Do Re #Metoo is an annual fundraiser for Abortion Access Front (AAF). It’s also a great night at the Parkway Theater of Minnesota feminists reclaiming insanely offensive sexist songs – many of which we all know, love and have mindlessly sung since we were kids. Last night it was just the tonic I needed after a rough couple weeks of current events.
To borrow from AAF’s website, here’s more info on them:
Founded in 2015 by comedian and Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead, Abortion Access Front (Abortion AF) is a nonprofit organization made up of activists, comedians, writers, and producers. They use humor to destigmatize abortion and expose the extremist forces working to destroy access to reproductive rights and abortion in all 50 states. Performers include Aby Wolf, Cindy Lawson, Diane Miller, Jaedyn James, Janie Miller, Janey Winterbauer, Mary Cutrufello, Molly Maher, Monica LaPlante, Tricky Miki and the Do RE #Metoo house band, The Maneaters, including Jenny Case, Barb Brynstad, Jessica Anderson, Maureen McFarlane, and Sue Orfield.
(It’s not too late to donate!)
The night started with Lizz Winstead bringing in the hair metal and stuffed pants.
Diane Miller always has some of the most interesting choices, I think because rap songs from the 1990s was fertile ground for sexist songs. She did not disappoint with a new genre dubbed Richfield Hip Hop by Lizz Winstead.
Mary Cutrufello singing Walk This Way was pretty darned good. A consummate performer, Mary was hopping around on the stage like she wasn’t wearing a knee brace.
Cindy Lawson with the Monkey’s was fantastic. You think of what age The Monkeys were at their height and what age each of us was when we listened to them – whether you heard them on prime time or Nick at Night. It gets to the insidious nature of misguided music.
I was so glad to see Janey Winterbauer take down Bob Dylan, he sings sexist songs that somehow sound sympathetic and tender, until you listen to the words. Also – nice work on the harmonica!
Tricky Miki has performed five Rolling Stones songs, once for each Do Re #Metoo since the beginning. It’s a bottomless wealth of material. Her rendition of Some Girls was particularly poignant. (I accidentally saw some movie of them on the tour plane with girls that I’m pretty sure weren’t all happy to be there and have a hard time listening to their music now.)
Monica LaPLante and the martini were a duo onto themselves. It was a little taste of musical theater. It was a new sound for her – not a not at all a bad one. Maybe she should sneak some musical theater into her regular act.
Sex Farm is an actual song? Aby Wolf brought something new to the table for me and I’d like to return it. The singing was terrific but holy buckets that song was crazy bad – like Spinal Tap lyric bad – just less self-aware. So much fun to hear.
The story behind Molly Maher’s choice Delta Dawn was new to me and Delta Dawn is one of my go-to daydreaming songs. Apparently, songwriter Alex Harvey wrote it for his mother when she killed herself after he (the son!) excluded her from his TV appearance, Whoa.
Janie Miller brought us right to Vegas with A Little Less Conversation. Who knew a song about silencing women could be so catchy? It’s depressing but honestly uplifting to see amazing women reclaim the power for us all.
I was surprised to hear that it was Jaedyn James’ first Do RE #Metoo. She’s a strong feminist and singer! And apparently a big yacht rock fan, especially kidnappy yacht rock. Man can she hold a note.
Mostly Minnesota 