REVIEW: Byrdhouse and Super Dark Collective Present an empowering Riot Grrrl Night
01/30/25 @ No Fun, Troy
Featuring: YANKEEGIRL, Off Beat Degradations, Anti-Rent Rebellion and Miss America
All photos by Debi Gustafson
“The girlboss ensemble showcased original songs often starting with a sort of sweet innocence before punching the gas into a full-blown Riot Grrrl rage.”
Jet black, leather platform boots, mini skirts and female rage took the stage by storm at No Fun in Troy on January 30 for Byrdhouse Records’ and Super Dark Collective’s Riot Grrrl Night.
Miss America, an alt-punk rock group from the Hudson Valley got down to business at the top of the night. Despite only having formed as a band just this past November, the trio was noticeably polished and perfected as they came in rocking with their first tune.
Once Miss America got the crowd warmed up, they invited everyone to come closer, which we did, filling in the checkerboard floor in front of the stage. Along with the captivated crowd, Miss America loosened up more a few songs in. This meant giving way to their inner angst, especially while covering the punk revivalist’s classic, “Brain Stew” by Green Day, where the band’s bassist took the lead.
The girlboss ensemble showcased original songs often starting with a sort of sweet innocence before punching the gas into a full-blown Riot Grrrl rage. Miss America’s lyrics toyed with and then slashed the typical stereotypes that some may associate with women, like being a “material girl” and wanting a diamond ring for Valentine’s Day. A song titled “World Peace” featured catchy verses and points of isolated vocals depicting the idea that girls just want to feel confident, have their friends get along and get high on the weekends. I mean, come on, isn’t that the bare minimum of what the girlies deserve?
Off Beat Degradations geared up to play second. As the five person Binghamton-based band tuned guitars and prepped the stage, their frontwoman could be seen stretching out her legs. Once Off Beat Degradations kicked off their set, it soon became clear why the stretching was necessary. Lead singer Lynnette Linares began to take the stage by storm, owning it as she pranced, jumped and stomped all over. Her vocal range was just as impressive. Linares showcased high pitch screams that could quickly transition into a screamo-style gruff growl. Her flirtatious, theatrical movements and poses served as a nonchalant momentum for her to break free into a powerful female rage, amplified by her occasional use of a megaphone. Throughout their set I heard audience members’ murmurs of “she’s crazyyyy; the vibes bro!” and “she’s like a bunny that will eat you alive!”
Off Beat Degradations noted that it was their first time playing in Troy, and they certainly made a lasting impression. They were instantly well-received by the crowd packed into No Fun and maintained that intrigue the whole duration of their performance. The other bands on the line up also indulged in the entertainment, like the members of Miss America who helped lead a mosh when OBD’s guitarist called for it.
The three piece group, YANKEEGIRL, stood in front of me as they jammed out to the bands that preceded them, before taking the stage themselves. The feminist punk rockers began their set with a playful, sing-songy self-titled song, filled with energy and sass. The New Paltz natives admitted they hadn’t played a show in awhile, but their cohesiveness could have made listeners believe otherwise. Especially zoned in and precise with each movement was their drummer, Kaylie Millar, whose appearance at Riot Grrrl Night was only her third gig with YANKEEGIRL.
Spunk was another strong theme of YANKEEGIRL’s set, with exuberant facial expressions and energy from bandmates Izzy Kerr and Linds Johnson. The two vocalists and guitarists had a fun back and forth during their cover of Blondie’s “One Way Or Another” and a powerful showcase of vocal range during their final song – a cover of “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar.
Between songs they cracked witty jokes about the great, ironic fun the group was having playing No Fun, exhibiting a comfortability on stage that paired seamlessly with their innate cheeky girlboss energy in each song.
Last but not least, making their debut performance, was Anti-Rent Rebellion, a four artist group from Albany. They wasted no time staking their claim to fame, planting their blue and yellow “Anti-Rent Rebellion” sign, resembling a New York State historic landmark plaque. The brat punk group’s fierce leader, Catie Delf, owned the stage with her strong, powerhouse vocals and confident strike of matriarchal energy.
In proper Riot Grrrl fashion, Anti-Rent Rebellion’s songs hosted lyrical jabs at the patriarchy and expectations of women, including an original titled “Crushing Irony,” with whimsy verses like, “they told me go to college to get more knowledge” overlaying the shredding strings and crashing drums of her supporting male bandmates. They also covered appropriate bands such as The Chicks.
Anti-Rent Rebellion, whose debut EP released in September, offered a kickass performance to cap the night. Their chemistry as a band fueled a set that made me think they were joking when they said it was their first gig, and I’m sure it won’t be their last.
A suckerpunch of feminist empowerment rained down on the crowd of attendees who rocked to pay proper homage to a revolutionary musical movement at No Fun’s Riot Grrrl Night last week. Concertgoers left buzzing and energized from the adept lineup of bands that simultaneously strutted and tore up the stage before them on an otherwise chilly, bleak night in The Collar City.
