American female punk rockers, L7, stopped a The Fillmore in downtown Silver Spring, MD on May 28th. L7 recently kicked off a full North American tour with support from Le Butcherettes. The band also recently released their first new album in over 20 years, Scatter the Rats.
This part of L7’s tour is being supported (in my opinion) by one of the only other rock bands out there that can perform on the same level as L7. Le Butcherettes are not to be underestimated. They put other touring rock bands to shame, and the two female musicians in Le Butcherettes and all the women in L7 rock just as hard, if not harder, than all male rock bands I’ve seen.
Le Butcherettes are a beautifully unique punk rock band, yet they’re also a somewhat dark and disturbed psychedelic garage rock band. Their live shows have all the passion and intensity of an arena rock show; only this bands singer, Teri Gender Bender, is a much better performer than most arena rockers. Le Butcherettes are touring in support of their fourth studio album, bi/MENTAL.
However great I think Le Butcherettes are, L7 leaped right over the bar that had been set so high. Opening their set with a couple gut-punchers off their 1990’s albums Smell the Magic and Hungry for Stink, the reunited and re-energized band attacked their instruments and left the audience in shock. They played a fearless and flawless sounding set of high energy, heavy ass punk rock music.
Here are some photos of Le Butcherettes and L7 performing at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD on May 28, 2019. All images copyright and courtesy of Andy Jillson.
