THE VILLAGE VOICE CHOICES

BANTAM
Sin-e, 148-150 Attorney, 212-388-0077
7/26/04
Singer-guitarist Gina Volpe grew an even bigger set of cojones for Bantam’s second album,the upcoming Suicide Tourist. Marrying brute force with bewitching melodies, the songs drop like an anvil-a sexy anvil-and Gina’s vocals rip the airwaves. With Orgy Mountain and Speedway. At 8. Fury

BANTAM + HERIONE SHEIKS
Sin-e, 148-150 Attorney, 212-388-0077
3/26/04
…Bantam is Gina (ex-Lunachicks) Volpe’s hard-rock/metal unit. Grafting punk, metal, and classic rock, the songs have killer hooks and crafty song writing. With The Heroine Sheiks, & Benny Sizzler. At 8. Herdman

BANTAM + HIGH ON FIRE
6/26/03
Bowery Ballroom
Bantam are a heavily angry co-ed trio descended from the Lunachicks and the Heroine Sheiks; their self-titled album has a boxing match on it’s cover and guitars to match. Despite lyrics about abominable snowmen, High On Fire’s songs are rarely memorable, but Blue Cheer or Motorhead as post-Neurosis ambient thrash is a rad raison d’etre anyway. With Chinese Stars. At 9. Eddy

BANTAM + JJ PARADISE PLAYERS CLUB
Northsix, 66 N6th St, 718-599-5103
9/12/03
Gina Volpe’s (ex-Lunachicks) Bantam transmits hard-rock/metal with a firm understanding of sneaking in the hook. With JJ Paradise Players Club, Wooly Mamoth, and Lubricated Goat. AT 9. Herdman

BANTAM + ULTRABAIT
Luxx
9/15/02
The Lunachicks claim they haven’t broken up, they’re just taking a break. In the meantime those in need of a dirty-girl punk fix should avoid singer Theo’s upcoming solo record (it supposedly sounds like disco-era Blondie) in favor of guitarist Gina’s new band BANTAM. Gina’s voice is as powerful as Theo’s, and her riffs are as hard as ever, even though she’s playing with boys now (gasp!)
With Breaker Breaker and Ultrabait. Phillips