song premiere: "Please Sir" - True Dreams

words: Mo Wilson

Bikini Kill has announced a US tour, officially marking that Riot Grrl has returned in earnest. Modern-day two-piece True Dreams has been carrying the feminist torch for years through Bushwick bars and basements. Their new single “Please Sir,” off their debut album No.1 from King Pizza Records, is a hardcore barn burner targeting objectifiers with sarcastic rage. 

While the duo tackles a variety of styles on No.1, on “Please Sir” their approach is fast, loud, and ugly. The band speeds through verses so fast that you might miss lines like “I’m a chicken shit bitch I’m bombarded by cock” or “Everything I’ve suffered for and all that I’ve achieved, doesn’t mean shit when you’re a piece of meat.” The duo delivers these lines with guttural screeches that channel the manic energy of a cheerleading squad finally abandoning the pretense that women should be meek or pretty.

Thanks to the song’s whip-fast pace and the duo’s apparent glee at shouting about the horrid way the world treats them, all this talk of oppression doesn’t come across as heavy The mocking vocal fry, distorted guitars, and adrenaline rush calls to mind Slutever or perhaps a lost Frumpies single. It makes a strong case for why any self-respecting feminist punk will check out No.1 when it comes out on November 23. 

Hannah, the drummer/vocalist of True Dreams, had this to say about the song: “I wrote the lyrics to “Please Sir” while I was backpacking around Europe in 2015. During that trip, I traveled to Essex, England to spend a few nights at Dial House. Dial House has operated as an anarcho-pacifist intentional community since 1967, and once upon a time, it was the home base of one of my favorite punk bands Crass. Penny Rimbaud, drummer and co-founder of Crass, and his life long creative partner, visual artist Gee Vaucher still reside there today. “Please, Sir” was inspired by one of my favorite Crass albums, “Penis Envy”. It was the first song I’ve ever written and performed live. Angela (vocals, guitar) wrote the last verse and guitar part, and the song was brought to fruition.”

If you’re in Brooklyn, True Dreams is having a record release show November 23rd with Fraidy Cat, Wooing, and Powersnap @ Alphaville. You can grab tickets here.