Women: What's In A Name?

07/23/08 3:52pm

by Quinn Omori (CHARTattack)

VANCOUVER — It might sound a bit provocative, but Women weren't trying to make any sort of statement when they named their band.

"[Bassist] Matt [Flagel] was just like, 'Let's call the band Women,' and that was that," explains singer/guitarist Pat Flagel of the moniker for the group that also includes male musicians Chris Reimer (guitar) and Mike Wallace (drums).

"It's kind of ironic, but it's also a really generic word. It's not like some band called Go Ghetto Tiger Baby, you know?"

If nothing else, the name cements a change in identity for the foursome, who reconvened in their current incarnation after spending some time apart following the demise of their first band together, Veritas.

"We were playing angrier, hard kind of music," explains Pat of the former outfit's more aggressive style. "The whole thing about metal bands acting hard and that whole image thing, I started to really hate that… I mean, Slayer still kicks ass, but like, this guy?" he says, gesturing to his slim frame.

Luckily, after spending some time apart, the new direction the quartet decided to take on their self-titled Flemish Eye Records debut — a melange of quieter influences — is catching the ears of critics from all over.

"[Flemish Eye owner] Ian [Russell] hired a publicist to force everyone to like our band," jokes Pat when asked about the press that they're starting to garner. "It's nice, but we're just playing shows and hopefully some of those people tell their friends about us."

Women have been building a fan base the old fashioned way around western Canada, and they'll spread the gospel around the U.S. and across the Atlantic opening for labelmate and album producer Chad VanGaalen this fall.

"Originally, we were trying to book a tour of Europe and gathering contacts and all that, and Chad caught wind of that — Chad barely leaves his house — and was like, 'Oh, you guys are going? Yeah, I'll go,'" explains Pat. "So we'll be supporting Chad in Europe and the U.S."

If you can't make it out to see Women in the flesh, you can still expect to hear a lot more out of the band — and perhaps much faster than you expect.

"I like SST bands," Pat says of the roster of the legendary punk label. "They just go really hard and are consistently putting things out.

"I like that attitude. We have so many ideas. We just need time to record."

A firm tour itinerary and release schedule is forthcoming, but for now you can catch Women when they play with Abe Vigoda at Calgary's Artlife on Wednesday.