The Current Music Blog
< Dining With Dara: Best And Worst OF The State Fair | Main | Musicheads: Sneak Peak Outro (9/6/2011) >

Wednesday Coffee Break: All Hail Girl Drummers!

Posted at 9:01 AM on August 31, 2011 by Steve Seel (64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

On the occasion of the birthday of Gina Schock, drummer for the Go-Go's, today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a celebration of many of the awesome ladies who pound the drumkit. Help us put together a set of bands with female drummers today.

Songs played:
The Go Go's "We Got the Beat" Gina Schock
Babes in Toyland "Bruise Violet" Lori Barbaro
The Velvet Underground "Rock N Roll" Maureen Tucker
The Runaways "Cherry Bomb" Sandy West
Sleater-Kinney "Turn it On" Janet Weiss
The White Stripes "Icky Thump" Meg White

Comments (64)

Sheila E - The Glamorous Life

Posted by Todd | August 31, 2011 9:12 AM

Have I the Right? -- Honeycombs -- FANTASTIC British Invasion hit from '64

The Shaggs

Posted by lou | August 31, 2011 9:12 AM

Babes in Toyland!! -- Local, delicious and HEAVY METAL DRUMMER!!

Posted by B.D.V | August 31, 2011 9:12 AM

White Stripes

Posted by Damian | August 31, 2011 9:12 AM

Karen Carpenter THE original girl drummer.
Bangles drummer
Meg White White Stripes

Posted by Alice | August 31, 2011 9:13 AM

Anything by Katzenjammer--awesome Norwegian girl band!

Posted by Rebekah | August 31, 2011 9:14 AM

The Donna
The White Stripes

Posted by Aaron | August 31, 2011 9:14 AM

BABES IN TOYLAND!! - Local, delicious and a she's (Lori Barbero) a heavy metal drummer!

Posted by Brandon | August 31, 2011 9:14 AM

Velvet Underground

Posted by Crystal | August 31, 2011 9:14 AM

Trip Shakespeare - Bachelorette please!
The Bangles - early stuff is best
The Donnas
Velvet Underground
Yo La Tengo

Posted by Ira | August 31, 2011 9:15 AM

Katzenjammer is an amazing all-girl band from Norway. Demon Kitty Rag or Bar in Amsterdam, please! :D

Posted by Rebekah | August 31, 2011 9:15 AM

"My Doorbell" - The White Stripes
It starts with a prominent drum intro.

Posted by Cathryn | August 31, 2011 9:16 AM

"Threshold" by Sex Bob-omb
Okay, yes, they're a fictional band, but Alison Pill was a pretty kick-@$$ female drummer in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And it would make me smile if you played them.

Posted by Shannon | August 31, 2011 9:16 AM

Cherry Bomb - The Runaways

Posted by Prentiss | August 31, 2011 9:16 AM

Janet Weiss - Sleater Kinney & Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks!

Posted by Lanky | August 31, 2011 9:16 AM

"Sugarcube" or "Moby Octopad" by Yo La Tengo

Posted by bob | August 31, 2011 9:16 AM

Gem and the Holograms

Posted by Scott | August 31, 2011 9:17 AM

Hole

Posted by Chris | August 31, 2011 9:17 AM

Kate Schellenbach - Beastie Boys, Lunachicks, and Luscious Jackson

Posted by Michael | August 31, 2011 9:17 AM

Cherry Bomb - The Runaways

Posted by Prentiss | August 31, 2011 9:18 AM

Janet Weiss - Sleater-Kinney.
In particular, "Jumpers" from the "The Woods" has some of the finest drum work I've heard. "Entertain" from the same album has the drums front and center.

Posted by Jeremy | August 31, 2011 9:19 AM

Sahara Hotnights

Posted by lanky | August 31, 2011 9:20 AM

Turnstile Blues-Autolux

Drummer: Carla Azar

Posted by Alyssa | August 31, 2011 9:20 AM

Yes. you must play Have I the Right by The
Honeycombs.

Turnstile Blues - Autolux

Posted by wellst | August 31, 2011 9:20 AM

Yo La Tengo. Autumn Sweater or My Little Corner of the World, please.

Posted by Caryn | August 31, 2011 9:21 AM

And the Bangles. Their version of Hazy Shade of Winter or Walk Like an Egyptian are good examples.

Posted by caryn | August 31, 2011 9:23 AM

Toby Vail of Bikini Kill ----

Jack White's sister, Meg White, of The White Stripes-- "Little Ghost"!!

Posted by BDV | August 31, 2011 9:23 AM

"Turnstile Blues" - Autolux (Carla Azar)

Posted by Kevin | August 31, 2011 9:24 AM

Trip Shakespeare!!!

Posted by Denise Culshaw | August 31, 2011 9:26 AM

For the no apology factor: Robert Palmer!

Posted by Matthew Batt | August 31, 2011 9:27 AM

Cindy Blackman w/ Lenny Kravitz

Posted by ann | August 31, 2011 9:27 AM

Jen Ledger from Skillet - she's amazing and only 21 years old...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw88GY9ckng

Posted by Erika | August 31, 2011 9:27 AM

Trip Shakespeare!!

Posted by DMEC | August 31, 2011 9:27 AM

KAREN CARPENTER - Here's a clip of her playing drums on "Top of the World": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuO3zFUZW-I&feature=related

Posted by Eric | August 31, 2011 9:28 AM

My cousin Linda Pitmon - From Zuzu's Petal, and now with Steve Wynn and the Baseball Project! Lady's got some serious pipes.

Posted by Margaret | August 31, 2011 9:28 AM

Shiela E - The Glamorous Life

Posted by jeff | August 31, 2011 9:29 AM

The Black Angels

Posted by JoeC | August 31, 2011 9:29 AM

Lenny Kravitz' drummer is Cindy Blackman (married to Carlos Santana).

Anything by Terri Lyne Carrington

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terri_Lyne_Carrington

And of course the great Sheila Escovito ("Sheila E")

Posted by Craig Kepler | August 31, 2011 9:29 AM

"Cameras" by Matt and Kim!

Posted by Amanda | August 31, 2011 9:29 AM

gay beast!

Posted by Tam | August 31, 2011 9:30 AM

How about some Warpaint? In days of yore, I think Neko Case was a drummer; did any of that make it on to a recording? That might be fun to hear.

Posted by Derek | August 31, 2011 9:31 AM

Amanda F. Palmer - Dresden Dolls

Posted by Sarah Marie | August 31, 2011 9:31 AM

"Shelter Two" - The Evens (Amy Farina and Ian MacKaye)
Fantastic drumming by Amy Farina!

Posted by Ben | August 31, 2011 9:31 AM

I'm here in Australia, from Stillwater, been here 11 years, and I used to have the biggest crush on Elaine from Trip Shakespeare!!!! Please play something other than Tool Master.... I would be happy at 12.31 in the morning if you played Snow Day!!! xoxox

Posted by Kris | August 31, 2011 9:32 AM

Yeaahh. Finally a topic I can sink my teeth into (literally):

From Japan, the country with the most women musicians in the while wide world I ask that you play please pretty please, one of the following bands:

1) Shonen Knife - Twist Barbie
2) Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her - Future or no future
3) Detroit 7 - Beautiful Song

Origato

R

Posted by Royland | August 31, 2011 9:32 AM

Please play something from The Baseball Project with the fabulous Linda Pitmon on drums!

Posted by karen | August 31, 2011 9:34 AM

Hiya, posting all the way from Melbourne, Australia.... I am originally from Stillwater, MN, and have been living here in Oz for 11 years. I grew up with Trip Shakespeare, and was in love with Elaine, I would love to hear Snow Day.... Love you in Australia xoxox

Posted by Kris | August 31, 2011 9:36 AM

Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney / Quasi / Elliott Smith / Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is the ultimate drummer, girl or otherwise.

Posted by Jeff | August 31, 2011 9:36 AM

YES!! Thanks for the Babes in Toyland!! My first moshing experience....i miss these gals....

Posted by Brandon | August 31, 2011 9:36 AM

Lenny Kravitz

Posted by Jughead | August 31, 2011 9:37 AM

Matt and Kim :)

Posted by katie | August 31, 2011 9:40 AM

Neko Case was a drummer for Maow, an all girl Canadian pop punk trio.

Posted by Matt | August 31, 2011 9:44 AM

Hey Jill! You're thankfully not the only one who hates that shirt: http://www.styleite.com/media/jcpenny-homework-shirt/

I don't get it, I grew up in the 90's and I've always thought that these stereotypes of girls being not as smart as boys were long dead. Why marketers and mainstream sales society are trying to dig them up and encourage them is beyond me. Whoever approved this shirt is a sexist jerk.

Posted by Sarah Marie | August 31, 2011 9:45 AM

pleeeasseee no Meg White. she's awful.

Posted by G | August 31, 2011 9:45 AM

I thought this coffee break seemed familiar. There was a similar (though not identical) topic back in February:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/music_blog/archive/2011/02/wednesday_coffe_68.shtml

Posted by Cathryn | August 31, 2011 9:49 AM

Hey, it looks like JC Penny has taken down the shirt, I went to look at it a while ago and it was still there but when you try to follow the link now you just get this:
http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/MissingPPError.aspx

Posted by Ruby | August 31, 2011 9:50 AM

Fair Weather Fans - by the Baseball Project with Linda Pitmon on drums

Posted by Margaret | August 31, 2011 9:51 AM

From A Mother’s Prayer for Her Child By Tina Fey:
“May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers."

Linda Pitman: Zuzu's Petals
Cindy Blackman: Lenny Kravitz
Demetra Plakas: L7

Posted by Julie Fulton | August 31, 2011 9:53 AM

Minneapolis' very own: Jessica Forsythe from Sick of Sarah!!!! All of their stuff is killer, but "Autograph" seems to be getting the most national attention right now.

Posted by Themarn | August 31, 2011 9:57 AM

I'm so sad Leah Shapiro of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was overlooked again! Maybe people don't realize they have a girl drummer, but they do and she's incredible. I'll be happy if you guys play "Beat the Devil's Tattoo" sometime during my workday 10-6pm. :)

Posted by Angela | August 31, 2011 9:58 AM

The Gossip

Dum Dum Girls

Any and all Riot Grrrl bands

Bjork counts, right? =)

Posted by Sam | August 31, 2011 10:03 AM

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Posted by Kelsey | August 31, 2011 10:26 AM

Any song by Autolux!!! She is an amazeballs drummer!

Posted by Abbykins | August 31, 2011 10:59 AM

Check HER out: www.emmanuellecaplette.com

Posted by MarcFK13 | September 9, 2011 2:34 PM

August 2011
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31      


Master Archive
Recent Entries
Tools
Categories
Services
Become a Sponsor