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Pretty Vacant are an all-girl band based in Cambridge, UK. Pretty Vacant
formed in 1998, when, as a group of friends studying biology at University,
we found another common interest in music. Having jammed together for
a few
months, we played our first gig in November 1998. We performed a range
of
covers as a five piece band, Suzanne Morrison (vocals), Amelia Ireland
(guitar/bass), Dawnie Fisher (guitar), Stella Moustras (vocals) and
Billie
Long (drums), going under the name "The Peppercorns". With
the first gig
under our belts, we performed throughout the rest of 1998 and 1999,
changing our name to the slightly more rockin? "Pretty Vacant".
In 1999, we
gained a regular bass player, Jen-Jens
Marshall, to complete the line up. We started writing our own material
during 1999, culminating in the recording of the album "No Vacancies"
in
summer 2000.
Graduation from university meant the loss of three band members; however, br>
Suzanne, Amelia and Jen-Jens, plus new drummer Rebecca Rundell, have
continued to perform regularly. Highlights have included playing at the
Junction in the Cambridge Band Competition, and headlining at the Boat
Race. Pretty Vacant are currently writing songs for a second album.
The ad hoc review: An all female outfit that swerved effortlessly between
Michelle Shocked and Joan Jett finally settled on the middle ground
and was
all the better for it. Fabulous vocals were backed up by
rock-chick-axe-woman on guitar and a pounding bass, but their most
effective work came when they eased off on the dirty guitar and took
a
slightly quieter route through the songs. Only then, when the band were
in
country/blues rock mode could you hear the lyrics properly and they
were
worth a listen - the more bitter the diatribe, the better they came
out.
Misc
Q. Do you think people form judgements about "girl-bands" before they listen to their music? Do you think you succeed in dispelling people's preconceptions?
Usually people take a look at Suzanne's legs and give us
the thumbs up! Seriously, though, I think that the whole 'girl band' thing
works in our favour, because (I hope!) when people see us, they realise
that we can actually sing and play! I guess an all-girl band is a bit of a
cliche, but we didn't set out particularly to be that way - we started off
having friendly jam sessions, and it kind of evolved [from there].
Q. Which female musicians do you most admire, and why?
I'm a big fan of Tori Amos and Sheryl Crow because I think they're both
great songwriters. Guitar-wise, I don't have any female role models,
because technically skilled female guitarists are few and far between.
My main inspiration and role model for my guitar playing is Slash (ex-Guns N' Roses); he does some wonderfully melodic solos!
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