Histoire.
I am a musician, writer, mother, and small business owner based in Portland, Oregon. I started my studies as a Music Major at Southern Oregon University and transferred to The Evergreen State College where I completed a B.A. in Liberal Arts. I focused on writing, music, language and recording/engineering. During my studies, I began performing at poetry readings, experimental music ensembles(Eugene Chadbourne's guitar orchestra) and spoken word performances in Olympia and Seattle. I was recruited to play guitar in punk group Sister Skelter, whose handful of shows included a house party with Nirvana in 1988, initiating my entry into the world of DIY punk rock.
I formed the seminal punk band Calamity Jane later that year, performing regularly in the PNW and relocating to Portland in 1989. I sought to transform the role of women in punk rock by working with female bandmates, crew workers, and booking female and LGBTQ rock shows. I was fortunate to be playing alongside musicians like Babes in Toyland, Scrawl, L7,Lydia Lunch, Exene Cervenka, and Kim Gordon who paved the path I took. The scene in the PNW had a male-heavy rock bias that was dominated by labels like SubPop, yet we were part of a groundswell of the sociopolitical gender equality tactics that were later taken up by the RiotGrrl movement.
Calamity Jane toured North and South America, releasing a string of singles and recording a full-length at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle with Brad Wood(Liz Phair, Veruca Salt). In 1991, the band went from a trio to a four-piece and changed drummers, recording a second album that was never released. Calamity Jane disbanded in 1992 following a brutal and historic stadium show supporting Nirvana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Since that time, I have toured internationally, regularly releasing records and actively performing as a multi-instrumentalist, studio and collaborative musician. My work as a principal songwriter/guitarist/singer as well as bassist/backing vocalist has allowed me to experience recording and live performance from several perspectives. I have worked at honing my art and getting it to an audience, and am proficient in every facet of independent music: songwriting, arrangement, artwork creation/layout, coordination of manufacture & distribution of albums, tour booking, performing for crowds as small as 2 and as large as 30.000.
During quarantine 2020, a remote collaboration with visual artist and musician James Boulton from L.A. culminated in the band Desír; we self-released a single in December 2020. I received a RACC Make/Learn/Build Grant in May of 2021 to start recording an album. We added drummer Wes Garcia and recorded a full length album at Jackpot Recording Studios with Larry Crane in July & September 2021. Desír played our first live show at Mississippi Studios (Portland,Or) in August following an extended quarantine shut-down of live venues. We released our album Desír: DESÍR in March 2022 on our own record label. We play live shows as well, but know that with the continued limitations presented by the pandemic it is essential to expand our methods of audience engagement.
In 2019, after a lengthy hiatus, No.2 reformed and began working on a new album. My role as bassist and backing vocalist allowed me to add to the compositions that Singer/songwriter/guitarist Neil Gust brought to the band. Our process was slow and painstaking due to the distance between us: Neil lives in Brooklyn, NY and the drummer Paul Pulvirenti and I live in Portland, OR. We shared musical files and worked on songs by way of home recording and infrequent in-person practices and recording sessions. After 2 years of collaboration, we released a full-length album First Love in 2022 on the Jealous Butcher label.
Braille Stars formed in 1999 out of the ashes of pop/rock band Semisweet. As a 2-piece (Gilly ann: guitar, loops, vocals. Stef River: drums, vocals) we developed an expansive style that combines experimental improvisation with melodic themes equally influenced by our guitar punk roots and ambient dream core. We began performing in the PNW at Improviser's Collective, Ladyfest, Aimfest, and NXNW, and toured the West Coast with Quasi and The Replikants. The first album GOLDEN DREAM (1999 Wicked Witch) was recorded/produced by Larry Crane at Jackpot Studio.
Braille Stars' newest incarnation includes James Boulton(Bass VI, 2nd guitar), returning to our original format performing instrumental pieces that rely on intuition, invention and responsiveness as we collaboratively generate compositions in real time.
In late 2023 we began releasing series of releases that are performed, composed, and recorded simultaneously.
Our first live performance New Drawings with Improvisational Music Performance: James Boulton with Braille Stars took place on April 27, 2024
at Archer Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver WA
EDUCATION
The Evergreen State College. B.A. Liberal Arts 1989. Olympia, Wa
Spoken word and musical performances. Fringe Festival. 1987-89. Olympia, Wa
Eugene Chadbourne’s Guitar Orchestra. 1988. Olympia & Seattle, Wa
Towards a New Music Theater: dance/music/program writing with Ingram Marshall. 1988. Olympia, Wa
Recording Engineer internship YoYo Studios. 1989. Olympia, Wa
Radio performances KAOS, WFMU, KPFK, KBOO, KXLU. 1988-92, 2010. USA
Project Management; AIMFEST. Alternative Independent Music Fest. 2000. Portland. Or
Live Sound Engineer and Tech at Concert Sound. 1999. Portland, Or
SKILLS:
Writing lyrics/poetry, composing and arranging music.
Guitar, Bass, Vocals. organ, percussion, drums.
Recording engineering, mixing, production.
Artwork creation and coordination.
Coordinating, Booking, managing performance tours.
Installing, operating and light repair of sound equipment and stages for live music performances.
Creating websites, social media profiles; maintaining activity to engage and retain fanbase.
Managing/maintaining interpersonal band communication, operations. Budgeting per-diems, rehearsal space, equipment, project costs. Grant and funding application.
Small Business owner, tax preparation, license renewal, booking, personal relations, financial, inventory
EXPERIENCE:
Braille Stars :
Guitar/Loops/Vocal/Lyrics/Organ/Bass— Portland, Or — 1998-2000 & 2018-Present
Releases:
GOLDEN DREAM. 2000. Wicked Witch Records. CD
BEAUTIFUL FICTION. 2002. Fields & Streams compilation. Kill Rock Stars. CD
2000. West Coast Tour supporting Quasi.
2018-2020. live shows in PNW.
CATHARSIS 2023(LIVE). SEPT 2023.* Automatic Transmissions. Streaming.
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER. DEC 2023.* Automatic Transmissions.Streaming.
GIRL GENIUS. MAY 2024.* Automatic Transmissions.Streaming.
DREAMING IN REVERSE.* JUNE 2024. Automatic Transmissions. Streaming.
(*engineer/producer Gilly Ann Hanner)
Desír :
Guitar/Vocal/Lyrics
Portland,Or/LosAngeles,Ca—2020-Present Releases:
PUGILIST/SEARCH & DESTROY. Dec 2020. Art Trash. Streaming.
DESÍR. 2022. Vinyl/CD/Streaming. Full length album.
2021-2023: Live Performances at Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, Metalwood Salvage, The Fixin'To, Highwater Mark Lounge, Clinton Street Fair
No.2 :
Bass/Vocal- Portland, Or/Brooklyn, NY— 1998/99 & 2019-Present
Releases:
NO MEMORY. 1999. Chainsaw. CD. Reissued on Vinyl 2015. Jackpot!
ALLISTAIR CHESTNUT. 1992. Wicked Witch. 7” vinyl record.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. 2020. Jealous Butcher. 7” vinyl record and streaming.
FIRST LOVE. 2022. Jealous Butcher. Vinyl/Streaming. Full length album.
Videos: You Might be Right. May 2020. I’m on a Mission. 2021. Model of the Universe. 2021.
1999 US Tour supporting Elliot Smith.
2022-2023: Live performances at Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, Doug Fir Portland, Fox Cabaret Vancouver B.C., Tractor Tavern Seattle,
Consolidated :
Bass—Portland, Or—1997
1997. European tour.
Semisweet :
Guitar/Vocals/Lyrics— Portland, Or—-1996-1997
Releases:
HAJIME 1997. Pagoda/Self-released. CD
1997. US Tour.
Starpower :
Guitar/Bass/Vocal/Lyrics— Portland, Or — 1991-1995
Releases:
STARGIRL/TREEFORT 1994. Kill Rock Stars. 7” vinyl record.
ORBITAL SANDER 1995. Sympathy for the Record Industry. CD
1995. West Coast Tour.
Calamity Jane :
Guitar/Vocal/Lyrics Olympia, Wa/Portland, Or — 1988-1992/ 2010/2016
Releases:
CALAMITY JANE 1989. Yoyo Recordings. Cassette tape.
HANG UP/YOU GOT IT ROUGH/OUTTA MONEY 1990. Brimstone. 7” vinyl record.
SAY IT/LITTLE GIRL 1991. Imp Records. 7” vinyl record.
MISS HELL/MY SPIT 1991. Sympathy for the Record Industry. 7” vinyl record.
LOVE SONG/BELIEVE 1992. Tim/Kerr Records. 7” vinyl record
MARTHA JANE CANNARY 1992. SMR Records. CD and Vinyl Record
1990. US Tour.
1992. No On 9 Benefit Concert supporting Nirvana/Poison Idea/Helmet. Portland, Or.
1992. US Tour. Rock & Pop Festival supporting Nirvana. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1995. NOT BAD FOR A GIRL Lisa Apramian Film. Los Angeles, Ca. Interview and live performance.
Sister Skelter :
Guitar/Songwriting Olympia, Wa —1988
Live shows in Olympia including Smithfield Cafe and a House party with Nirvana May 14, 1988 where we performed the song ‘Greatest Gift’ by Scratch Acid with Kurt Cobain on vocals.
I formed the seminal punk band Calamity Jane later that year, performing regularly in the PNW and relocating to Portland in 1989. I sought to transform the role of women in punk rock by working with female bandmates, crew workers, and booking female and LGBTQ rock shows. I was fortunate to be playing alongside musicians like Babes in Toyland, Scrawl, L7,Lydia Lunch, Exene Cervenka, and Kim Gordon who paved the path I took. The scene in the PNW had a male-heavy rock bias that was dominated by labels like SubPop, yet we were part of a groundswell of the sociopolitical gender equality tactics that were later taken up by the RiotGrrl movement.
Calamity Jane toured North and South America, releasing a string of singles and recording a full-length at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle with Brad Wood(Liz Phair, Veruca Salt). In 1991, the band went from a trio to a four-piece and changed drummers, recording a second album that was never released. Calamity Jane disbanded in 1992 following a brutal and historic stadium show supporting Nirvana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Since that time, I have toured internationally, regularly releasing records and actively performing as a multi-instrumentalist, studio and collaborative musician. My work as a principal songwriter/guitarist/singer as well as bassist/backing vocalist has allowed me to experience recording and live performance from several perspectives. I have worked at honing my art and getting it to an audience, and am proficient in every facet of independent music: songwriting, arrangement, artwork creation/layout, coordination of manufacture & distribution of albums, tour booking, performing for crowds as small as 2 and as large as 30.000.
During quarantine 2020, a remote collaboration with visual artist and musician James Boulton from L.A. culminated in the band Desír; we self-released a single in December 2020. I received a RACC Make/Learn/Build Grant in May of 2021 to start recording an album. We added drummer Wes Garcia and recorded a full length album at Jackpot Recording Studios with Larry Crane in July & September 2021. Desír played our first live show at Mississippi Studios (Portland,Or) in August following an extended quarantine shut-down of live venues. We released our album Desír: DESÍR in March 2022 on our own record label. We play live shows as well, but know that with the continued limitations presented by the pandemic it is essential to expand our methods of audience engagement.
In 2019, after a lengthy hiatus, No.2 reformed and began working on a new album. My role as bassist and backing vocalist allowed me to add to the compositions that Singer/songwriter/guitarist Neil Gust brought to the band. Our process was slow and painstaking due to the distance between us: Neil lives in Brooklyn, NY and the drummer Paul Pulvirenti and I live in Portland, OR. We shared musical files and worked on songs by way of home recording and infrequent in-person practices and recording sessions. After 2 years of collaboration, we released a full-length album First Love in 2022 on the Jealous Butcher label.
Braille Stars formed in 1999 out of the ashes of pop/rock band Semisweet. As a 2-piece (Gilly ann: guitar, loops, vocals. Stef River: drums, vocals) we developed an expansive style that combines experimental improvisation with melodic themes equally influenced by our guitar punk roots and ambient dream core. We began performing in the PNW at Improviser's Collective, Ladyfest, Aimfest, and NXNW, and toured the West Coast with Quasi and The Replikants. The first album GOLDEN DREAM (1999 Wicked Witch) was recorded/produced by Larry Crane at Jackpot Studio.
Braille Stars' newest incarnation includes James Boulton(Bass VI, 2nd guitar), returning to our original format performing instrumental pieces that rely on intuition, invention and responsiveness as we collaboratively generate compositions in real time.
In late 2023 we began releasing series of releases that are performed, composed, and recorded simultaneously.
Our first live performance New Drawings with Improvisational Music Performance: James Boulton with Braille Stars took place on April 27, 2024
at Archer Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver WA
EDUCATION
The Evergreen State College. B.A. Liberal Arts 1989. Olympia, Wa
Spoken word and musical performances. Fringe Festival. 1987-89. Olympia, Wa
Eugene Chadbourne’s Guitar Orchestra. 1988. Olympia & Seattle, Wa
Towards a New Music Theater: dance/music/program writing with Ingram Marshall. 1988. Olympia, Wa
Recording Engineer internship YoYo Studios. 1989. Olympia, Wa
Radio performances KAOS, WFMU, KPFK, KBOO, KXLU. 1988-92, 2010. USA
Project Management; AIMFEST. Alternative Independent Music Fest. 2000. Portland. Or
Live Sound Engineer and Tech at Concert Sound. 1999. Portland, Or
SKILLS:
Writing lyrics/poetry, composing and arranging music.
Guitar, Bass, Vocals. organ, percussion, drums.
Recording engineering, mixing, production.
Artwork creation and coordination.
Coordinating, Booking, managing performance tours.
Installing, operating and light repair of sound equipment and stages for live music performances.
Creating websites, social media profiles; maintaining activity to engage and retain fanbase.
Managing/maintaining interpersonal band communication, operations. Budgeting per-diems, rehearsal space, equipment, project costs. Grant and funding application.
Small Business owner, tax preparation, license renewal, booking, personal relations, financial, inventory
EXPERIENCE:
Braille Stars :
Guitar/Loops/Vocal/Lyrics/Organ/Bass— Portland, Or — 1998-2000 & 2018-Present
Releases:
GOLDEN DREAM. 2000. Wicked Witch Records. CD
BEAUTIFUL FICTION. 2002. Fields & Streams compilation. Kill Rock Stars. CD
2000. West Coast Tour supporting Quasi.
2018-2020. live shows in PNW.
CATHARSIS 2023(LIVE). SEPT 2023.* Automatic Transmissions. Streaming.
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER. DEC 2023.* Automatic Transmissions.Streaming.
GIRL GENIUS. MAY 2024.* Automatic Transmissions.Streaming.
DREAMING IN REVERSE.* JUNE 2024. Automatic Transmissions. Streaming.
(*engineer/producer Gilly Ann Hanner)
Desír :
Guitar/Vocal/Lyrics
Portland,Or/LosAngeles,Ca—2020-Present Releases:
PUGILIST/SEARCH & DESTROY. Dec 2020. Art Trash. Streaming.
DESÍR. 2022. Vinyl/CD/Streaming. Full length album.
2021-2023: Live Performances at Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, Metalwood Salvage, The Fixin'To, Highwater Mark Lounge, Clinton Street Fair
No.2 :
Bass/Vocal- Portland, Or/Brooklyn, NY— 1998/99 & 2019-Present
Releases:
NO MEMORY. 1999. Chainsaw. CD. Reissued on Vinyl 2015. Jackpot!
ALLISTAIR CHESTNUT. 1992. Wicked Witch. 7” vinyl record.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. 2020. Jealous Butcher. 7” vinyl record and streaming.
FIRST LOVE. 2022. Jealous Butcher. Vinyl/Streaming. Full length album.
Videos: You Might be Right. May 2020. I’m on a Mission. 2021. Model of the Universe. 2021.
1999 US Tour supporting Elliot Smith.
2022-2023: Live performances at Mississippi Studios, Revolution Hall, Doug Fir Portland, Fox Cabaret Vancouver B.C., Tractor Tavern Seattle,
Consolidated :
Bass—Portland, Or—1997
1997. European tour.
Semisweet :
Guitar/Vocals/Lyrics— Portland, Or—-1996-1997
Releases:
HAJIME 1997. Pagoda/Self-released. CD
1997. US Tour.
Starpower :
Guitar/Bass/Vocal/Lyrics— Portland, Or — 1991-1995
Releases:
STARGIRL/TREEFORT 1994. Kill Rock Stars. 7” vinyl record.
ORBITAL SANDER 1995. Sympathy for the Record Industry. CD
1995. West Coast Tour.
Calamity Jane :
Guitar/Vocal/Lyrics Olympia, Wa/Portland, Or — 1988-1992/ 2010/2016
Releases:
CALAMITY JANE 1989. Yoyo Recordings. Cassette tape.
HANG UP/YOU GOT IT ROUGH/OUTTA MONEY 1990. Brimstone. 7” vinyl record.
SAY IT/LITTLE GIRL 1991. Imp Records. 7” vinyl record.
MISS HELL/MY SPIT 1991. Sympathy for the Record Industry. 7” vinyl record.
LOVE SONG/BELIEVE 1992. Tim/Kerr Records. 7” vinyl record
MARTHA JANE CANNARY 1992. SMR Records. CD and Vinyl Record
1990. US Tour.
1992. No On 9 Benefit Concert supporting Nirvana/Poison Idea/Helmet. Portland, Or.
1992. US Tour. Rock & Pop Festival supporting Nirvana. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1995. NOT BAD FOR A GIRL Lisa Apramian Film. Los Angeles, Ca. Interview and live performance.
Sister Skelter :
Guitar/Songwriting Olympia, Wa —1988
Live shows in Olympia including Smithfield Cafe and a House party with Nirvana May 14, 1988 where we performed the song ‘Greatest Gift’ by Scratch Acid with Kurt Cobain on vocals.