Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 30-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.
Last month was the 30th anniversary of Mecca Normal’s first show (Smilin’ Buddha, opening for D.O.A.).
Part of the idea for creating Mecca Normal was a reaction to the lack of women in bands in Vancouver. It definitely seemed like the guys were in the bands and the girls watched the guys. It was annoying. To me, starting a band demonstrated a solution to the issue. Luckily the idea caught on with the advent of riot grrrl in the 1990s. And if that’s the case, then Joe (Shithead) Keithley and Dave Gregg of D.O.A. played a role in the origins of riot grrrl, too, because I was definitely inspired by Joe’s political lyrics, Dave’s good-natured energy and their general sense of trying to make the world a better place.
I missed the Dishrags and the Modernettes by a few years, but it was hugely inspiring to see—and play with—San Francisco’s Frightwig, who have been playing shows again just recently.
“Beaten Down” from Mecca Normal (Smarten Up!, 1986; re-released by K, 1995) (download):
