Jack Off Jill announces reunion show at The Orange Peel in Asheville

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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jack_off_jill_asheville_2015Jack Off Jill, a punk goth girl band that enjoyed its heyday in the 1990s, has announced it is reuniting for a special show at The Orange Peel in Asheville as part of a three-day series of events that will include the unveiling of a Jack Off Jill mural, autograph signing and curate shows at The Odditorium. The show is set for July 18. Tickets go on sale April 24.

The reunited band includes JessicKa Addams, Tenni Ah Cha Cha, Michelle InHell, and Helen StorerJD Samson of Le Tigre, and Minneapolis rockers Kitten Forever, are opening for the band. Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland and Allison Wolfe, former front woman of Bratmobile, will be guests.

With Marilyn Manson as an early mentor, Jack Off Jill perfected their own version of shock. From bustle.com:

They sang about cats and sadists with a possessed child’s air, and put words on their tee-shirts that I cannot repeat here. But, in short, Jack Off Jill famously did not give a crap about what people thought about them, and I am so glad they’ve found their yellow brick road and made their way back home.

I emailed the band a list of questions last night, and here are there answers:

Q: How will the Asheville show be different, or the same, from Jack Off Jill shows during the band’s heyday?
  
A: Jessicka: Here’s a show spoiler:  I will not have dreadlocks. Sorry! But the rest will be left up the crowd’s energy level. The more we get from them the crazier the shows usually get.
 
Tenni:  I think the only thing different is that we are slightly older now. What should you expect from our show? The unexpected. Unpredictability has always been a signature trait of Jack Off Jill live shows. 
Q: On the feminist front, how do you rate the state of women’s rights and stature in society in 2015? It seems to me that, like race relations, we’ve come such a long way and yet not. What’s your take?
A: Jessicka: We need to reclaim the word “feminism”!  We need the word “feminism” to have a positive connotation. I want everybody not to be afraid to call themselves a feminist. The term should not be considered blasphemous or inflammatory. The word itself has gotten a really bad rap. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist – and only 42% of British women, that’s a bad sign. I think these statics and many other reasons are why you are seeing many all women bands reforming. There’s a need for a change and we can all feel it.  One of favorite quotes: “Feminism has had exactly the same problem that “political correctness” has had: people keep using the phrase without really knowing what it means.” ― Caitlin Moran, How to Be a Woman
 
Tenni: “Feminist” is still considered a dirty word and the movement continues to be demonized by the Right wing. The definition of a “feminist” is someone who advocates social, political, legal, and economic rights for women EQUAL to those of men. So basically, if you deny or vilify being a feminist, you are implying that women do not deserve the same rights as men. In short, we still have a long way to go. That’s part of the reason we are experiencing the resurrection of the Riot Grrrl movement and the resurgence of bands like Jack Off Jill and Babes In Toyland. There is a demand for it and that makes me happy. 
Q: I’m always interested in how bands, and individuals, have grown and evolved. I know it’s a difficult question to answer succinctly, but can you talk about how your outlook on has changed over the past 15 years? Put another way, what’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in that time? What’s the one lesson you’ve learned that you want to pass along to others?
A: Jessicka: The biggest mistake was me not reaching out sooner to Tenni and Michelle and trusting somebody who was simply older not wiser. 
Becoming a fine artist was always my intention but I think I lacked the focus and self confidence to actually do it until I experienced that personal evolution and learned how to trust myself. Now I’m able to channel my feelings, balancing making art and being in a healthy marriage and having a happy life. That’s something I never imagined possible twenty years ago while in Jack Off Jill.
 
Tenni: I have to be honest, this is such a hard question to answer. But as for advice to others? I would say, if you have chemistry and magic amongst your band mates, don’t take it for granted. Don’t let your egos ruin it. A 100% of nothing is…nothing.
Q: Is punk dead? What’s the new “protest music,” for lack of a better term?
Jessicka: I’ve never considered myself or Jack Off Jill to be punk. I’m not sure why that is? It might be because we have fewer punk influences then one might think. Punk isn’t dead it’s just hanging out in your local strip mall at the moment.
Tenni: To me “protest music” has no genre. Is punk dead? I don’t know. Ask Sid Vicious.
Q: What music are you listening to? What’s on your listening device of choice these days?
 
A: Jessicka: Babes In Toyland, My Bloody Valentine (“You Made Me Realise”) & Elliot Smith on repeat nonstop.
 
Tenni: Lately, I can’t stop listening to St. Vincent and Babes In Toyland.
Q: Here’s your chance to speak directly to your fans. Is there anything else you’d like to say? What do you want to talk about that we haven’t talked about?
 
A: Jessicka: I’m just excited to be back on stage with my friends. I want the fans to know we plan on giving as much raw energy as humanly possible so this Jack Off Jill show will be exciting, reminiscent of our old shows, but not exactly the same. I’d never want my performances to seem forced or disingenuous. The fact that any of the music we collectively created still resonates, that our fan base is still growing, fans are willing to come see us, and new Jack Off Jill fans were born during the years we were inactive is pretty incredible. I know we are all really appreciative for all of the kind words and support we’ve gotten.
 
Tenni: I would like to say “THANK YOU!!” to all of our die hard fans. The support and enthusiasm for this reunion show has been overwhelming. I am so very grateful for this opportunity to play music with my friends again. My heart is full.

Here is the full list of Asheville reunion show events for Jack Off Jill, from ladygunn.com:

FRIDAY, JULY 17th:

Very special, rare solo performance by Daisy Berkowitz (founding member of Marilyn Manson) + A signing from 7-9 and an unveiling of new mural painted exclusively for the Jack Off Jill reunion by Los Angeles-based visual artist Camille Rose Garciaat The Odditorium (1045 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC (828) 575-9299

SATURDAY, JULY 18th:

JACK OFF JILL + Kitten Forever + JD Samson + guest DJs Lori Barbero (Babes In Toyland) and Allison Wolfe (Bratmobile, The Cold Cold Hearts) along with special surprise guests at the Orange Peel (101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 398-1837

SUNDAY, JULY 19 th

JD SamsonLori Barbero (Babes In Toyland) + Allison Wolfe (Bratmobile, The Cold Cold Hearts) + special guests at The Odditorium

 

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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5 Comments

  1. Unaffiliated Voter April 14, 2015

    hilarious Big Al ! ! !

    Reply
  2. Big Al April 12, 2015

    “What should you expect from our show? The unexpected.”

    Maybe drag a few straight white men up on stage in chains and behead them, ISIS style? Come to think of it, what better way to reclaim an ancient Egyptian goddess from radical Islam than to slaughter a few politically incorrect breeders before your first set?

    Reply
  3. Christy April 10, 2015

    I am so excited!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer S. April 10, 2015

    Jessicka just tweeted me that tix go on sale April 24, not today.

    Reply
    1. Jason Sandford April 10, 2015

      Thank you!

      Reply

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