The world of rock music has often been referred to as a "boys' club " - a world where woman have contributed their talents since its creation, but have rarely made any serious impact. All of that changed for good however in the 1990s, when five women, including Lauren Hill, Bonnie Rait and Alanis Morissette won Grammy Awards for Album of the Year.
At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 at the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., the students of the Uptown Music Collective will demonstrate how the "he-man woman haters" club of rock has gone co-ed with their presentation of "Jagged Little Pill: Two Decades of Women in Rock."
This fundraising concert for the nonprofit school of music will feature music from some of the most influential and notable women in music over the past two decades, including Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, Adele, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and more.
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The Uptown Music Collective will present “Jagged Little Pill:?Two Decades of Women in Rock”?at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 at the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St.
The 1990s saw major changes in music - grunge replaced "hair" metal as the most visible form of rock, the genre "alternative" was born and a lesser-known movement, often referred to as "third-wave feminism," changed the musical landscape. This movement, spearheaded by bands and artists like Hole and Bikini Kill, combined with the revival of the 1970s singer-songwriter movement, known for artists such as Tracy Chapman, Ani Difranco and Jewel, caused a major resurgence of women in music.
The first sign that this fundamental power shift had occurred came late in the decade with a concert tour known as the Lilith Fair, which first took place in the summer of 1997. The tour, which consisted solely of female solo artists and female led bands, was very successful and helped to change people's perception of woman in rock. Perhaps the most important albums attributed to this movement were the many-times platinum "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morissette and "Tuesday Night Music Club," the eponymous album by Sheryl Crow.
This female force continued into the 2000s up to the present day, with artists such as Norah Jones, Taylor Swift, Adele, Alicia Keys and Florence and the Machine, following in the heels of their predecessors. It is to these artists that the students of the Collective will pay tribute, with enthusiastic, note-for-note renditions of their most popular songs performed in the type of high-energy presentation that the Uptown Music Collective has become known for.
"Jagged Little Pill" will feature performers between 9 and 18 years of age who have been preparing for this performance for more than three months. Along with the live music, there will be a powerful light and sound show organized by the students themselves. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers, but also direct the show. There also is a group of younger students, called "Tech Monkeys," who will serve as stage technicians, spot light operators and video operators. The student leadership committee for this show includes: Williamsport Area High School senior, Katie Kahn and Bloomsburg Area High School Senior, Evan Moffitt as co-directors Michaela Dennen (senior, Pa Cyber School), A.J. Robbins (freshman, LTHS), Shawn Chism (junior, Pa Cyber School), Gianna Rockoff (sophomore, LTHS), Tess Clutter (junior, WAHS), and Shelby Lynch (sophomore, Montgomery Area High School). The leadership committee is under the supervision of Uptown Music Collective Executive Director Dave Brumbaugh.
"This performance primarily features a new generation of students, a few of whom have not had the opportunity to step out onto the big stage of the Community Arts Center," Brumbaugh said. "I am excited to see these students, who are younger, or who have labored in the shadows for a while, blossom under the bright lights center stage. Their success will be a tribute to the inspiration of this great music and the high standards set by the generations of Uptown Music Collective students who have come before. As always, it's a show and an experience not to be missed!"
"This is my first major performance with the collective and I am beyond excited to be a part of something that has this much of an impact in the community," UMC student Greg Jones, 17, said. "Everyone has been working very hard and the rehearsals have been going pretty smoothly, all-in-all. I can't wait for these two nights in November and I hope we can pack the house both nights."
Tickets for the performance are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, with the proceeds benefiting the Uptown Music Collective. Tickets are available at The Uptown Music Collective, 848 W. Fourth St. and The Community Arts Center box office, as well as Alabaster Coffee, 410 Pine St., and K&S Music, 1116 W. Southern Ave., South Williamsport.
For more information about the Uptown Music Collective, visit www.uptownmusic.org or call 329-0888.
