Kelly Ogden (The Dollyrots) posted a blog on Myspace the other day following a particularly disappointing show in Portland, Oregon. In addition to being one of my favorite bass players (guys & girls included), Kelly just happens to have a brain in her head. The D-rots played April 20 at Dante’s Live in Portland, opening for what they thought was a band similar to the Suicide Girls. Kelly noted that the staff at Dante’s was “the coolest” and they had really “yummy yummy food” but “the show was a little below average on ‘your’ part.” And then she discovered why. The Dollyrots weren’t opening for another band, they were there as an opening act for the Sinferno Cabaret – a burlesque show known for it’s “sexy, erotic performers’ according to the “Portland Mercury.”

Kelly went on to say, “I mean what the fuck? Mudhoney played here last night and we get to “open” for a trash parade? I mean… Girls, do what you want to do, but I do not want to be the opening act for another half-assed tit parade. I’m sorry guys. I don’t know how this has happened twice in two months. I mean it’s weird enough being a girl fronted band but touring is a whole different beast. I’M SO GLAD THESE GHICKS [sic] CAN WAVE THEIR SWEET LITTLE TITS AND MAKE BANK BUT that’s not at all what I want to do or be about. If that means we can’t “make it’ THEN HELL YEAH.”

Here at Blog of Sound we’re disappointed with the promoters and booking agents who decided that a top-notch rock band should open up for a “half-assed tit parade.” The Dollyrots deserve much better than that. We have to wonder what the criteria for booking a female fronted band to open for a strip show was. Perhaps the whole idea that the D-rots have Kelly as a front person was enough of criteria. “She has tits. They have tits! Excellent!”

Sure, the show was booked as a 21+ gig but we can’t help but feel dirty for the band. It’s one thing to be the opening act for another band (even one that might not exactly match your band’s genre) but to be reduced to opening for a burlesque show is degrading. No band should have to do that. But we’re sending out massive kudos to Kelly and company for having some morals and decency.

We’re not going to kid you and say that no one is going to shows by all-girl bands or female fronted bands just for the music. Plenty of people go because they think “the singer’s hot.” That’s fine. But don’t forget that many of these “hot” singers or bands are very talented. They might be the subject of some fantasies but the majority are great performers. In Kelly’s case, sure some guys are staring at her but others are just in awe that she can hammer out such cool bass lines and actually be a rock and roll queen. If you’re gonna stare at her body, make sure you check out her bass work. It’s top drawer.

To quote the Dollyrots from “Cat Calling” off their latest album “Because I’m Awesome” “Cat, cat calling and I just don’t care. Cat, cat calling so I’m out of here.”