THANK PBS FOR SF'S BLAME SALLY

By Mindy Giles

I want to suggest “Title IX” as a future song title to the four women of Blame Sally.

I think it could neatly fit into the freeing, authoritative body of work they have created over the past 11 years. Title IX, by the way, is not merely an upscale women's sports apparel store. As a reminder, the federal amendment from 1972 (from which the store took its name) goes a little like this: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..." Tah-dum! Girls just want to have fun.

While I don’t know all of Blame Sally’s stuff, they did get on my radar in 2006 with a big, powerful, political protest song aimed right at Bush and his invasion of Iraq, called “If You Tell A Lie.” Here it is:

Neil Young had founded a website called “Living With War Today,” and requested that bands put up their own protest songs. (The website is still active.) The song by Blame Sally, with a devastating opening line (which riffed off the chilling Josef Goebbels quote), was written by Monica Pasqual. It got so many thousands of hits/downloads in the course of one month, it caused a bit of a sensation--just as Title IX did for us young women back in 1972.

So last Saturday night, at public television station KVIE in Sacramento, the "Sallies" (as fans have dubbed them) packed the big room for a live concert recording. And five years later, their rendering of “If You Tell A Lie” was no less powerful, or “Occupy”-timely. These speeding-past-40something Bay Area women—Monica Pasqual (vocals, keyboards, accordion), Renee Harcourt (vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica), Jeri Jones (vocals, lead guitar, bottleneck, dobro, mandolin), Pam Delgado (vocals, percussion, drums), plus sole male musician Rob Strom (bass)--have tight, near-Everly Sisterly harmonies. All are exceptional players, can really write, really rock, and really tease… each other. Think Tina Fey, not Tina Turner. There were some giddy moments that night, and rightly so, because this six-camera shoot is big time. It will be shown nationally on PBS in 2012.

It's interesting that the Sacramento affiliate snagged this concert (and not KQED), but hey, no complaint here. PBS needs to find its old edge, particularly in championing some compelling new music--not merely just young, barely talented shoe-gazers, or heritage superstars.

With multiple lead singers, writers and a rich plethora of sonic colors at their fingertips, Blame Sally can easily move in Americana, folk, country and rock circles. Their female narratives can be dark and bluesy, spiritually uplifting, sexual and funny. For music touchstones, you can name check Crosby, Stills & Nash, Melissa Etheridge, Lucinda Williams, Dusty Springfield, and The Indigo Girls.

Clearly, the Central Valley folk (with an audience made up of 80% women) loved them. And from my casual conversation in the community room between two tapings, I found that some Bay Area fans drove in to be a part of this show, anyway. Word-of-mouth figured prominently, with friends bringing friends. Some had seen Blame Sally at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass this past autumn; some at house concerts; some at Sacramento’s Fusion Yoga (a sponsor); and some at Stern Grove in 2009, where they had shared a bill with one of their heroes, Joan Baez. What is the strong connection between this band and their fans? “If I had to pick one word, it would be 'authentic,'" said one fan. “Mature,” suggested another. Still another fan: “I have three words--'Shit, they rock!'”

Their new CD is Speeding Ticket and a Valentine (on Berkeley-based Ninth Street Opus label), which followed up 2010’s Live at Stern Grove Festival. These women sound good and look good, and they know it. If you get a chance to see them next time--do! I told ya so, but don’t thank me--Blame Sally.

Here is one of my favorites: http://blamesally.bandcamp.com/track/pajaros-sin-alas

--Mindy Giles