Waxahatchee- American Weekend

American Weekend is the newest release from one of many projects of Katie Crutchfield. Waxahatchee is the unpronounceable name given to her solo project, used to modestly separate herself from earlier bands such as P.S. Eliot and Bad Banana. Although P.S. Eliot had a great run, recording two full LPs and one 7" EP and touring over four years, it was finally time to move on. American Weekend is a compilation of simple vocals, guitar and some piano that were recorded on an 8-track which gives it a lo-fi sound that you can appreciate if you are unfamiliar with what Crutchfield has been up to in the Indie-Punk scene. Waxahatchee just announced a full tour for American Weekend, and the closest to St. Catharines will be Buffalo, New York at Sugar City. Waxahatchee also has plans to start recording a new album in spring after the tour.

"Grass Stain" is a track on American Weekend that has ‘repeat' written all over it. The catchy guitar picking compliments Crutchfield's reverb vocals. Waxahatchee (Crutchfield) is seemingly more lyrically explicit about the trials and tribulations in her life, but it is impossible to evaluate what the lyrics are referring to objectively since listeners may find a different meaning.

Personally, I have a huge respect for Crutchfield after reading her essay about sexism in the punk community. Her decision to shine a light on something that requires dialogue was brave and insightful. She wrote of ladies/lady-bodied humans as a rare species in the DIY-punk world, how "we are victims of idiocy[….]we are culprits of judgment without support[…]The counter-culture we're a part of has evolved so much since its outset but the consistent ideology is rebellion against an assumed oppressive normalcy[…]there are seemingly people within the punk community who think this way too[...]Chest bumps, ass grabs, lewd comments, debauchery[…]I don't think ‘calling people out' is a conclusive method of making this scene a safer and better place. I think that sensitivity, compassion and opening up a dialogue with one another is really all that it takes."

(Don Giovanni Records)

- Victoria Mucciarone