From Janis Joplin and Josie and the Pussycats to The Donnas and Lillix, girls have been picking up guitars and drumsticks since the creation of rock 'n' roll. For local all-female group General Stacks, forming a band just seemed right in the order of the world.
We're what the Spice Girls wish they were
said drummer Megan Stotts.
With their glam rock style, on-stage costumes and lyrics about wizards and whales, the band General Stacks uses its music as an outlet for fun, they said.
Out of every band in town we probably take ourselves the least seriously; it's just one big joke said guitarist and vocalist Liz Phal.
The just rock 'n' roll group said its songs are inside jokes among the members' friends. As a result, guitarist and vocalist Shanah Hammock said, their music is an extension of (their) friendships.
General Stacks used its connections in the Athens music scene to form in December 2004. All of the members were new to playing instruments, so they took lessons from local vets and borrowed equipment from friends.
Originally, Emily Webb played keyboard, but the position was later given to Jodi Toledo, lead singer of Red Dahlia, in August of 2005.
We kind of just did it (because) we're learning; we're going to learn together. We had no intention at first of doing anything like this
Hammock said.
While most Athens bands don't focus on harmonizing vocals, Hammock said, General Stacks utilizes two front women - Phal and Hammock - switching lead singers with song changes and using backup vocals to fill out their sound.
In true glam-rock fashion, the band gives a theme to every show and dresses in costume to match. So far, they have been coal miners, grannies going to tea and army generals.
It started out as compensation for us not being able to play
Stotts said.
(Costumes are) something added that people don't really do anymore
Phal added.
General Stacks' songwriting process matches their onstage antics. The group's off-the-wall songs are about murder mysteries, marine life and wizards, and they are usually collectively written at the bar with a beer close at hand, they said.
Hammock said she is sick of hearing the same old sappy love songs, so she likes writing about things that she knows will make them laugh.
What do we want people to get out of (our music)? I don't care
Stotts said.
The band members spent three months off stage to write new material. They wrote five new songs, and Saturday will be their first time performing since November.
Although they haven't released any albums or demos yet, General Stacks has plans for recording some tracks eventually.
General Stacks will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Union Bar & Grill, 18 W. Union St., with Red Dahlia, Loaded Revulvas and 333. Admission is $4.
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Kelly Schwaberow
