Wild Flag

Wild Flag is a new band, but their members are somewhat veterans of the music scene. They bring the surprise and unprocessed characteristics that often accompany an up and coming act; but perform their material with the defined professionalism of a band that has been around for ages. Their live performances are often small and direct but are guaranteed to have your head spinning.
Carrie Brownstein's guitar playing is sharp and in your face. She has taken the ferocity and edge of the style she displayed in her punk group Sleater Kinney and has translated it into a new and exciting context. Her abrasive playing is nicely countered by Rebecca Cole's shimmering keyboard accompaniment. Cole also adds many important lead melodies that are reminiscent of the catchy synth riffs heard on the albums of the Cars. There are no indulgent tangents in there performances, rather a precise well structured delivery, which in my opinion is far beyond excellent.
While you might not encounter the sheer dominant force found in the performances of the members previous riot grrrl groups you will undoubtedly experience an evocative performance. Wild Flag has let up on the bite and have instead focused more on melodic appeal. After all Carrie has professed that Rihanna has been an influence on the band. In a way they sound like a pissed off Go-gos. Their songs feature crude 60 garage rock bar chords and progressions, but also throw in vocal harmonizations typical in all girl pop groups like the Supremes. Their shows bear the mood of 90s feminist rock, but approaches the material in a more mature and distinguished style, focusing less on the pure sensational aspects but rather on the groups developmental sound.