Schmillion
Cedar Street Courtyard, Thursday, March 17
It’s hard not getting a little teary-eyed seeing Schmillion play a few slots ahead of the Bangles. The local quintet, which formed at Girls Rock Camp Austin a few years ago, is edging out of their teens, and has quickly become a group that can’t just be labeled a “girl band” anymore. They certainly channeled their various influences with vigor and no trace of irony, whether covering the Stooges’ “Search and Destroy” and Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” or playing original tunes that will hopefully end up on their debut LP this year, following up a 2010 EP and win of Best U18 Band at the 2009-2010 Austin Music Awards. The sound at Cedar Street was dodgy and blown-out, but the ladies soldiered on unaffected, even with a fill-in drummer. What more could you ask for? Singer Natalie Shea chugging honey to keep her pipes up to code? Guitarist Frankie Blue’s “I &heart; My Badass Attitude” shirt? The wild abandon with which they played? Seeing them reminds you that rock & roll can still be conjured of a very pure place.
This article appears in March 18 • 2011.