The Blue Umbrellas are not your usual grrrly show
By Angie Fenton
Rock this Town, Velocity, May 18th, 2005
The Blue Umbrellas aren't going to deny there's something fabulously phallic about four foxy females dominating their instruments with nary a damsel in distress.
But the gig is up when you nudge them into admitting there's a bit of novelty in an all-girl band, and they're not ashamed to flash their feminine wile if it means you'll give them a listen.
"The energy we create? It's not a big, nasty PT's kind of thing," lead guitarist/vocalist Gloria Marshall, 29, explained.
"We're here to make a vocal contribution to the artistic side," lead singer/rhythm guitarist Kelly Shouse, 29, said. "We want to be known as artists."
"Female bands fade out ... but we've established our roots and we're just working on the rest of the tree," bassist Stephanie Wolz, 26, said. "We're not going anywhere but up."
Background
The quartet — including the usually verbally silent but musically powerful drummer Rhonda Baker, 29 — knew they were emitting arresting tunes when neighbors called the police in the midst of their practices at two different locations.
"The police reported that the neighbors thought something — or someone — was in distress," Shouse recalled.
Sound
"You take something you love and ... give it to someone else — that's what we're here for," Marshall said, and that's what the Blue Umbrellas do.
Whether harmonizing on their original songs or covering Jet, Melissa Etheridge, Puddle of Mudd or Prince, the versatile musicians combine to create an eclectic blend of good ol' pop rock enmeshed with funky folk and echoes of country.
The 'Brellas buck the trend of angry grrrl power tunes for a brighter, better repertoire that is cheeky and bold, smooth and surreal, silly and sultry. Often compared to Etheridge, Ani DiFranco, the Indigo Girls and Natalie Merchant, the quartet embodies all of those styles on the full-length release "Metamorphose."
But just when you think you've got the Blue Umbrellas pegged, they're gonna tap it to you all over again just the way you thought they wouldn't.
"We do some rapping in our shows," Marshall said, referring to "Rap Medley," which brings fans to their feet every time. "The things that come out on stage, that's just us."
Part of the Blue Umbrellas' charm is "you want to come out and have fun with us," Marshall said. "We encourage the rowdy crowd."
Outlook
The Blue Umbrellas will play at 10 p.m. Saturday at Big Dave's Outpost, 1801 Bardstown Road. If you come, dress for the Pajama Jam-themed evening. Prizes will be awarded for the sexiest or homeliest PJs.
The band will tour the East Coast over Memorial Day weekend. Check out the Blue Umbrellas' website at www.theblueumbrellas.com.
They are also busy working on the soundtrack for the play "Good Fences," by Louisvillian Todd Fluhr, which is being adapted into a film titled "Mercy."
"We're so excited about this project," Kelly said. "We get to take an artistic side to (our music). We're here to make a real contribution."
Got a local band or singer you'd like to learn more about? E-mail your suggestions for Rock This Town to email@velocityweekly.com.
