GIRLSCHOOL at Hard Luck Bar, Sunday, June 7. Rating: NNNN
The longest-running all-women band in history made us feel young and alive at the Hard Luck Bar on a wet Sunday night. At least three generations of rock and roll music lovers cheered, shouted and pounded their fists along to a triumphant set by Girlschool. The British hard rock four-piece, formed in 1978, never really went away but also never surfaced from the underground. No matter – 37 years in and three founding members intact, the music’s still coming. New album Guilty As Sin is forthcoming, and songs from it sound pretty decent.
But of course it was punk-metal cult gems like Hit And Run, Watch Your Step, cover song Race With The Devil and the AC/DCesque Take It All Away that tipped crowd enthusiasm over the edge. Lead guitarist Jackie Chambers’s solos were ace but disappointingly quiet in the mix (even after vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kim McAuliffe requested them higher), and McAuliffe and bassist Enid Williams’s cheerful banter kept the vibes feel-good.
Williams in particular struck a perfect balance between keeping things fun while also demanding respect, a skill likely honed after decades of dealing with the music industry. “To the bald guy over there, I said no flash photography,” she said with smile, “and if you don’t stop I’ll come down there and sort you out myself.”
carlag@nowtoronto.com | @carlagillis
