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CIA Records Releases New Tribute Video for As Strange As Mine (1983)

CIA Records releases new tribute music video for “As Strange As Mine” from the legendary Houston, Texas, punk band mydolls off their EP Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick, originally released by CIA Records in 1983. The video is dedicated to the memory of Kelly Younger, guitarist for Really Red, who passed away in June 2022.

The lyrics for this song were written by guitarist Trish Herrera as an homage to Kelly Younger of the equally legendary band Really Red, whose own powerful guitar mastery and encouragement inspired her to learn how to play *hard*, herself.

Trish writes, “In the 80’s and late 70’s, mydolls and Really Red toured together. Really Red had been playing longer than mydolls, and we looked up to them as mentors. I first started playing guitar when I was 12 and I learned classical and folk music. When mydolls formed and I began to play with the band, I felt like I needed to add power to what I was doing and learn how to play hard like Really Red’s guitarist, Kelly Younger. So I asked Kelly to ‘Teach me punk rock guitar.’ Kelly just gave me that sly look and said, ‘You already know how to play guitar, just turn everything up and play.’ One day we were traveling with Really Red to play somewhere in Texas and I was in the back seat of the van watching Kelly drive. That’s when I wrote the lyrics to “As Strange as Mine”, which later turned into a song. Sadly, Kelly has passed and the world is out a great person, a great artist and a great teacher. ‘You said it was easy. Anyone can do it. Play it Loud, Kelly.”

Kelly Younger is survived by his wife Linda of mydolls and a great tribe of loving family members and friends. The video was made by Heather L Johnson (https://www.heatherljohnson.com/), with photographs by Jessica Younger Field, Ted Field, Jessica Pledger, Ben DeSoto and others; with footage by Heather L. Johnson and others, including a recording of mydolls’ performance at Kent State University in Ohio, in 1983 (videographer unknown). It features drawings by Trish Herrera, and the music was written by mydolls.

mydolls are Trish Herrera (guitars, vocals, percussion), Dianna Ray (bass, vocals), George Reyes (drums, percussion, vocals) and Linda Younger (guitar, vocals). “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick” was engineered by Andrew M. Bradley at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston.

Listen to the Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick EP in its entirety on the CIA Records Bandcamp page. To read about CIA Records and its near-5-decade-long history, visit https://www.cia-records.com/

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Houston Chronicle Top Texas Film Picks: Paris, Texas Screening at MFAH

November 13, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Neon Artifact
info@neonartifact.com

Houston Chronicle Top Texas Film Picks: Paris, Texas Screening at MFAH

Hunter Carson and Mydolls will participate in an on-stage conversation and Q&A after the film.

(Houston) – As part of the “Houston Chronicle Top Texas Film Picks” series, Films at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) will present a screening of New German Cinema pioneer Wim Wenders’ internationally acclaimed classic, Paris, Texas, on Friday, November 30, from 7-10 pm in the Brown Auditorium. Paris, Texas is a 1984 drama directed by Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire) and starring Harry Dean Stanton, Dean Stockwell, Nastassja Kinski and Hunter Carson. Robert Morast, Houston Chronicle arts and entertainment editor, will introduce the film, and Mydolls (1978-present), a female-fronted band which pioneered the art punk scene during the early 1980s in Houston, will join actor, writer and director Hunter Carson for a talkback and Q&A following the film screening.

In the early 1980s, while traveling through and documenting the Texas landscape, Wenders became a fan of Mydolls’ experimental sound and asked the band to appear in a cameo role in his latest independent film, Paris, Texas. That film went on to win the Palme d’Or top prize at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival as well as the FIPRESCI Prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury.

L.M. Kit Carson (Hunter Carson’s father) co-wrote the screenplay of Paris, Texas with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shephard. The film follows the mysterious, nearly mute drifter Travis (Harry Dean Stanton) as Travis tries to reconnect with his estranged son (Hunter Carson), wife (Nastassja Kinski), and brother (Dean Stockwell). From this setup, Wenders and Shepard produce a powerful statement on codes of masculinity and the myth of the American family, as well as an exquisite visual exploration of a vast, crumbling world of canyons and neon. Mydolls can be seen rehearsing their song “A World of Her Own” during the peep show scene.

Tickets to the film screening range from $7-$9 and may be purchased, along with memberships, on MFAH’s website.

On the set of Paris, Texas; from Mydolls’ band archive.

 

About Hunter Carson
Actor, screenwriter, producer, and director Hunter Carson is the son of actress Karen Black and film director L. M. Kit Carson. Paris, Texas was Hunter Carson’s first role, followed by a remake of Invaders from Mars; the comedy-drama Mr. North, also featuring Harry Dean Stanton; and the fashion drama Perfume. He co-directed the feature film Single in South Beach and directed the short With It, which Houston Chronicle entertainment writer Andrew Dansby says echoes the style of Wim Wenders.

About Robert Morast
A North Dakota native raised on a ranch, journalist Robert Morast has been the Houston Chronicle arts and entertainment editor since 2016, preceded by stints including Arizona State University, the Virginian-Pilot, the Argus Leader and the ProRodeo Sports News. Morast also co-authored the horror film The Girl in the Photographs, which was produced by Wes Craven and was an official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival.

About Mydolls
Formed in 1978 by Trish Herrera, Dianna Ray, Linda Younger and George Reyes, Mydolls was one of the earliest art punk bands in Houston who created a DIY sound that was as ethereal, fluid and poetic as it was politically charged and feminist. Throughout their 40-year history, these pioneering musicians have paved a path for women and minorities in the music and arts scenes, and Mydolls continues to perform today with their original lineup. Mydolls was the focus of a 2016 music-based lecture series at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and the band most recently performed as part of the SPEAKEASY experimental music and art program series at Lawndale Art Center in Houston. University of Houston Special Collections is in the process of acquiring the band’s archive. Mydolls’ latest EP, It’s Too Hot for Revolution, was released as a collectible red vinyl edition in February 2017, and their latest single, “Easter,” was released in February 2018.

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Mydolls, MIEARS and “Women Rock” on Behalf of Mildred’s Umbrella

Local punk legends Mydolls headline “Women Rock,” a fundraising concert for Mildred’s Umbrella. Photo by Greg Rabel

 

 | FEBRUARY 7, 2018 | 4:00AM

Miranda Morris isn’t just the associate artistic director of Mildred’s Umbrella, she’s also a musician you can find playing with ‘60s psychedelic rock influenced outfit Lone Star Hippie. So, when it came time to plan a fundraiser for the theater company, one idea came pretty naturally – a concert, aptly titled “Women Rock.”

The concert boasts six women-driven acts and will serve as counterprogramming to the traditional gala which Morris believes people are tired of, adding that with Mildred’s being both women-centric and “a little bit out there, a little bit on the edge,” doing something outside of the regular gala just fit the company better.

“I said we should just host a concert that’s nothing but women musicians because that’s fun and it’s different,” says Morris. “I don’t think – I could be mistaken – but I don’t think there’s a women-only concert happening regularly in Houston.”

Morris contacted Lelia Rodgers, the owner of Rudyard’s, who graciously offered up a Saturday night at her pub, and Rebecca Ayres, Mildred’s managing director, reached out to legendary Houston punk band Mydolls.

“[Mydolls] were excited to hear our concept for the evening and actually came on board in helping us plan it,” says Morris, adding that they reached out to MIEARS (who jumped on board immediately) and recommended Lazer Kittenz, a youth punk band who will play a pre-show set.

“Linda [Younger] from Mydolls mentioned bringing in Lazer Kittenz [and] I was like, absolutely, that’s perfect, because that way we can show the future of punk rock ‘n’ roll,” says Morris. “We’re not just supporting the women artists of now but the women artists of tomorrow, and that’s part of why we have two youth bands who are playing with us.”

Pretty Vacant, the other group of fresh-faced rockers on the bill, is fronted by Rachel Roberts, the daughter of actress (and close friend of Mildred’s) Celeste Roberts, which made their inclusion a “no-brainer,” according to Morris. “[We] reached out to them first because they are like family to our theater.”

Rounding out the evening’s lineup are alt-rock trio Quinn the Brain, recommended by the Doomstress herself, Alexis Hollada, and solo acoustic artist Benita, who will play in between sets to keep the energy up.

Like a traditional gala, the evening will include raffle prizes and a silent auction, so Morris suggests bringing a little extra cash. They will also be inviting some of the organization’s previous partners (like the Houston Area Women’s Center, who worked with Mildred’s during their run of The Drowning Girls) to set up information tables.

The concert will kick off Mildred’s 2018-2019 season, which has already seen a big change with the company announcing in January that it would be leaving its longtime Spring Street residence for Montrose, where they will join the Classical Theatre Company in their Chelsea Market space. But both Morris and Mildred’s Artistic Director Jennifer Decker stress the necessity of the move.

Now free from “the Treadmill of constantly producing plays,” Decker says the company will be able to do projects that are not “necessarily traditionally theater, but are focused on hearing the voices of women in general,” such as staged readings of non-theatrical works of literature that incorporate women poets, dancers and musicians.

“It’s time to take the next step,” says Decker. “We’re focused on the work of women, but it doesn’t need to be just theatrical artists.” She adds that “Women Rock” is their first attempt at trying to open up their audience and, hopefully, unite all the women in town.

“You can’t stay in a comfort zone and grow as a company, and that’s where Mildred’s right now is,” says Morris, “in a place where it seems on the surface that we’re scaling back, but ultimately what we’re really doing is scaling back in order to explode into something bigger very soon.”

Morris has one eye to the future, hoping that “Women Rock” will one day grow into an all-day festival that not only benefits Mildred’s Umbrella, but also raises awareness of the organizations in Houston that help women. But she also has an eye on March, when the curtain closes on their final Spring Street show.

“It’s going to be bittersweet, our last show there, [but] by 2019 I think you’re definitely going to see a bigger, stronger, possibly even more edgy Mildred’s Umbrella,” says Morris. “This concert is just the start.”

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Mydolls Leak Intense New Song

Houston’s Mydolls live up to their legendary status on new track, “Easter.” Photo by Guy Schwartz

 

 | FEBRUARY 1, 2018 | 4:00AM

The Houston punk scene has always seemed to foster growth and creativity more than any other genre represented here. While there are subsets of the genre that have haters in it, the original punk bands are the acts that seem to keep growing with each and every release. So, it’s not hard to think that legendary punk pioneers Mydolls wouldn’t keep releasing intriguing and engaging music like they did when the band began 40 years ago.

On their new track “Easter,” found exclusively here, the four piece builds on their already intense sound while adding plenty of fire lyrically as if they’re making music in their twenties. Because the group pioneered so much of what Houston’s music landscape looks like today, the Houston Press spoke with the group about what inspired this new song, the progress of the documentary about them, and a possible new album in the future.

When bands have been together long enough to be called legends, it’s hard to believe that they could find anything to inspire new music anymore. With Mydolls, it’s almost like the fires have never stopped burning creatively. Asked about how this new track came to be, guitarist and vocalist Trish Herrera explained, “I was walking a beautiful path in Austin, 2016 and listening to “Pornography” by The Cure through headphones. At such a tumultuous time in our country, so much hate, so many people angry, upset, nervous, afraid; I felt the beat of this incredible song and it just came to me. We have to rise, we have to rise. It was Easter and it just seemed appropriate. The words just rolled through and out of me.”

As per Linda Younger, singer and guitarist, “The music came together as we each interjected our own MyDolls sound into the final version. The idea to release it as a single was that it was important to get the message out NOW. We were also very lucky to be able to record at SugarHill before Dan Workman left. We felt so at home there, and he interjected his brilliant suggestions to make it a very special labor of love.”

The song, has an almost animalistic and primal feel, something that each member was more than happy to explain when asked if that was the direction they were heading in musically. “I think Mydolls has been whatever direction inspires us and comes through us. So yes, I hope so because I love this feeling,” explains Herrera.

“The primal sound comes from primarily working with a new ten-inch floor tom. I focused on bass drum, tom tom, and hi hat, but mostly floor tom,” says drummer George Reyes.

As per bassist and vocalist Dianna Ray, “Easter sounds very Mydolls to me. We usually write songs collaboratively, and let them develop organically. We aren’t terribly methodical or pre-determined when we compose, so I guess you’ll have to keep listening and see where our sound takes us, and be surprised alongside us.”

Dan Workman says of the process, “Producing and mixing the song was effortless–no conscious decision to make a primal sound, just an attempt to focus on their ability to craft a feeling of intensity and purpose.”

The song has a political element to the lyrics, something that seemed would inspire newer acts to take the helm and really release music that has a more focused direction under this current administration. When asked if they were shocked that it seemed no one else was writing music with such a political edge, Herrera says, “people have different ways of coping with fear. I suppose Mydolls have always been screamers and disruptors in our own way. But I’ve always felt that silence equals death, and so speaking out may not be pretty sometimes, but it’s honest.”

“There are many more bands releasing politically charged music. It’s just a matter of getting the music heard, which is always a challenge for independent musicians. I love Giant Kitty, Pearl Earl, Fea, Alice Bag, and Frightwig’s music as politically charged influences. I’m working with my four-year-old granddaughter now, who will hopefully be releasing politically charged music on her own after I’m gone,” explains Younger.

 

Easter is a politically charged track that should wake up anyone who hears it. Artwork by Trish Herrera

 

The band, is in the midst of a documentary being made about them, produced and filmed by 14 Pews owner Cressandra Thibodeaux. The film, still in the works will capture a lot of the band’s past and more as per Dianna Ray, “The documentary is still in progress. Cressandra did a short teaser length cut, that runs a little over ten minutes long. We watched it at a 14 Pews fundraiser last year, and it really captures the spirit of the time when Mydolls first came into being and why we think of ourselves and our fans and friends as a tribe.”

As far as new music is concerned, the band hasn’t ruled out the ability to keep making music and releasing some of the most inspirational and intense music that comes from Houston. “I’d like to think we have at least one more album’s worth of material in us,” explains Ray.

“I am inspired by the calmness that I feel within myself these days amidst the disruption in our country. Like Kali, the Goddess of Destruction, there is only one way to smash the patriarchy and that is with one foot in front of the other with complete fearlessness, serenity and confidence. So whatever comes out of that, I hope it’s something that’s helpful to our world,” says Herrera.

“Yes, we just don’t know what it is or when it will be revealed right now. That’s just how we roll. Our message to anyone reading this: go start a band,” adds Younger.

There’s plenty of music and how they represent so much of the music community from Mydolls that it’s hard to believe that they’ve been around as long as they have. With the energy of those a half their age, the four piece continues to be an inspiration to all whose paths they cross. You can purchase the track through the band’s Bandcamp, and catch Mydolls in person at Rudyard’s on Saturday February 10. Part of the Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Co’s annual fundraiser, Women Rock! The 21 & up show has sets from MIEARS, Lazer Kittenz, Pretty Vacant, Benita and Quinn The Brain. 

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Inaugural ‘Women Rock’ Concert Joins Local Bands with Service Organizations to Benefit Women-Centric Theatre Company Mildred’s Umbrella

Contact: Miranda Morris
773-710-0440 or miranda@mildredsumbrella.com
Follow us on Twitter @mildreds
Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MildredsUmbrella

 

HOUSTON – Kicking off 2018 with a bang, Mildred’s Umbrella (MU) is teaming up with Rudyard’s British Pub and several local female-fronted bands for ‘Women Rock,’ a fundraiser benefitting the theater company’s 2018-19 season. The inaugural concert will celebrate leading contributions of women artists and musicians in Houston.

“We’re embarking on a challenging new phase for Mildred’s Umbrella in trying to align our mission with the efforts of women in our artistic community who have paved a path to continue to lift them up, celebrate them and hear their stories,” said Managing Director Rebecca Ayres. “This concert will join together some fabulous female-led music groups with women service organizations to highlight another aspect of how women influence culture; plus with our lineup, it’ll be pretty rockin’.”

Associate Artistic Director and Concert Coordinator Miranda Morris added, “In 2018, we plan to expand the scope of our work beyond the stage, and utilize the power of the arts to inspire and support women through a new, dynamic outreach program. To fund this new endeavor, it seemed only natural to partner with other great female artists and performers. ‘Women Rock’ will be an outstanding night of girl power (and great music!). We look forward to kicking off our 2018-19 season with such a large group of remarkable women.”

Mydolls, one of Houston’s earliest female-led punk bands (1978-present), and Miears will headline the show, with performances by Lazer Kittenz, Pretty Vacant, Benita and Quinn the Brain. The benefit will also feature a silent auction with packages from local vendors and Houston-based female artists. The funds raised from the evening will support MU’s theatrical productions, which promote both emerging and recognized women playwrights and directors, as well as a new reading series and outreach programs that the company will launch this season.

The Women Rock concert will be held at Rudyard’s British Pub on Saturday, February 10, 2018. Doors open at 7:30 pm and concert will start with a pre-show set at 8:30 pm. Tickets are “pay-what-you-can” with a minimum of $10 per person. Presale tickets are available online at www.mildredsumbrella.com. For more information, call 832-463-0409 or email info@mildredsumbrella.com.

WOMEN ROCK BENEFIT CONCERT FOR MILDRED’S UMBRELLA
Musical Performances: Mydolls, Miears, Pretty Vacant, Lazer Kittenz, Pretty Vacant, Benita, Quinn the Brain
Where: Rudyard’s British Pub – 2010 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77006
When: February 10, 2018, Doors at 7:30 pm, pre-show at 8:30, Show begins at 9 pm
Cost: Pay-What-You-Can, minimum $10 per person (additional donations are greatly appreciated)

 

About Mildred’s Umbrella
Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company (MU) is committed to repairing the gender disparity on industry stages by producing works by women, featuring strong female protagonists, and creating a counterscript for mainstream society. As Houston’s premier female-focused theater, MU seeks to challenge audiences and theatre artists by creating and performing bold, innovative, and fresh theatrical works grounded in the best traditions of the dramatic arts. Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company’s 2018-19 season is supported by the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and individual funders.

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14 Pews Film Academy Presents: An Evening with Houston’s Original Femme Punk Band Mydolls

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cressandra Thibodeaux, Executive Director

800 Aurora Street, Houston, TX 77009

281-888-9677 | info@14pews.com

 

(Houston, TX) – 14 Pews, an artist-run multidisciplinary nonprofit, is pleased to announce an evening of music and film celebrating Houston’s original femme punk band Mydolls (1978-present) on Saturday, July 1, 7 pm-9:30 pm. Mydolls’ musical history and their impact on the Houston art scene are the subjects of an upcoming documentary by 14 Pews Film Academy, directed by Executive Director Cressandra Thibodeaux. The event on July 1 will include a lively discussion, performance and silent auction to raise proceeds for 14 Pews Film Academy.

“I am excited to host this year’s fundraising event with the legendary Mydolls,” says Thibodeaux. “This party will benefit 14 Pews Film Academy, which makes films on Houston artists, while teaching the art of filmmaking.   We are honored to bring to light Mydolls’ legacy as one of Houston’s earliest female-fronted art punk bands. In addition, the documentary will also recognize Mydolls’ mentorship through their involvement with Girls Rock Camp Houston. Please join us as we and the next generation of filmmakers continue to tell the stories of our city through the art of cinema!”

14 Pews Film Academy, which began in 2012, focuses on engaging the youth of Houston in positive and creative activities that benefit the greater arts community. Students create films on local artists, in particular highlighting women, artists of color and under-represented practitioners. Since 2015, 14 Pews’ student films on local artists have premiered at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival to appreciative audiences.

Reserve your ticket by visiting the official event page. Seating will be limited.

About Mydolls

Mydolls was formed in 1978 by guitarist and vocalist Trish Herrera, bassist Dianna Ray, guitarist and vocalist Linda Younger and drummer George Reyes. Mydolls’ sound is as ethereal, fluid and poetic as it is politically charged and feminist. Throughout their nearly 40-year history, Mydolls has paved a path for women and minorities in the arts and they continue to perform today with their original lineup. During the 1980s, Mydolls were interviewed by John Peel on BBC Radio and performed in Wim Wenders’ award-winning film Paris, Texas. Mydolls and the Houston punk scene were the focus of a 2016 music-based lecture series at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and the band recently performed at Lawndale Art Center for the 2017 SPEAKEASY experimental music and art program series. Their latest EP, It’s Too Hot for Revolution, blends classic punk protest anthems with poetry, including Charles Bukowski’s “Fair Stand the Fields of France.”

 

14pews.com

800 Aurora Street, Houston, TX 77009

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