Le Butcherettes, who are in the midst of the Chaos As Usualtour with the Melvins, have debuted “Shave The Pride” via NPR. The song comes from the Mexican trio’s forthcoming album, A Raw Youth (Sept. 18, Ipecac Recordings).
The track, which Teri Gender Bender said was originally titled Pogonophobia, the fear of beards, is a commentary on societal apathy. “The outrage and frustration are this time directed in particular to society’s ‘beard’, explains Gender Bender. “The beard symbolizes our unwillingness to view all perceptions of the story, empathy, angles, life… hiding behind the mass… mass media, laziness, etc.”
Le Butcherettes have released two albums, their 2011 debut Sin, Sin, Sin and the 2014 offering Cry Is For The Flies. Gender Bender “has a tremendous gift for capturing feelings and emotional processes that are difficult to narrate,” said NPR in a 2014 feature. The LA Weekly dubbed her the “most volatile woman in rock” and the Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot proclaimed her a “breakout star.” Admirer Henry Rollins, in a 2014 interview with the Los Angeles Times said, “She’s a star. It’s like a great character in a movie. You want to know what happens when the movie is over. You want to know the rest of the story.”
The band, rounded out by drummer Chris Common and bass player Jamie Aaron Aux, recorded the album at RLP Studios (The Morgue Portable Disaster Unit) in El Paso, Texas. Omar Rodriguez Lopez once again produced, as he has done for both previous Le Butcherettes’ releases. Guests include Iggy Pop on “La Uva” and John Frusciante on “My Half.”
Chaos As Usual tour dates (The Melvins/Le Butcherettes):
July 14 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
July 16 Ft. Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
July 17 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
July 18 El Prado, NM Taos Mesa Brewing
July 19 Albuquerque, NM The Launchpad
July 21 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
Le Butcherettes will also play the Riot Grill Fest with Babes in Toyland on Aug. 7 at The Regent Theater.