The Randies

Rising out of the sordid underworld of champagne lounges and seedy punk venues spawned The Randies. They encapsulate a sound somewhere between pop-punk and straight-ahead rock: sexually explicit, overtly comical and subjectively conscientious. They offer melodic punk songs with lyrical content such as "your actions mimic a bitch in heat, you're

Randies photo from therandies.com
always on your back, you're never on your feet."

The all female fronted band's estrogen is balanced out, by the lone male drummer, who's hard hitting, batter tactics on drums is a defining factor in The Randies sound. Who are these champagne drinking, Kevin Bacon (not the actor) loving, sexually explicit divas of LA, rockin' it at the Friendship Motor Inn? I had a chance to find what's behind this LA act when they played San Diego's Brick By Brick. I sat down with guitarist/vocalist Laura Cattaldo before their set, to find out what the pop-punk quartet was about.
The first bit of information needing clarification pertained to the Friendship Motor Inn. What was this place they spoke of? It's a squalid LA Inn on Crenshaw Blvd which Laura spoke about with a grin on her face, describing the comfortable seediness of the Inn. This was the metaphorical birth place for the girls...their prior band was dubbed Friendship Motor Inn. But short attention spans and industry nudges, influenced the band to reassess their tributary name. Thus, The Randies where created out the remnants of Friendship Motor Inn. Though their origin wasn't neglected. The motivating factor which drove them to utilize the name was...friendship and the tie's that bind.

"...our bases for the band is about relationships." states Laura.

And so what's the link between the three female friends/musicians, a grimy La Inn, eventually becoming the Randies? One could assume that it's about girls being randy. Not with each other, (I don't think) but yes...girls joking about being randy, guys they've dated and the trials and tribulations which ensue. I asked Laura if the bands new name was a direct sexual reference to which she laughed and replied,

"...yea, it kinda came out of that joke."

The album is laden with sexual innuendoes, and directly overt sexual references. Track titles run the gamut from "Boys in Stereo," which illuminates our sexist male dominated rock culture, to "Put Out" (a self explanatory track about a bitch in heat) on to "Good for You" (a very honest and unostentatious parable about the moral dichotomy illuminating the chasm in acceptable male and female sexual prowess in our culture). And their website message board is riddled with misogynist comments by immature males, fueled by testosterone and insecure esteem, attempting to prove their virility through anonymous postings. Laura's seen the dialogue,

"... it's scary, I've had a few fucked up things said about me <I>(she blushes and laughs, then facetiously replies)</I> but I'm just like, OK."

Sexual appeal can attract a crowd...or a mob. Is all the sexual attention a benefit or detriment for the band and their publicist? Where does sex appeal end and the band began? I pointedly asked Laura if the sex appeal was a purposeful and conceptual part of The Randies,

"...it's not meant to be that way, but I think people just take that and run with it."

In our culture how does a band deter this conception? By retaining artistic integrity? We are a society that feeds on the visual pleasing, eye candy aspect of reality. Many are drawn to the beautiful (or what is perceived as beautiful). Commercialism thrives on sex appeal, with media exploiting every aspect of the human body for profit...WE LOVE OUR SEX! Mainstream music is a proponent and propagator of sex appeal, for both male and female artists. What musicians lack in talent they compensate for in high-class (or low-class depending on vantage point) production value.

The Randies aren't the next Who or Cream. They play with-in their limits, producing instrumental tight and lyrically honest music, but will their sound be compromised by wrong type of press and recognition. Is the band concerned about the sexual commentary and appeal overshadowing the musical aspect of The Randies? Can a line be drawn between rock and perceived image?

"...I've been kinda worried about that more. I don't really know how we could stop it. I don't really want it to be about that."

And what about industry influence,

"... we don't wanna be up their wearing short mini-skirts and tank tops, cause we all like playing in jeans and t-shirts, and whatever. We like getting dressed up on occasions, and wear heels cause it's fun to wear heels and be a girl. But we're not gonna push, all dressing alike or being overtly sexy."

At this pivotal moment in the interview, it was time to get to the bottom of an issue plaguing music...sexism. And the industries use of sex for profits. I inquired about Laura's opinion on what motivates the industry to sell, push and further more exploit sexual appeal. Was it sexism in the eyes of a rock 'n' roll women? With a stern and serious look on her face she rebuked,

"...ah, yea."

For any males reading this article who guilelessly think we all have equal opportunities, remember that women only make seventy cents to the dollar compared to males for the same job. If that's not sexism, what is? And what of equal representation and respect in the industry for women? Are they receiving it? Laura retorts,

"...no."

She then busts into a laugh,

"I think it's getting better, but there's a problem, there's an issue with, men are men and women are women. There's always gonna be that kind of male domination thing, where you wouldn't think it would be like that but it just is. It's frustrating too, cause a lot of times, it's just... Because there's a lot of great female artists and musicians out there, but then theirs some guy, who's maybe not that brilliant but he's a guy and he gets notoriety or something that a female should."

But these industry elements and societal prejudices aren't deterring The Randies from making their way in the crowded LA scene. They're fervently pushing forward, rocking shows, breaking hearts and sipping champagne. Go check out the friendship motor inn. It's always open. Flick the cigarette butt of the bar stool, pull up seat, grab drink and indulge yourself in the exoteric atmosphere of The Randies.

Randies interview conducted April 2005 by Kevin Farr.
Pictures courtesy of therandies.com.
http://www.therandies.com
http://www.myspace.com/therandies

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