SXSW Records

Dum Dum Girls

Sprung from the brain of enigmatic artist Kristen Gundred (aka Dee Dee), L.A.'s Dum Dum Girls began as a solo act releasing the odd EP and 7-inch and bloomed into an all-girl quartet paying homage both to Iggy Pop ("Dum Dum Boy") and the peppy girl-group harmonies your parents grew up listening to. The Girls' debut gets off to a dark and dangerous start with "It Only Takes One Night," while single "Jail La La" is a comedic, upbeat exploration of a night gone wrong. "Blank Girl" is the sexy standout, a sock-hop-ready bop about young womanhood, with Brandon Welchez of San Diego's Crocodiles singing, "It's so sweet to see you make it on your own from duck to swan." Some interesting toying with gender dynamics there, and it's a pleasingly sly subversion. I Will Be provides a welcome and not so dumb dumb tweak to the same old fuzzed-out garage lexicon. (Thu., 12mid, Galaxy Room Backyard.)