- Mecca Normal
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Mecca Normal, photo by Jean Smith
Formed by Jean Smith and David Lester in 1984, Mecca Normal is a two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with feminist themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals. Merging the personal with the political in their songs and art-related activism, they helped define the sound and spirit of the early diy/ indie rock/riot grrrl movement alongside bands such as Beat Happening and Bikini Kill.[1]
Contents
Career
In 1985 they formed their own record label Smarten Up! to release their debut album.[2] Since then, Mecca Normal are perhaps the only band to have full-length releases on three of the largest indie labels of the 90s, with albums on K Records, Kill Rock Stars, Matador Records, and Smarten Up! and a 7" single released by Sub Pop.[3] Smarten Up! later merged with Lester's small press publishing company Get To The Point to form the label Smarten Up! & Get To The Point on which they released an album in 2003.
Much of Mecca Normal's most recent album The Observer (Kill Rock Stars, 2006) is inspired by Smith's experiences using online dating websites.[4][5]
Other activities
Smith is a novelist and painter, and Lester is a graphic designer and painter whose work includes "Inspired Agitators" - a series of posters profiling specific left-wing activists.
Smith also formed 2 Foot Flame with New Zealanders Peter Jefferies and Michael Morley. 2 Foot Flame released two LPs on Matador Records, 1995's self-titled LP, and 1997's Ultra Drowning.
Smith has also performed and recorded as a solo artist.[6]
Discography
- self-titled Smarten Up! 1986
- Calico Kills The Cat K Records 1989
- Water Cuts My Hands K Records 1991
- Dovetail K Records 1992
- Jarred Up K Records 1993
- Flood Plain K Records 1993
- Sitting On Snaps Matador Records 1995
- The Eagle And The Poodle Matador Records 1996
- Who Shot Elvis? Matador Records 1997
- The Family Swan Kill Rock Stars 2002
- Janis Zeppelin Smarten Up! 2003
- The Observer Kill Rock Stars 2006
References
- ^ "Riot Grrrl Retrospective Citations". Experience Music Project. 2000-02-28. http://www.empsfm.org/documents/exhibits/riot_grrrl_citations.pdf. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
- ^ allmusic.com ::
- ^ last.fm ::
- ^ :: Washington Post ::
- ^ :: Pop Matters ::
- ^ :: Splendid E Zine ::
External links
- Mecca Normal homepage
- Mecca Normal newsletter
- Mecca Normal on MySpace
- Mecca Normal on Epitonic
- PUNKCAST#965 Live video @ Union Docs, Brooklyn, May 7, 2006. (Realplayer, mp4)
Categories:- K Records artists
- Feminist musicians
- Riot grrrl
- Musical groups established in 1984
- Musical groups from Vancouver
- Musical duos
- Canadian indie rock groups
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