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Thelma and the Sleaze

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Thelma and the Sleaze
OriginNashville, Tennessee U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–present
Members
  • Lauren "LG" Gilbert
  • Amaia Aguirre
  • Shaylee "Snowflake" Walsh
WebsiteThelma and the Sleaze

Thelma and the Sleaze is an independent all-female, queer southern rock band from Nashville, Tennessee.[1][2] The group is the brain-child of lead vocalist and guitar player Lauren "LG" Gilbert.[3][4][5]

History

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In 2005, Gilbert – who was born in Kankakee, IL but grew up in Kentucky and Iowa[6] – came to Nashville at the age of 21 to study audio engineering.[7] In 2006, Gilbert joined the all-female punk rock band the Trampskirts as a guitar player.[8] Gilbert was in Trampskirts until 2009 when the band dissolved.[9]

In 2010, Gilbert and fellow Trampskirts band members including drummer Jacki Macri and bass player Emily “Baby Angel” Zimmer founded Thelma and the Sleaze.[10][11] The band's first show was on November 8, 2010 and was themed after the film Thelma and Louise.[9] One member of Trampskirts departed after their first show and then in 2011, drummer Jacki Macri left the band.[9] The band added Indianapolis native Chase “Tender” Noelle on drums and Beth Finney on lead guitar. The lineup of Gilbert, Zimmer, Noelle and Finney debuted on February 7, 2012, opening for Jack White's Black Belles.

In March 2012, the band recorded the Pillage EP. Shortly thereafter Finney left the band.[9]

In 2012 and 2013 Gilbert, Zimmer and Noelle recorded and produced The Pamela Handerson EP and two other EPs called These Boots Won’t Lick Themselves and Heart Like A Fist.[12] In 2014, Zimmer stepped back from the band.[13] Gilbert and Noelle brought in Reilly “Gigi” Gallagher to play bass on a more aggressive national touring schedule. Gallagher, who attended Belmont University, was in a relationship with Noelle throughout her time in the band.[13]

In early 2015, the live album Greatest Hits Live was released, featuring Gilbert, Noelle and Gallagher.

In February 2016, the band set out to play a show on every night of the month in Nashville – 31 shows in 29 days.[14][15] Director Seth Graves filmed the one-city tour, which was released as the documentary, Kandyland: The Movie. During the tour, the band also sold raffle tickets for a chance to win a van.[16][17]

On March 23, 2016 at a show in Athens, Georgia, Gallagher had an onstage altercation which resulted in her leaving the stage and band in the middle of the concert. Gilbert, Noelle and new organ player Amaia “Coochie Coochie” Aguirre finished the show.[13]

Thelma and the Sleaze has opened for The Eagles of Death Metal, as well as Charles Bradley.[18] In June 2016, Noelle moved to New York City and joined the band Boytoy.[13]

During the last six months of 2016, Gilbert put Thelma and the Sleaze on hiatus.[8] Toward the end of 2016, she lived in Akron, Ohio and made guitar effects pedals at Earthquaker Devices. During this time, Gilbert recorded several songs with friends and that became the Mid-American Drift EP 2016.[13][19]

In 2017, after several years in the making, the band's first full-length LP Somebody’s Doin’ Something was released.[17] The record included contributions from Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), Jade Payne (Aye Nako), and Tristen Gaspadarek, among others. The record release was accompanied by a video called "Secretary".[20]

Thelma and the Sleaze had a rotating tour lineup. Among the musicians regularly used include drummer Shaylee "Snowflake" Walsh, Chloe “Whiskers” Katerndahl, Helen “Shy-anne” Gilley and Aguirre.[13] Touring highlights in 2017 included a run with country duo Birdcloud.[21]

In 2018, Gilbert took on the role of the character of religious church lady Roberta Flatbush in an attempt to raise funds for a van. The social media video series brought in more than $5,000 and the band was able to secure the transportation.[22] At the close of 2018, Gilbert recorded an audio history of the band along with insights on her creative process and how she handles the business of being an independent national touring act for the podcast Queen of Shit Mountain.[23]

Also in 2018, recording began on the second full-length LP Fuck, Marry, Kill. Noelle and Zimmer were brought back in for session work. Thelma and the Sleaze produced, with Loney Hutchins on engineering, and Jim Kissling (Ex Hex, King Tuff, The Dirtbombs, The Go) mixing and mastering the record.[24] Cover art is by Lindsey Cooper.[25]

In August 2019, Fuck, Marry, Kill was released on The What of Whom[26] and Burger Records.[19] The album got positive reviews.[27][28][29] As part of the album release, Thelma and the Sleaze were the supporting act on the first two dates of Brittany Howard's new tour.[30]

Band Members

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  • Lauren "LG" Gilbert – vocals, guitar
  • Amaia "Coochie Coochie" Aguirre – organ/keyboards
  • Shaylee "Snowflake" Walsh – drums
  • Liliana “Luscious” Jones - guitar
Past members
  • Beth Finney – lead guitar
  • Chase "Tender" Noelle – drums
  • Chloe “Whiskers” Katerndahl – bass
  • Emily “Baby Angel” Zimmer – bass
  • Helen “Shy-anne” Gilley – guitar
  • Jacki Macri – drums
  • Reilly "Gigi" Gallagher – bass

Filmography

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  • 2011: Orca Park Soundtrack – performer as bar band: "Change Your Mind"
  • 2015: Nashville – backing band[10]
  • 2017: Kandyland: The Movie (Documentary) – band

Discography

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Albums

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Singles & EPs

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  • 2012: Be Greedy / Someone's Little Sister and Hollow by Fuckshow 7-inch split (self released)
  • 2012: Pillage
  • 2013: The Pamela Handerson EP (self released)
  • 2013: These Boots Won't Lick Themselves
  • 2014: Heart Like A Fist
  • 2015: Greatest Hits Live
  • 2016: Greatest Hitz Vol. 1
  • 2016: Kandyland 7-inch (self-released)
  • 2016: Where You Belong / Country Life by Dogs of Oz 7-inch (self-released)[32]
  • 2016: Christmas Sampler 2016[33]
  • Untitled cassette single (Cold Lunch Recordings)
  • 2017: Somebody's Doin' Something - "Secretary / "Why you wanna do that?" (cassingle)
  • 2018: Lonely Girl / Handyman by Craig Brown Band cassingle (Burger Records)[31]
  • 2018: Mid-American Drift 2016
  • 2018: Dirt 7-inch demos of 3 tracks ("Dirt"/"Candy Anne"/"Mary Beth") from Fuck. Marry. Kill. (The What of Whom)[34]
  • 2019: Pain single (The What of Whom)[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Artists: Thelma and the Sleaze". BMI.
  2. ^ Chen, Wei-Huan (2 July 2014). "Punk trio Thelma and the Sleaze promises rock lashing". Journal & Courier.
  3. ^ "Songwriter/Composer: Gilbert, Lauren Christine – BMI CAE/IPI #: 676399582". BMI.
  4. ^ "Thelma and the Sleaze Leads the Charge at Bitchfest 5". Nashville Scene. 31 August 2015.
  5. ^ Melendez, Angel (7 March 2016). "Raunchy Punk-Rock Girls Thelma and the Sleaze Just Wanna Have Fun". New Times Broward-Palm Beach.
  6. ^ Harper, Richard (6 September 2017). "In Brief: Thelma and the Sleaze". The East Nashvillian. p. 70.
  7. ^ Powers, Ann (13 June 2016). "Nashville Sessions: Thelma And The Sleaze" (Includes audio). World Cafe. NPR.
  8. ^ a b Gail, Augusta (5 December 2016). "Thelma & the Sleaze". LADYGUNN.
  9. ^ a b c d Gilbert, LG (19 December 2018). "Queen of S-Mountain: The Origin Story" (Audio podcast). Queen of S-Mountain.
  10. ^ a b Sendejas Jr., Jesse (24 March 2015). "Thelma and the Sleaze Ain't Here to Play Nice". Houston Press.
  11. ^ James-Jura, Terra (12 November 2013). "An Interview with Thelma and the Sleaze". The Deli Magazine.
  12. ^ Pearis, Bill (2 December 2014). "Nashville band Thelma and the Sleaze released new EP, touring, playing 2 NYC shows (1 w/ Slothrust & Aye Nako)". BrooklynVegan.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Gilbert, LG (19 December 2018). "Queen of S-Mountain: Band Drama" (Audio podcast). Queen of S-Mountain.
  14. ^ Weeks, Isaac (17 March 2016). "Thelma and the Sleaze played 31 shows in Nashville last month. What did your band do?". Nashville Scene.
  15. ^ Conzett, Lance (2016). "Best Local Rock Hustle. Writers' Choice: Thelma and the Sleaze's Kandyland Tour". Nashville Scene.
  16. ^ "Kandyland: The Movie". IMDb. 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  17. ^ a b Chrystal, Matt (4 July 2017). "Interview: Matt Chrystal Talks with LG of Thelma & The Sleaze Who Play Baby's All Right on 7/4 & Mercury Lounge on 7/5". CoolDad Music.
  18. ^ Anderson, Stacey (2 June 2016). "Pop & Rock Listings for June 3-9: Eagles of Death Metal (Saturday)". The New York Times.
  19. ^ a b Green, Valerie (8 July 2019). "Episode #3 Thelma & the Sleaze (7.8.19)" (Audio interview). Indy Propaganda.
  20. ^ Trageser, Stephen (1 May 2017). "Watch Thelma and the Sleaze Tip the Balance of Power in 'Secretary' [Fresh Vid]". Nashville Scene.
  21. ^ Frasco, Andy (27 March 2018). "Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast: EP 2: Birdcloud & Thelma and the Sleaze" (Podcast). Andy Frasco's World Saving Podcast.
  22. ^ Thelma and the Sleaze (2018). "$5,000 ❤️🙏💋🍾 on behalf of Thelma and the Sleaze". Facebook.
  23. ^ Gilbert, LG (17 July 2019). "Queen of S-Mountain: Meet Thelma and the Sleaze!" (Audio podcast). Queen of S-Mountain.
  24. ^ Trageser, Stephen (11 July 2019). "The Music Biz Gets Rough in Thelma and the Sleaze's 'Pain'". Nashville Scene.
  25. ^ a b Gilbert, LG (21 July 2019). "What do u think? 👁👁 Cover art for the new album by @coopertings #fuckmarrykill out Aug 9th via @the_what_of_whom and @burgerrecords4life". Thelma and the Sleaze. Instagram.
  26. ^ a b "Thelma and The Sleaze". The What of Whom. August 2019.
  27. ^ Childers, Elena (31 July 2019). "Featured: Premiering Thelma & The Sleaze's "Down" from Upcoming Album". BreakThru Radio.
  28. ^ Garrick, David (8 August 2019). "Thelma and The Sleaze Mix Things Up on New Album". Closed Captioned.
  29. ^ Armstrong, Jay (11 August 2019). "Album Review: Thelma and the Sleaze – Fuck. Marry. Kill". Anon Magazine.
  30. ^ "Brittany Howard's "Stay High" (Official Live Session) Is Out Today". ATO Records. 21 August 2019.
  31. ^ a b "Discography". Burger Records. Retrieved 21 July 2019. 1107 Thelma and the Sleaze – Somebody's Doin' Somethin' CASS; 1249 Craig Brown Band Thelma and the Sleaze CASSINGLE
  32. ^ Cross, Steve (16 January 2017). "Thelma and the Sleaze Slay at Kandyland Premiere". Nashville Scene.
  33. ^ Trageser, Stephen (12 December 2016). "Thelma and the Sleaze Spread Holiday Cheer With Christmas Sampler [Fresh Tracks]". Nashville Scene.
  34. ^ "Thelma and The Sleaze - Dirt". The What of Whom. 2018.
  35. ^ "Thelma and The Sleaze - Pain". The What of Whom. 2019.
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