Punk Rock Girls: Up-&-Comers Bleached play Frankie's Thursday

Listen Up Toledo | 01/30/2012 11:50 pm

Though the “girls can't rock” notion has been solidly dismissed for a few decades now, occasionally we, as music consumers and a culture in general, need a little reminder.

It's easy to get mired in the corporate-marketed pop of Katy Perry, et al and forget that not only do “girls just wanna have fun,” they want to rock the eff out too. And just when you most need it and least expect it, along comes a band like Bleached. This female-fronted snappy punk band from sunny Los Angeles, California brings a dark and twisty edge to modern rock n roll that's refreshingly fresh and nostalgic at once.

With elements of infamous lady ghosts of rock's past (you can hear a tad of everything from X's Exene Cervenka to The Raincoats to Blondie to the Deal Sisters to Hole), Bleached too germinates the off-kilter jangly punk tradition set forth by heyday kings like Johnny Thunder's Heartbreakers, The Ramones, and the following ilk of groups who circumvented the DC Hardcore movement to retain the poppier sensibilities of the genre. And that's where Bleached breaks from the band, as it were, and develops their own unique brand of punk rock that at times, fits more closely along side contemporaries like Tegan & Sarah or The Sounds. But, the thing about this band is that they balance out well the line between crafting a finger-snapping song, and finding a hook that can dig your heart out at the same time.

Gaining traction at showcase festivals across the country, and on blogs across the blogoshpere, Bleached comes through town taking a quick break from playing the role of touring support for Broken Belles. Be sure to catch them on their way up.

Bleached play Frankie's Inner City (308 Main St.) on Thursday, February 2. The Faux Paus and Twist & Shouts open. Doors at 9 p.m. $8 advance, $10 at the door. www.frankiesinnercity.com