Summer Girlfriends rock to that endless summer of fun!

 "Summer of Fun" is a song I remember from one great Chicago band called Johnny and the Limelights. They were a totally fun group, featuring Brian Costello of the current Outer Minds and Sara Bassick, formerly the bassist for The Pumps.  Sara is now a member of Summer Girlfriends with four other ladies. It's Monday night and I seize the opportunity to catch this group at the Empty Bottle, in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood. What a delight they were, continuing that ageless punk mindset that rock 'n' roll must be done for the fun of it. To borrow from a Beach Boys song, that summer of fun is endless. Yes, it is an "Endless Summer."



Nikita and Sara



Elisse



Sara and Caitlin


 Summer Girlfriends joins Sara with guitarist Nikita, guitarist Elise, drummer Nicole, and singer Caitlin.  The spirit of the Runaways is ever present in their sound. The Shangri-Las, The Luv'd Ones, Goldie and the Gingerbreads, and L7 come to mind, upon hearing this band. '60s garage-pop, '70s post-punk, '80s power-pop, and girl-group mania all come together for some fine tuning that gives new life to these vibes. Yes, that monster called rock 'n' roll had a feminine side, which was longing to make it clear...girls rock! 



Nikita



Nicole



Caitlin


 In 1920, Mamie Smith recorded "Crazy Blues" and passed the mysterious female language to Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle. They were two of the first women to rock in the late '40s and early '50s.  Maybelle and Sarah Carter were an influence on Rose Maddox, who performed early proto-rockabilly in 1952 with the song "Hangover Blues." Influenced by all five, it was Wanda Jackson who opened the door for women in rock 'n' roll.  Women were determined to speak their mind in a louder and angrier style.  Patti Smith and Courtney Love continued the chain of chick-rock, which lives on in 2011, in the form of new bands like Summer Girlfriends. Rock 'n' roll is an endless summer of fun!




Elisse



Nicole