After nearly thirty years, lots of rescheduling and one pandemic, riot-grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill are back on the road. The iconic foursome are responsible for several Gen X ‘90s favorites including songs like “Rebel Girl,” “Double Dare Ya” and “DemiRep” And while it’s been a few decades since they performed regularly, they haven’t lost a bit of their punk edge. Lead singer Kathleen Hanna, now 54, can still deliver spine-tingling vocals that fans across generations yearn for.
The show, which was performed at the Riverside Theater on Wednesday, April 19, was a few years overdue– the feminist band was supposed to start their tour in 2020, but of course had to postpone. Over 1,000 days later and one venue switch, Hanna, drummer Tobi Vail, bassist Kathi Wilcox and guitarist Sara Landeau (originally from Milwaukee) graced the stage in the Brew City. “Thank you so much for changing plans for us so many times, changing venues,” said Hanna. “This theater is so goddamn beautiful, I can’t even believe we get to play here.”
Throughout the set, Hanna and Vail shared stories about their time together, the history of their band, feminism, and their experiences as female musicians. “I woke up in 2023 singing the same songs I sang when I was 25, and now I’m 54. And what’s scary as hell is I’m feeling them more today than I did then,” said Hanna.
Both Vail and Hanna paid tribute to their late friend Kai, who would be celebrating a birthday that night. Hanna shared a touching story where he helped her after a tough moment, and cried along with her instead of trying to find a solution. “Find that happy medium of celebrating that we’re all still fucking alive, but also acknowledging how fucked up everything is. It shouldn’t be a separate part, we can be sad and joyous at the same time, we can hold those things in our hands at the same time.”
Bikini Kill shined performing for the multi-generational audience. The band, which formed in October of 1990 in Olympia, Washington, has had a significant impact on not only several bands, but were indeed at the helm of entire genres including riot-grrrl and the grunge movement in the pacific northwest. Their influence should really not be underestimated. Thousands of music lovers still consider the band to be an authoritative voice in punk movements from across generations.
With great power comes great responsibility and the four musicians absolutely rose to the occasion. From their opening number “New Radio” to the end of their nearly two dozen song set, Bikini Kill absolutely held the audience captivated throughout the set. Some of the fans could sing along to every song, several were too rapt to do anything but stand and stare.