shoes squeaking on the court.
There’s tons of free downloads on Kristin’s website. She also blogs there about her life as a mom on the road with kids.
Check out the essential Kristin Hersh post on MerchMama.
“and the pancakes aren’t gonna make themselves” – LOVE IT. I have not listened to 50 Foot Wave… but will def be checking them out.
50 Foot Wave is much heavier than Throwing Muses, but still catchy. Having four boys would make me scream into a mic, too:)