The all-female vocalist bands Eisley, Slingshot Dakota and Novelette exuded girl power as they took the stage on Friday, April 4, at the Rathskeller.
Novelette, the project of the Brooklyn-based songwriter Cara Salimando, started the night off with songs off their LP, “Everything Is Happening Now.”
Salimando, on keyboard and vocals, was accompanied by high school friends Matt Keppler on bass, Josh Nussbaum on guitar and Lionel Forrester on drums.
The four performed “The Stars,” “Bookmark” and a new song called “Pyre,” which Salimando wrote this past week.
They list St. Vincent, The XX and Phantogram as some of their biggest influences.
“There’s bags with my face on them if you want to carry my face around campus,” Salimando said referring to the merch table in the back. “Or you can use it for target practice — it’s up to you.”
Next was the indie punk band Slingshot Dakota. Hailing from Bethlehem, Pa., keyboardist and vocalist Carly Comando and drummer Tom Patterson had electric energy on stage.
The duo smiled and stuck their tongues out at each other from across the stage as they played “Cassette,” “Gossip” and “Rasta Bacca” off of their 2012 album, “Dark Hearts.”
The band admits they love to play college shows and wish they were in college still themselves. They wanted to end their set with inspiring parting words for their fans.
“Stay positive,” Comando said. “Do what makes you happy. Do what you love. If anyone is bringing you down, cut them out. You’re all beautiful and awesome.”
Finally, the lights went out and Eisley entered the Rat with colorful neon strobe lights projecting designs across the room.
Following the dramatic entrance, Eisley burst into their songs “Trolley Wood,” “Save My Soul” and “Marvelous Things” off their 2013 album “Currents” and 2005 album “Room Noises.”
The indie rock unit based in Texas is made up entirely of siblings and cousins. Stacy Dupree-King on vocals and keyboard, Sherri Dupree-Bemis on vocals and rhythm guitar, Chauntelle Dupree-D’Agostino on lead guitar, Garron Dupree on bass and Weston Dupree on drums compose the band.
Dupree-Bemis is married to the front man of the alternative band Say Anything.
The band is on tour right now with fellow Texas band Merriment, comprised of Christie and Collin Dupree, the youngest siblings in the musically-inclined Dupree clan.
Collin joined Eisley on stage and played acoustic guitar for the song “Millstone.”
Come out next Friday, April 11, for Hit The Lights and Paper States.
