Thelma and the Sleaze: Women Rockers to Keep Your Eye On

I’ve been traveling a lot these last few weeks. Recently, while in New Orleans, I stumbled upon one of the best bands I have ever heard—Thelma and the Sleaze.

Heralding from Nashville, this three-piece, all-female band is touring the country.

Describing themselves as a combination of metal, sludge and blues and influenced by ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy, their technical proficiency is truly impressive. However, it’s their gender-bending and highly athletic presence that made for an all-consuming aural and visual experience. The lead singer, “LG”, short for Lauren Gilbert, is a fireball often sporting an American Flag bikini top who exudes dirty rock energy —down on her knees wailing away on her solos and banging out their subversively feminist lyrics. The petite drummer, Chase, seems purely made of muscle, fairly lifting off her seat as she keeps a tight, hard-driving rein on their music. And the bassist, the lovely Reilly Gallagher a.k.a. “GiGi” weaves a sexy, musical coil to underpin such tunes as “Knife Fight” off of their recent Heart Like a Fist EP.

This is one group of women rockers to keep your eye on!

! Check out my favorite tune of the night, “Too Tough” off of their Pillage EP.

[This article has been updated to include the correct name of a band member – September 23, 2014  11:05 p.m.]