...

Bratmobile

City of Origin: Olympia, WA, USA

Period of Activity: Early to mid-90s, early-00s, 2023-present

Members: Molly Neuman, Erin Smith, Allison Wolfe

Related Artists: Cold Cold Hearts

Discography:

• Pottymouth (1993)
• The Real Janelle EP (1994)
• Ladies, Women and Girls (2000)
• Girls Get Busy (2002)

Social Media: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Website

They're better known as one of the pioneering bands (along with Bikini Kill) of riot grrrl, but Bratmobile were always toe-ing the (thinner than you might think!) line between the two. For example, they had split releases with Tiger Trap and Veronica Lake, and from what I've heard, Rose Melberg is currently a member of their touring band. Their sound is really quite close to that of Beat Happening, but more overtly punk. Of all the bands that show a clear Beat Happening influence, Bratmobile is by far the best (even surpassing Beat Happening themselves). There's just something about how rubbery Erin Smith's riffs on songs like "Love Thing" and "Cool Schmool" sound that makes Pottymouth one of the most addicting punk albums of all time.