Looking at the Black Belles, you wouldn’t think they were a band until you saw them pick up their instruments and play the hell out of them. The group consists of four girls; each clad in all black. Black dresses, black tights, black hair, black nails, black lipstick, and black hats. But who are they?
The Black Belles are produced by Jack White, and have exclusively released their music through his Third Man Records label. However, they have only released a handful of songs, with their debut album coming out on November 11th (***album now available).
There have been questions regarding the musical potential of this mysterious group of girl rockers, as they appear gimmicky. They hope to answer those questions with their forthcoming album, and four shows this November. Their New York gig at Santos Party House on the lower east side was the first of these four shows. However, this show was not their first appearance in New York.
Rewind to June 2011: With just one single including a B-side under their belt, the Black Belles were temporarily put in the national spotlight. Stephan Colbert devoted a weeks worth of episodes to music and bands, culminating with the release of his very own song, “Charlene II (I’m Over you),” which featured the Black Belles backing him. The girls appeared on National television backing Colbert on the song, and then again the next day in front of a live crowd at High Line Park. The Third Man Records rolling record store (like an ice cream truck that sells records) sold 150 limited edition red white and blue 7” records with the A-side as Colbert’s song, and B-side was the Black Belles own version, “Charlene (I’m Right Behind You).”
Then this past September, their debut album was announced, and their first single from the album, “Honky Tonk Horror” with the exclusive B-side “Dead Shoe” was released. Now their full album can be streamed online in anticipation of its official release in vinyl, CD, and MP3 formats.
At their New York City show, the girls appeared as a much more experienced band than could be expected of them. They played with confidence, and were far from timid with their instruments. The venue was been small and hazy from the fog machine, but the Black Belles’ sound dominated the room. The undertone of several of their songs sounded as though it evolved from a 1960s style surf rock, but then the overtone was a gothic-rock sound with howling vocals. The girls could really play, and put on a very interesting show. One fan got so excited that he stripped down to a pair of black briefs, and tried to crowd surf—though nobody caught him and he hit the ground with a thump. Unfazed, he went to the bar, got a drink, and tried again with another floor hitting thump. The rest of the crowd, while not necessarily rowdy, seemed pretty into the group. Once their album is released, and they begin playing more shows, look for The Black Belles to gain more exposure in the future as their sound evolves and appearance remains unique.
-JKS
-JKS
(an original photograph)
(an original photograph by Jeff Czaplicki)
Here is a sample of the first single off their debut album:
The Black Belles - Honky Tonk Horror by Third Man Records
And here is the video of one of their earlier songs:
