FACEPLANT: GIRLS ARE PUNK TOO

White boys crying into your guitars, beware; all-girl punk band Faceplant has got your number. I sat down with the band (Blaise Bayno ’16 - Vocals, Amy Mattox ’17 - Vocals, Ann Surber ’16 - Lead Guitar, Sophi Chavon ’17 - Bass, Molly Hastings ’17 - Keyboard, Isadora Shappell '17 - drums, and Ella Weisser ’17 - Auxiliary Percussion) outside of their practice space in 224 Cross Street for the outfit’s first interview.

The band identifies as a “sort of punk vibe, DIY, [and] lo-fi,” act, but definitely “not part of the Riot Grrl movement.” Though they listen to plenty of it (as well as everything from Kimya Dawson to the Talking Heads), Faceplant finds the Riot Grrl scene to not be inclusive enough. The band started with “the idea of an all-girl punk band,” to include more diversity in Wesleyan’s music scene, and with a few songs already under their belts, they intend to not only exist as a band on campus, but as a catalyst for change as well.  

“Girl bands are seen as obnoxious,” says keyboardist Molly Hastings. “And if you look at who plays shows… it’s mostly cis [gendered], white men.” The band as a whole feels that there are “not enough women in the Music scene at Wesleyan.” But they definitely want to change that. In response to last week’s show at Art House, Hastings further remarked, “The only band who can open... is the Murdertones, even though both bands [Lust-Cats of the Gutter and Mannequin Pussy] are into the women in music thing, because that band [a female pop-punk band at Wesleyan] does not exist.”

Faceplant, though, is not all message. Guitarist Ann Surber describes the band as “girls having fun playing punk,” and all six were very excited at the response they have received thus far from the Wesleyan community. I would be remiss not to mention Ashe Kilbourne '14, the band’s current benefactor, lending amps, instruments, and a practice space to the fledgling band. The band though is looking to move somewhere more convenient for Kilbourne, so according to Amy Mattox, “If anyone is looking to loan the Ladies of Punk a new space," they would be amenable. Faceplant does not as of yet have a web presence or any shows lined up, but expect them on a stage near you in the not-too-distant future.