When any band replaces a founding member there is often the hardcore backlashers "It won't be the same!" Um, no shit Sherlock. OBVIOUSLY! In addition, when replacing a male band member with a female one, the speculation overfloweth, "How will the group dynamic be?" "Will they play She's Just a Girl Eddie?" "How hard can she hit?" "What about her stamina?" These cries are then answered in online comment sections and chat rooms where everyone is an expert and a critic.
If the name Emily didn't give it away, or her super adorbs pictures, I'll let the cat out of the bag that yes, Emily Dolan Davies is indeed a woman. Now, many people will also blather on and on about how her gender does not matter. Um...hello? It sure as hell matters to me. Recently Savages crossed out part of an advert for a gig of theirs that said..."All Female" rock band. I, for one, love celebrating the female species in all of its magnificence and beauty. It matters to me because female musicians are not men. They have a different essence, a different energy, and probably smell better than most sweaty male rockers, except for Justin Hawkins, who always smells like he just bathed an a shower of magic fairy dust.
I had a long internet discussion with all of my musician friends about this very topic. Point being that, every single musician I know personally, save one singer, is a male. Fourteen drummers, all males. Check out the roster for The Great Bonzo Bash and Ox and the Loon.. no ladies. One was added later, Athena from Femme Fatale. http://www.californiamusicfest.com/press-release.html
I could go on, but this post isn't about how many ladies are missing in the rock world, it is about the ones who are present and accounted for. It is about the ones who have persevered and worked hard to get where they are as well as the ones who are just starting out, no matter their age. Being a career musician is hard enough, never mind being a female musician in a male dominated genre. Check out some lovely ladies covering Led Zeppelin..Zepperella or these gals... Lez Zeppelin. The first time I saw Lez Zeppelin it was about 10 years go and Steph Paynes, the guitarist was 8 months pregnant. If that isn't something to be celebrated, a lovely lady Jimmy Page-ing it up all over the place with a nearly done bun in the oven, well, I don't know what is.
I say, shout it from the rafters! You go you female musicians, you lionesses, you goddesses of rock! Show all of the aspiring musicians, no matter the gender, that hard work, dedication, passion and persistence pay off, whether the pay off is being a career musician or simply rocking it out for the pure love and joy of music.
Speaking of pure love and joy of music, have you seen Emily play? Check out this clip from her You Tube channel. My friend Deb and I were discussing Emily's join to The Darkness and Deb said this, "She's not trying to be one of the guys, which is brave and exemplary" Yes! Do your thing, chicken wing!
While I was researching Emily and other lady drummers the common thread was, perseverance. Finding that thing you love in life and not giving up, no matter the obstacles.I mean seriously, if this isn't a gal in love..
According to her bio- which you can read here- http://emilydrums.com/ Emily has been playing since the ripe old age of 11 and has had an extensive studio and touring career since 2008. I for one cannot wait to hear and see her shine that light in The Darkness. Pun intended. Here is to 2015, The year of The Darkness! You go gurl. Go on with your bad self!
