The Lippies were this week’s in-studio guests delivering acoustic renditions of their feminist pop-punk, with the show also featuring songs debuts from Brother Adams, Vox Vidorra and more.
Tackling Important Issues and Having Fun, Too: The Lippies
Tonia Broucek of The Lippies started the Grand Rapids “feminist pop-punk band” last fall to tackle “important issues” such as feminism in its lyrics. And it happens to do that with catchy hooks and an urgency in approach that’s spawned a bevy of avid fans in a short period of time.
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Tonia Broucek of The Lippies (Photo/Anna Sink)
“Not all of our songs are advocating feminism, but having that tag makes it easier for people to weed through the bands that aren’t socially conscious,” she said during the group’s appearance Friday on Local Spins on WYCE. “We make a conscious effort to not have ignorant lyrics.”
After releasing its first EP last year, The group — Broucek, bassist Lawrence Kole, guitarist Taylor Shupe and drummer David Sparks — on Saturday will release a new seven-inch vinyl record featuring two songs from that project plus a new song, “Give Him the Squirrel” (a reference, really, to a dog’s toy squirrel).
They’ll play Vertigo Music on S. Division Avenue at 2 p.m. Saturday as part of Record Store Day, sharing their hour-long set with another Grand Rapids band, Black Monuments, who also release a seven-inch record the same day. They’ll also both play a release show Saturday night at The New Church in Grand Rapids. (Message the band on Facebook for details.)
The band is heading out west on tour for the first time in May and hopes to record a full-length album later this year.
Listen to the podcast from Friday’s show here — featuring a full interview with the band and two in-studio acoustic performances — and check out a video of their rendition of “Sidewalk Talk” below.
The 34th edition of Local Spins on WYCE also debuted brand new tracks from several West Michigan bands, including Vox Vidorra (“All in One Place” from the upcoming new album “Promise Land,” which officially get unveiled April 25 at Founders Brewing), Black Monuments, Brother Adams, Puzzlecuts and Hank Mowery, as well as Joshua Davis’ rendition of “America” from “The Voice” and songs from Glen Danles, The Blueflowers and Tom Hymn.
(Oh, and thanks to the goofball host of Local Spins on WYCE, it took several seconds for the Black Monuments to go from a dirge-like 33-1/3 RPM to the required 45 RPM pace. My apologies. Blame the squirrel.)
VIDEO: THE LIPPIES, “SIDEWALK TALK”
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
Sidewalk talk.
We seriously brainstormed a radio hour on Friday mornings where we have in studio antics involving a live squirrel roaming in the studio, Kole being covered in peanut butter and nuts, running on a record, etc. brainchild of us loitering in WYCE’s parking lot.
The Squirrel Hour: Music that leaves you up a tree.
Omg. So perfect! It’s nutty.