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Bikini Kill
Thursday, April 20
6:00 pm
Palace Theatre
17 - 7th Place West, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Doors 6 p.m. | Show 7 p.m. | All Ages
Bikini Kill are a feminist punk band who were based in Olympia, Wash., and Washington, D.C., forming in 1990 and breaking up in 1997. Kathleen Hanna sang, Tobi Vail played drums, Billy Karren (a.k.a. Billy Boredom) played guitar and Kathi Wilcox played bass. Sometimes they switched instruments. Bikini Kill are credited with instigating the Riot Grrrl movement in the early ’90s via their political lyrics, zines and confrontational live show.
The band started touring in June 1991. In addition to touring the U.S. several times, they also toured Europe, Australia, and Japan. Bikini Kill recorded and released a demo tape, two EPs, two LPs, and three singles. Their demo tape was self-released, while their first two records came out as a full-length CD/tape and their singles were posthumously collected on CD.
Bikini Kill believed that if all girls started bands the world would change. They actively encouraged women and girls to start bands as a means of cultural resistance. Bikini Kill were inspired by seeing Babes in Toyland play live and attempted to incite female participation and build feminist community via the punk scene. They used touring as a way to create an underground network between girls who played music, put on shows, and made fanzines. This independent media making and informal network created a forum for multiple female voices to be heard.
Bikini Kill reunited in the spring of 2019 with original members Kathleen, Kathi, and Tobi playing sold out shows in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and headlining Riot Fest in Chicago.
The Current's Presale
We are pleased to offer a presale to this concert. Details will be published in the Sept. 15 issue of our Cross Currents newsletter. Subscribe to Cross Currents by Wednesday, Sept. 14, at midnight, to receive it early Thursday morning.
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