Women Rock!
Modern Guitars Magazine column by Tish Ciravolo

Sensational Events Celebrating Women Rock! (May 19, 2009)
by Tish Ciravolo.
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From speaking on a panel at Berklee College of Music to the wading through the enormous crowds at SXSW, I?ve experienced so much female rock recently. It?s been awesome! But one of the most amazing events I went to in March had to be Daisy Rock?s 5th Annual Charity Event, Pretty In Punk. Every year, we gather phenomenal talent to showcase female talent while at the same time contributing to a great charity. However, this year was different because we paid tribute to a group who paved the way for female rock ? The Runaways.
This year, a line formed around the block of The Roxy as hundreds of people waited for the doors to open at Daisy Rock?s Pretty In Punk ? A Tribute to The Runaways & 5th Annual Charity Event on Friday, March 13. Event-goers cleared their schedules, purchased tickets, and packed The Roxy to capacity as we celebrated women in rock, with all proceeds benefitting the Tianna Teegarden Memorial Fund through The Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and Make A Wish Foundation.

The Tianna Teegarden Memorial Fund at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles was established in 1999. A vibrantly healthy, beautiful and loving 10 year old, whose life was cut short 3-1/2 months from the time she became ill, Tianna suffered from an extremely rare malignancy of the lining of the brain and spinal cord for which there is no known treatment. On April 25, 1999 Tianna lost her valiant struggle.
Tianna?s fund is an enduring testimony to her kind and loving spirit. The fund helps patients and their families during and after hospitalization, by providing educational materials, games, toys, videos and other items that the hospital does not provide. In addition, a portion of funds are allocated to educate and prepare parents to care for their child upon discharge from the hospital to ensure a fast and healthy recovery.
Continuing with its ongoing mission to showcase sensational female talent while at the same time uniting to support an important cause, this year?s Daisy Rock Pretty In Punk line-up included: The Bangles?viewed as one of the greatest all-female bands ever, The Bangles left a lasting impression on the audience with their cover of The Runaways hit ?Queen of Noise.?

Paris Carney?sister in the talented Carney family, Paris melted the crowd as she mixed indie influences with eclectic and heart-warming melodies, 5 o?clock Shakedown?members Rochelle, De, Shereen, and Josh comprise the high energy rock group that brought the noise, Karmina?sisters Kelly and Kamile brightened the stage with their beautiful harmonies, Amy Kuney?compared to female musicians such as Fionia Apple and Sarah McLachlan, Amy opened event-goers? ears with her amazing lyrics and folksy instrumentation, Whispertown 2000?inspired the crowd with their contribution to that nostalgic, weird, assortment of American music that has risen from the Laurel Canyon folk scene, and sASSafrASS?a band close to my heart, since I am the bassist, along with other members of the Daisy Rock team, including Ron Manus, Rich Lackowski, and Tommy Norton!
We performed a set of a lifetime as we welcomed special guest Cherie Currie on-stage to perform an ultimate Runway?s classic, ?Cherry Bomb.? Cherie Currie (The Runaways)?rocketed to international stardom as the teenage lead vocalist for The Runaways, alongside bandmates Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox. Emerging in the seventies, The Runways were one of the first all-female rock groups who dared to take the stage at a time when women musicians were few and far between. Members Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West, and Jackie Fox not only broke down the doors of the music industry?s ?Boy?s Club?, but they led the girl rock revolution that inspired an entire generation of female musicians to do the same.
The night was made possible by the many generous sponsors, who rallied behind the Pretty In Punk cause and donated their time and valuable resources. Sponsors for the evening?s event included: FORMULA, INC.: , M.A.C. Cosmetics:, Pinky Star:, Kim Fowley:, ChicBlvd, INC:, Pretty in Punk Knit:, Halomates:, and photos donated by Jenny Lens.
This year may have just topped them all!

Women Rock! by Tish Ciravolo: Sensational Events Celebrating Women Rock!

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