Women of Rock Are Taking the World by (Hale)Storm.
written + photographed by hunter astrid
Seeing women shine in an industry that is known for being a mainly male dominate one will always put a smile on my face. So the fact that the entire Back from the Dead tour consists of four bands all fronted by women was an amazing experience. Not to mention the pure talent that all of musicians hold. First up that night was Lilith Czar.
Lilith Czar, formerly known as Juliet Simms, re-emerged in 2021 with a new style and sound that perfectly fits her persona. The name ‘Lilith’ comes from the female figure/she-demon in the Bible and ancient mythology who was banished from the Garden of Eden for not obeying Adam. ‘Czar’ is a known Slovak term for ‘king’ or ‘ruler’. By putting these two names together she has become a symbol of female empowerment. She will not comply to men and their expectations and takes back the world they have created. Lilith Czar’s sound and style appears to be influenced by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, and David Bowie. Lilith’s powerful rock voice and and stage presence easily makes her a notable figure worthy to carrying on the legacy.
The next band of the night was The Warning, formed in Monterey, Mexico in 2013. The trio consists of three sisters, Daniela Villarreal (vocals & guitar), Alejandra Villarreal (bass) and Paulina Villarreal (drums & vocals). The energy that these sisters have on stage is honestly unmatched. Daniela’s unique voice matches perfectly with the lyrics and messages being conveyed in their songs. The use of their vocals, bass, guitar and drums all seems to work seamlessly together. These three are some of the youngest female musicians out there at the moment (Alejandra is only 17!!). Yet, the music they’re making is bound to be some of the most impactful in their genre in the upcoming years.
The third band to take the stage was The Pretty Reckless. Formed in 2009 in New York City, the band is fronted by Taylor Momsen (singer), Ben Phillips (guitar), Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums). With hits like Heaven Knows and Make Me Wanna Die, their sound is a known one in the rock and alternative scene. Momsen’s beautifully powerful voice and her dynamic stage presence really stands out when it comes to other bands in this genre. She takes the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ look and made it dark; seeming like a fallen angel as she floats around the stage.
The last band to take the stage on this tour is Halestorm from Red Lion, Pennsylvania. The band is fronted by Lzzy Hale (vocals & guitar) and joined by Arejay Hale (drums), Joe Hottinger (guitar), and Josh Smith (bass). Halestorm is definitely one of the most influence bands when it comes to Rock/Metal, with Lzzy Hale’s voice being one of the most powerful female voices in the industry. A thing to note, in 2013 their song Love Bites…(So Do I) won the Grammy for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. This made them the first female-fronted band to be both nominated and win in that category. It’s amazing to see this band is still as strong and powerful 25 years after their conception in ’97.
In an industry overpowered by men, these women are the perfect face for feminism in the rock and music scene.
