Dum Dum Girls

Dum Dum Girls
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles - San Pedro alcantara
Genres	Indie pop Noise pop Punk rock[1]
Years active	2008-present
Labels	HoZac Records, Sub Pop
Associated acts	Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, Grand Ole Party, Crocodiles
Website	Official site
Members
Dee Dee Jules Bambi Sandy
Past members
Frankie Rose Brandon Welchez Charles Rowell

Dum Dum Girls are an American indie pop band from California that formed in 2008. Their name comes from both The Vaselines' album Dum Dum and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys".^[2] The band is the project of singer and songwriter Kristen Gundred whose stage name is Dee Dee.^[3]

After issuing several singles and EPs, Dum Dum Girls released their first album I Will Be to critical acclaim in 2010.^[3] Their second album Only in Dreams was released in September 2011.

Career

Dee Dee Penny, better known as Dee Dee (real name Kristen Gundred), was raised by parents who had different musical tastes: a father listening to Frank Sinatra and the Supremes, and a mother interested in The Beach Boys.^[4] Her first musical endeavor was acting as the drummer and singer for the three-piece Grand Ole Party.

When she decided to start another project, Dee Dee choose the name Dum Dum Girls although at that time she worked on her own.^[5] She quickly gained attention with her first songs and signed to Sub Pop in July 2009.^[6] On that occasion, Dum Dum Girls expanded and became a four-piece band. The Dum Dum Girls are managed by Scott Cohen (music business) who also manages the Raveonettes and the Deer Tracks.

Dum Dum Girls' debut album, I Will Be, was released in March 2010. It was well received by critics.^[7] Pitchfork described the songs as "genuine earworms, both unfailingly hip and often wonderfully associative".^[3] Dee Dee produced the record with Richard Gottehrer who had previously worked with Blondie and The Raveonettes. Gottehrer also co-wrote the songs “My Boyfriend’s Back,” and “I Want Candy".^[8][9] The record included guest spots by Yeah Yeah Yeah's guitarist Nick Zinner on "Yours Alone" and Dee Dee's husband Brandon Welchez of Crocodiles on "Blank Girl". The cover of the album featured an old photo of Dee Dee's mother, who passed away from cancer in 2010.^[10]

The band then went on tour to support Vampire Weekend, culminating with three nights in New York at the Radio City Music Hall.^[11]

In 2011, they released the He Gets Me High EP which included a cover of "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths. They released their second album Only in Dreams on September 27, 2011.^[12]

Influences

The group has cited The Ronettes, Ramones, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Patti Smith and Mazzy Star among their major influences.^[13]

Lead vocalist Dee Dee has been inspired by a wide range of female artists including Grace Slick, Siouxsie Sioux, Billie Holiday, Hope Sandoval, Nico, Madonna and Courtney Love.^[13]

Lineup

• Dee-Dee (vocals, guitar)
• Jules (guitar, vocals)
• Bambi (bass, vocals)
• Sandy (drums, vocals)

Discography

Albums

• I Will Be LP, HoZac (First Pressing), Sub Pop, 2010
• Only in Dreams LP, Sub Pop, 2011

EPs

• Dum Dum Girls EP, Zoo Music, 2008
• Yours Alone EP, Captured Tracks, 2009
• He Gets Me High EP, Sub Pop 2011

Compilations

• Blissed Out cassette, Art Fag, 2010

Singles

• Longhair HoZac, 2008
  • Format: 7", vinyl limited to 500. 75 are handwritten numbered by Dee Dee.^[14]
  1. "Longhair"
  2. "Mercury Mary"
  3. "Let it Be Me"
• Stiff Little Fingers Hell Yes!, 2009
  • Format: 7", black/white swirl vinyl limited to 100. Silver 7" vinyl limited to 600.^[15]
  1. "Stiff Little Fingers"
  2. "Dream Away Life"
• Jail La La Sub Pop, 2010
  • Format: 7", vinyl limited to 500.^[16]
  1. "Jail La La"
  2. "Play With Fire"
• Pay for Me Sub Pop, 2010
  • Format: 7", split vinyl limited to 1000.^[17]
  1. "Pay for Me"
  2. "Before it's Gone" performed by Male Bonding
• Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout Sub Pop, 2010
  • Format: 7", vinyl limited to 500. 7" white vinyl limited to 200. Blue transparent 7" vinyl limited to 500.^[18]
  1. "Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout"
  2. "Last Caress"
• Coming Down Sub Pop, 2011
  • Format: 7" vinyl currently in print. 7" white vinyl limited to 700.^[19]
  1. "Coming Down (Edit)"
  2. "Crystal Baby"

Videos

• "Hey Sis"
• "Put a Sock in It"
• "Jail La La"
• "Blank Girl"
• "Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout"
• "Rest of Our Lives"
• "Baby Don't Go"
• "He Gets Me High"
• "Bedroom Eyes"

References

1. ^ http://sledisland.com/lineup/featured-artists/dum-dum-girls.html
2. ^ Cassie Marketos.Dum Dum Girls - interview Self-titledmag.com. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-22
3. ^ ^{a b c} Zach, Kelly."I Will Be" review Pitchfork.com. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-22
4. ^ The Fader, article, issue 67, April/May 2010, page 37
5. ^ Hogan, Marc. "Catholicked" -review. Pitchfork.com. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-22
6. ^ Dombal, Ryan. Sub Pop sings Dum Dum Girls Pitchfork.com. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-22
7. ^ Metacritic. I Will Be Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic Metacritic. Retrieved 2011-10-12
8. ^ Dombal, Ryan. Dum Dum Girls announce debut lp Pitchfork.com. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-22
9. ^ "Jail La La". Songfacts.com. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=19143. Retrieved 2010-04-12. 
10. ^ Dombal, Ryan. Interviews: Dum Dum Girls Pitchfork.com. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-12
11. ^ Sprague, David. Vampire Weekend - Radio City Music Hall Variety.com. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-22
12. ^ Only In Dreams Subpop.com. Retrieved 2011-07-22
13. ^ ^{a b} Richardson Andrews, Charlotte. "Interrupting yr broadcast: dum dum girls" wearsthetrousers.com. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-22
14. ^ "Dum Dum Girls - Longhair (Vinyl) Discogs"". http://www.discogs.com/Dum-Dum-Girls-Longhair/release/1691968. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
15. ^ "Dum Dum Girls - Stiff Little Fingers (Vinyl) Discogs"". http://www.discogs.com/Dum-Dum-Girls-Stiff-Little-Fingers/master/268963. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
16. ^ "Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La (Vinyl) Discogs"". http://www.discogs.com/Dum-Dum-Girls-Jail-La-La/release/2141204. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
17. ^ "Dum Dum Girls/Male Bonding - Pay for Me(Vinyl) Discogs"". http://www.discogs.com/Dum-Dum-Girls-Male-Bonding-Pay-For-Me-Before-Its-Gone/release/2236971. Retrieved 2011-10-23. 
18. ^ "Dum Dum Girls - Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout (Vinyl) Discogs"". http://www.discogs.com/Dum-Dum-Girls-Bhang-Bhang-Im-A-Burnout/release/2535241. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
19. ^ "Subpop Records: Only in Dreams + Coming Down 7" Pre-order". http://www.subpop.com/releases/dum_dum_girls/full_lengths/only_in_dreams. Retrieved 2011-08-31.