Jen Smith
Encyclopedia
Jen Smith is an artist, musician, zine editor, and activist from the United States
.
Jen Smith is credited with being the inspiration behind the term Riot Grrrl
and being one of the architects of the movement. Writing in Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital, Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins report that while living in Washington, D.C., Smith reacted to the violence of the Mount Pleasant race riots in the Spring of 1991 by prophetically writing in a letter to Allison Wolfe
, "this summer's going to be a girl riot." Other reports say she wrote, "we need to start a girl riot."
That summer, Olympia, Washington, students Wolfe and Molly Neuman
, editors of Girl Germs
zine
, to which Smith had contributed, moved to Washington, D.C. Having already formed their band Bratmobile
, they asked Smith and Christina Billotte
(of Autoclave
and Slant 6
) to join, and the band released one cassette tape
, called Bratmobile DC, with this line-up.
As written about in Bikini Kill zine by Kathleen Hanna
, Jen proposed they all collaborate on a zine called Girl Riot, which would serve as a networking forum for young women. Molly Neuman began the zine, released under the title riot grrrl, with contributions from Smith, Wolfe, and the members of Bikini Kill
.
At the end of the summer Bratmobile returned to Olympia and Jen Smith stayed behind to edit a zine called Red Rover. A number of issues were released before, in 1993, she began a new zine, an off-shoot of Red Rover, called Another Lo-Fi Xtravanganza. The zine also became a small record label, releasing cassettes by artists such as Wandering Lucy.
At the same time, Smith began a band with Donna Dresch
and Nikki Chapman called Rastro! The trio, with Smith on guitar and vocals, Chapman on bass, and Dresch on drums, released two songs on compilations by independent record labels such as Simple Machines
. After this band broke up, Smith moved to Olympia, Washington where she recorded Boot Party
with Dub Narcotic Sound System
, and began the Cha Cha Cabaret, which she hosted under the persona of "Miss Lady Hand Grenade" in 1996 and 1997. Participating artists included Miranda July
, Mirah
, Flying Tigers, Old Time Relijun
, Simplement Jacques, Nikki McClure, The Lookers, The Skirts, and Panties, and all appear together on the K Records
compilation Chez Vous. Cha Cha Cabaret toured the country, adding musicians such as Sharon Cheslow
while in San Francisco.
In the 2000s, Smith returned to San Francisco, where she joined with ex-Circus Lupus
member Seth Lorinczi and ex-Electrolettes member Julianna Bright to begin the band The Quails
. The band toured with Sleater Kinney, Aislers Set and The No-No's. They released three CDs, as well as zines and projects such as the comic book Bon Soir and a mini-opera CD under the name 'Marzipan Ponce'.
After this band broke up, Jen Smith devoted herself to her artwork. She has exhibited across the country, collaborating with artists such as LTTR, and having her own solo exhibitions.
In 2008, she appeared in the feature film The Lollipop Generation
by G.B. Jones
with Bratmobile
Was from Portland, OR. 1981
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Jen Smith is credited with being the inspiration behind the term Riot Grrrl
Riot grrrl
Riot grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement based in Washington, DC, Olympia, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and the greater Pacific Northwest which existed in the early to mid-1990s, and it is often associated with third-wave feminism...
and being one of the architects of the movement. Writing in Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital, Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins report that while living in Washington, D.C., Smith reacted to the violence of the Mount Pleasant race riots in the Spring of 1991 by prophetically writing in a letter to Allison Wolfe
Allison Wolfe
-Background:Born an identical twin in Memphis, Tennessee on November 9, 1969, Allison played a significant role in the formation of the riot grrrl movement of the 90s. She grew up in Olympia, Washington, with mother Pat Shively and sisters Cindy and Molly Wolfe...
, "this summer's going to be a girl riot." Other reports say she wrote, "we need to start a girl riot."
That summer, Olympia, Washington, students Wolfe and Molly Neuman
Molly Neuman
Molly Neuman is a musician originally from the Washington, D.C. area who has performed in such influential bands as Bratmobile, The Frumpies, and the PeeChees. She was a pioneer of the early-to-mid '90s riot grrrl movement, penning the zine which coined the phrase in...
, editors of Girl Germs
Girl Germs
Girl Germs was a zine created by University of Oregon students Allison Wolfe and Molly Neuman, both members of the band Bratmobile.Feminism was influential in the Pacific Northwest in the early nineties: Girl Germs heralded an explosion of zines that accompanied the rebirth of feminism...
zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
, to which Smith had contributed, moved to Washington, D.C. Having already formed their band Bratmobile
Bratmobile
Bratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation "riot grrrl" band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground...
, they asked Smith and Christina Billotte
Christina Billotte
Christina Billotte is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She is known for her involvement in the punk music scene in Washington DC, as a performer and organizer...
(of Autoclave
Autoclave
An autoclave is an instrument used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam at 121 °C for around 15–20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the contents. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879, although a precursor known as the...
and Slant 6
Slant 6
Slant 6 was an all-female punk rock trio based in Washington, D.C.The group consisted of Christina Billotte , Myra Power , and Marge Marshall ; it formed in July 1992 following the 1991 breakup of Autoclave, in which Billotte had played...
) to join, and the band released one cassette tape
Cassette culture
Cassette culture, or the cassette underground , refers to the practices surrounding amateur production and distribution of recorded music that emerged in the late 1970s via home-made audio cassettes...
, called Bratmobile DC, with this line-up.
As written about in Bikini Kill zine by Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna is an American musician, feminist activist, and punk zine writer. In the early- to mid-1990s she was the lead singer and songwriter of Bikini Kill, before fronting Le Tigre in the late 1990s and early 2000s...
, Jen proposed they all collaborate on a zine called Girl Riot, which would serve as a networking forum for young women. Molly Neuman began the zine, released under the title riot grrrl, with contributions from Smith, Wolfe, and the members of Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill
Bikini Kill was an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington in October 1990. The group consisted of vocalist and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band is widely considered to be the pioneer of the riot grrrl movement,...
.
At the end of the summer Bratmobile returned to Olympia and Jen Smith stayed behind to edit a zine called Red Rover. A number of issues were released before, in 1993, she began a new zine, an off-shoot of Red Rover, called Another Lo-Fi Xtravanganza. The zine also became a small record label, releasing cassettes by artists such as Wandering Lucy.
At the same time, Smith began a band with Donna Dresch
Donna Dresch
Donna Dresch is an American punk rock musician, perhaps best known as founder, guitarist and bass guitarist of Team Dresch and the Queen of Grunge....
and Nikki Chapman called Rastro! The trio, with Smith on guitar and vocals, Chapman on bass, and Dresch on drums, released two songs on compilations by independent record labels such as Simple Machines
Simple Machines
Simple Machines was a record label that operated out of Arlington, Virginia. The label was masterminded by Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson and, at its peak, had four paid workers- Toomey, Thomson, Pat Graham and Mickey Menard...
. After this band broke up, Smith moved to Olympia, Washington where she recorded Boot Party
Boot Party
Boot Party is the first full length album released by Dub Narcotic Sound System.-Musicians:*Larry Butler - drums*Lindy Coyne - guitar*Calvin Johnson - melodica*Lois Maffeo - voice*Todd Ranslow - bass*Jen Smith - voice...
with Dub Narcotic Sound System
Dub Narcotic Sound System
Dub Narcotic Sound System is an Olympia, Washington based indie-funk musical group founded by Calvin Johnson, signed to K Records.-Origins:The band is named after Calvin Johnson's basement recording studio, Dub Narcotic....
, and began the Cha Cha Cabaret, which she hosted under the persona of "Miss Lady Hand Grenade" in 1996 and 1997. Participating artists included Miranda July
Miranda July
Miranda July is a performing artist, writer, actress and film director. Born Miranda Jennifer Grossinger, she works under the surname of "July," which can be traced to a character from a "girlzine" Miranda created with high school friend Johanna Fateman, called Snarla.- Background :Miranda...
, Mirah
Mirah
Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...
, Flying Tigers, Old Time Relijun
Old Time Relijun
Old Time Relijun is a band founded in Olympia, Washington, United States and a longtime member of K Records. Current members are Germaine Baca on drums, Aaron Hartman on upright bass, Ben Hartman on saxophones, and Arrington de Dionyso on electric guitar, vocals and bass clarinet...
, Simplement Jacques, Nikki McClure, The Lookers, The Skirts, and Panties, and all appear together on the K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
compilation Chez Vous. Cha Cha Cabaret toured the country, adding musicians such as Sharon Cheslow
Sharon Cheslow
Sharon Cheslow is an American musician, composer, and artist. In 1981, she formed Chalk Circle, Washington, D.C.'s first all-female punk band...
while in San Francisco.
In the 2000s, Smith returned to San Francisco, where she joined with ex-Circus Lupus
Circus Lupus
Circus Lupus was a post-hardcore band based in the area of Washington, DC, U.S.A.. The band originally formed in Madison where one-time Ignition and Soul Side bassist Chris Thomson met guitarist Chris Hamley and drummer Arika Casebolt while attending school...
member Seth Lorinczi and ex-Electrolettes member Julianna Bright to begin the band The Quails
The Quails (US band)
The Quails was a punk band from San Francisco, California. The band was formed in 1999 by Seth Lorinczi, formerly of Circus Lupus, and have released three albums, the second of which, Atmosphere , was praised for its "strangeness" and "artistic value" by Kerry L...
. The band toured with Sleater Kinney, Aislers Set and The No-No's. They released three CDs, as well as zines and projects such as the comic book Bon Soir and a mini-opera CD under the name 'Marzipan Ponce'.
After this band broke up, Jen Smith devoted herself to her artwork. She has exhibited across the country, collaborating with artists such as LTTR, and having her own solo exhibitions.
In 2008, she appeared in the feature film The Lollipop Generation
The Lollipop Generation
The Lollipop Generation is the first feature film by G.B. Jones.The Lollipop Generation premiered as the Gala Feature presentation of the Images Festival in Toronto on April 3, 2008....
by G.B. Jones
with BratmobileBratmobileBratmobile was an American punk band. Bratmobile was a first-generation "riot grrrl" band, which grew from the Pacific Northwest and Washington, DC underground...
- Bratmobile DC (self released cassette tape, 1991)
Was from Portland, OR. 1981
with Rastro!
- "Some Things", on Go In The Dark (Mira Records 7", 1992)
- "Kiss Me", on Simple Machines Working Holiday: June (Simple MachinesSimple MachinesSimple Machines was a record label that operated out of Arlington, Virginia. The label was masterminded by Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson and, at its peak, had four paid workers- Toomey, Thomson, Pat Graham and Mickey Menard...
7", 1993) - "Kiss Me", on Working Holiday!Working Holiday!Working Holiday! is a CD album released on the Simple Machines label. It is a compilation of tracks by American indie bands which were originally released on a series of 12 7" singles by Simple Machines as part of the Working Holiday monthly record club starting from December 1992. Each song was...
(Simple Machines CD compilation, 1994)
with The Quails
- "Memo From the Desk of The Quails", on Fields And StreamsFields and StreamsFields and Streams is a double CD compilation album released by the label Kill Rock Stars on May 7, 2002.-Track list:CD 1# "Memo From The Desk of the Quails - The Quails# "Sex Object - Manda & The Marbles# "Waste of Time" - The Coolies...
(Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
compilation CD, 2001) - We Are The Quails (Inconvenient Records, 2001)
- Atmosphere (Inconvenient Records, 2002)
- The Song Is Love (Mr. Lady Records, 2003)
External links
- Jen Smith at ZineWikiZineWikiZineWiki is an open-source online wiki devoted to zines, fanzines, small press publications, chapbooks, and independent media. It covers the history, production, distribution and culture of the small press.-History:...
- Jen Smith Solo Exhibition
- Interview with The Quails
- The Quails on Pop Matters
- The Quails live in Houston TX, 2003 on You Tube
- Jen Smith's zine Red Rover at ZineWikiZineWikiZineWiki is an open-source online wiki devoted to zines, fanzines, small press publications, chapbooks, and independent media. It covers the history, production, distribution and culture of the small press.-History:...