REVIEW: Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers - “Girl Sports” Single
When it comes to the punk rock scene, Australia certainly has it under control. With other influential Australian rock groups like WAAX & Stand Atlantic, we have the nuanced riot grrrl-era group, Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers, rising up right behind them blazing their own trail. The band have already collaborated with well-renowned alternative Aussie artists like Alex Lahey & Violent Soho’s James Tidwell for their singles “Miss Your Birthday” & “AHHHH!,” which only enhances their authentic punk rock repertoire. Teen Jesus most recently released the single, “Girl Sports,” along with the announcement of their debut EP, Pretty Good For A Girl Band, due to drop May 13th.
“Girl Sports” is an electrifying punch-in-the-face to any & every patronizing man. Inspired by the bassist Jaida’s dentist telling her that she should stick to ‘girl sports’ after knocking out her teeth skating, the band delivers one of the catchiest middle finger rock anthems as they rattle off all of the condescending, sexist comments they (and most women) have received. “Honey I think you’d look better if you smiled,” the lead singer Anna Ryan vocalizes before leading into the fierce hook, “fuck […] off.” The chorus fires off more lyrical disdain over a sonorous bass line as they recite the backhanded ‘compliment’ that inspired the EP’s title: “Don’t get me wrong, you’re pretty good for a girl band.” By the end of the track, several more voices are integrated into the background intensifying the outrage & inevitably cuing listeners to chant along, “fuck off!”
“Despite the fact that we yell ‘fuck off’ a lot in ‘Girl Sports’, it’s not that we hate every man ever. It’s shit that this stuff happens to us, but we know where we stand and won’t let it get to us,” shares Anna. “It's also a broader educational moment because it's not only men that have said ‘you’re pretty good for a girl band’ to me. I've had so many girls come up to me and say that or ‘I love this whole girl band thing you've got going on.’ I’d like to think this EP can show anyone, ‘hey, if you've maybe ever said this or thought this, then we can all change together.’”
Photo by Ruby Boland
TEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERS
'PRETTY GOOD FOR A GIRL BAND' AUS 2022 TOUR
8/12 - Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough, WA
8/13 - Mojos, Fremantle, WA
8/19 - Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
8/20 - Burleigh Bazaar, Gold Coast, QLD
8/21 - Riversounds, Bellingen, NSW
8/25 - Unibar, Wollongong, NSW
8/26 - Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
8/27 - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
9/2 - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
9/3 - Jive, Adelaide, SA
9/10 - Unibar, Hobart, TAS