Statement of Vindication

Yoko Ono Gets Her Due

"To a younger generation growing up after the baggage of Lennon's personal life had largely been laid to rest, Ono became an esthetic godmother. As the world itself got noisier, her scream seemed more and more legitimate as a response—to anything from the panic of AIDS to the specter of WMDs. "It is a scream of the human race, in a way," she says today, and it makes sense: you can think of her music as an aural accompaniment to the paintings of Munch or Bacon. It may have taken a couple of decades, but the world caught up to that sound. It's difficult to imagine the X-Ray Spex anthem "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!," the Riot Grrl movement of the '90s (featuring groups like Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill), or even contemporary dance-punk heroines like Peaches or Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs existing apart from Yoko's trailblazing, proto-feminist howl."


(Courtesy of Newsweek.)

R.I.P. Ellie Greenwich

Aw. :(

Songwriter Ellie Greenwich dies at age 68.


As the co-author of some of the most enduring hits of the girl group era -- "Be My Baby," "Leader of the Pack," "Da Do Ron Ron," "Chapel of Love," and "Then He Kissed Me," to name but a few -- Greenwich lent a distinctly feminine voice to the the male-dominated music industry of the 60s. She also worked as a session vocalist, sang backup for artists such as Dusty Springfield and Frank Sinatra, and even fronted the short-lived Raindrops with her husband and songwriting partner Jeff Barry. For a moving tribute to her life and works, check out this article by Ann Powers.

Happy Women's Equality Day!

Today we celebrate Women's Equality Day, an annual commemoration of the day, August 26, that the 19th Amendment was passed in Congress, granting women the right to vote. Women's Equality Day was the invention of New York Democrat Representative and feminist Bella Abzug, who introduced the idea for the first celebration in 1971.

It's interesting that as we celebrate how far women in this country have come today, we learn about the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, the "Liberal Lion". While Kennedy had been often criticized for his dealings with women in his private life, there's no doubt that throughout his long political career he was one of the strongest supporters of women and feminist issues, particularly health care, education, college sports equality, racial equality and reproductive rights. Without his policies that became law throughout the years, the American woman's world would be a very different place, so we thank him.

The question that now arises on this day, who will be the "next" Ted Kennedy? It seems that since Bella Abzug left Congress in 1977, there hasn't been another powerful feminist Congresswoman since, and I think that's a shame. It's time for the next generation to take up the call of Women's Equality Day, and of the legacy of the Liberal Lion, and move American women forward into the next century! What will you do to help?

Rockin' For Kids - WOW Mix cds!

We've spoken often of our love for the good people over at Rock For Kids, a charity that provides music lessons, holiday gifts and other support for at risk and homeless children in Chicago. One of our favorite things about Rock For Kids is their awesome fundraising events... and there's one coming up this Friday, August 21st, the Music Mixer! If you haven't been to a Music Mixer before, picture tables of mix CDs made by some of your favorite local "celebrities", all up for bid, with all the money going to Rock For Kids programs! It's a grand time and so fun to see what people put on their mixes. We here at WOW are honored to be included as one of the "celebrity music mixers" this year, and there will be a special three disc set up for auction from Emily, Elizabeth and I. Other mixers this year include folks from Bloodshot Records, Bob Nanna, Hot Doug, Metro, Double Door and Victory Records, among others. I hope you'll come out and join us at the Rock For Kids Music Mixer this Friday night, August 21st, at Smart Bar, 3730 N Clark Street. It all starts at 7pm and bidding ends at 10pm! Oh by the way, if you can't make it, you can always bid online by proxy at the Rock For Kids website.

R.I.P. Les Paul

In honor of the passing of guitar legend Les Paul yesterday, here's a trio of videos documenting his appearance on the Colgate Comedy Hour in 1954, with his wife and musical partner Mary Ford.

Practice What You Preach

Joan Baez diffuses right wing protest at Idaho concert

An excellent article on Joan Baez and the politics of peace, courtesy of Daily Kos.

Video Fridays: "Date With the Night"

Lollapawhoza?