By Dave Miller

X

If the rock star thing doesn't work out for Traci Trouble, she can have a career as a talent booker. The Wanton Looks singing bassist put together a five-band bill dubbed "Female Frenzy" on a Wednesday night at Double Door. Each act was fronted by a female. All were winning picks.

X

The bands received 25 minutes apiece to strut their stuff. While that shortchanged the two headliners, Trouble's band and The Handcuffs, it gave an opportunity to the three bands on the undercard to impress. With the groups not having time to waste, each hit the crowd with its best shot. There was an understated camaraderie in the air throughout the night. Some mentions were made of the thematic nature of the showcase, but mostly the frontwomen allowed their bands to do the talking, matter-of-factly making a case for female rockers.

X

Pillow Talk staked out rockabilly territory to start the evening. With a big flower in her hair, Bailey Dee aired a voice as strong as her crackerjack stage presence. While the band played a mix of originals and covers, it presented the material with a bit of a twist on old-school sound thanks to Aaron Getsug's prominent saxophone and Aaron Apter's bass drum, a converted garbage can.

X

Summer Girlfriends created a buzz with an arresting array of beach guitars and dreamy soundscapes. Singer Caitlin Kerr sounded like the knowing sister of Belinda Carlisle. Cheerful drummer Nicole Freeland pushed the beat to keep the music on edge. A tambourine and even a kazoo appeared. Summer Girlfriends would be a perfect opening band for The Wanton Looks to take on the road now. Eventually, Summer Girlfriends will need to pick an opening band of their own.

X

Swimsuit Addition aggressively took its punk-pop hard to the crowd from the first note. With her hair  covering her face as she sliced off sharp riffs, lead-singing guitarist Jen Larson demanded attention as she lost herself in the music. Bassist Sam Westerling was a presence at centerstage with complementary vocal contributions and even keyboards near the close of the set. Lead guitarist Becca Nisbet and drummer Susan Volbrecht boosted the sound to a big, tough level.

X

The Wanton Looks showed their wild side in a welcomed return to a club after two impressively tight shows at outdoor festivals. Sure, they got a little sloppy as Trouble typically teetered on the edge, but that's beside the point. It was a glorious combination of physical freedom, dynamite songs and explosive playing that threatened to combust on the closing "Electromagnetic Force." As Trouble took her bass and ventured into the crowd, guitarist Susie Q took over centerstage and Meg Thomas' hair flew in time with each vicious hit of the drums. By the time the lead singer worked her way back to the stage, lead guitarist Inga Olson was standing on an amplifier with her guitar over her head, shaking out a final, long note over the crowd. As her bandmates finished, Trouble was laying on her back, still playing her bass, not wanting to quit. And she still wasn't done, getting up to fire a last shot. "Fuck you, GOP, greedy old pigs!" Trouble yelled. "Fucking Mitt Romney, fuck you! Fuck you!"

X

It's hard to follow a performance like that, but The Handcuffs have been around long enough to know when the ante has been upped. Singer Chloe F. Orwell dug a little deeper, drummer Brad Elvis pounded a little harder and guitarist Ellis Clark shredded a little more. These veteran rockers know how to respond to a challenge. A new song, the slow-burning "Pretty Pretty," turned out to be a highlight of the strong set with Clark shooting fireworks through his fretboard while keyboardist Alison Hinderliter made them turn bright colors. Orwell heightened the number with dramatic vocals. The band added big-beat ringer "Jet Baby" to punch up the setlist on the fly before closing in satisfying fashion with the apt "One More Song."

X
Trouble's event was too good to be a one-off. She has great taste in music. Here's hoping she books another show. 

X

X

The Handcuffs setlist: