The Crones, all-female band ranging in age from 55 to 70, nonetheless rocks

They simply wanna … they simply wanna …

Girls simply wanna have enjoyable.

And you realize what? So do girls.

The Crones, an all-female band from Northeast Ohio, have a blast whereas enjoying cowl songs from the Eighties. Ranging in age from 55 to 70, the group enjoys performing high-energy tunes at native golf equipment.

“It’s truly amazing to be this age and have new sister friends that play music together,” stated lead vocalist Tracey Thomas, 66, an Akron singer, songwriter and recording artist who fronted the post-punk band Unit 5.

The Crones are type of just like the Justice League of native music — with all of the members as Wonder Woman. The veteran musicians, all punk rockers at coronary heart, have performed in a wide range of teams over the many years.

In addition to Thomas, the group options bassist Linda Harrison Millar (Peep, Subterraneans, Zen Love Assassins, Jupiter 2), drummer Nancy Rogers Peters (Velocity Stax), guitarist Mary Plazo (Full Wave Rectifier, Drifter, Decking Crew, Version Mary) and keyboardist Melissa Ulrich (Reunion, Mysterious Luck).

“This band has turned into something I could never have seen coming,” Thomas stated. “We are pulling all of the old punk party girls out of the woodwork.”

How did The Crones kind?

It started with COVID-19. Thomas, a self-confessed hypochondriac, believed she certainly was going to die.

“I was all reflective: What didn’t I get to do in my life? And one of the things was to have an all-girl band,” she said. “I never got to do that and I always wanted to do that.”

While brooding in isolation, she got here up with the identify The Crones and determined the group ought to be a tribute to “Eighties Ladies,” enjoying the music of female-fronted bands from 1980 to 1989.

“So, obviously, I lived,” she stated.

After she talked about her concept on Facebook, it took on a lifetime of its personal.

“Before I knew it, I had this whole band,” she stated. “It was crazy.”

The Crones’ repertoire contains songs from The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, The Pretenders, Blondie, Stevie Nicks, Sinéad O’Connor, Cyndi Lauper, ’Til Tuesday, Kate Bush, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and lots of others. They have sufficient songs for 3 full units and maintain bringing in new tunes to be taught.

Once shortly, they draw the road, although. They rehearsed “Cherry Bomb,” The Runaways’ teen-rebellion anthem that Jett re-recorded within the Eighties, however they couldn’t make it by way of. 

“I know my limits and I’m no longer trying to be ‘hot, sexy 66,’ ” Thomas stated. “We tried the song and we all ended up cracking up. That wasn’t about to work.”

The Crones are all about embracing their age, she stated. Three of the members are grandmothers.

There’s nothing they take pleasure in greater than successful over an viewers of skeptics. One night time, they have been preparing for a gig at The Delaware, a dwell music membership in New Philadelphia.

“We were setting up and there was this table of young men with one girl, and they were laughing at us,” Thomas stated.

The response shortly modified when the band tore into its first track.

“When we got up there, they started standing up and screaming,” she stated. “That’s what I’m living for now. That is hilarious.”

The Crones get a little bit cocky, she stated. Yeah, go forward and snort earlier than the present. You received’t be laughing as soon as the music begins.

“We’re good,” Thomas stated. “I’ve been in some good bands. These musicians are no joke.”

Where to see The Crones

Northeast Ohio residents can subsequent see The Crones on May 30 once they open for Silver Springs, a Fleetwood Mac tribute, within the Celestia Theater at 151 Main St. in Wadsworth. Tickets are $25. The doorways open at 6 p.m. with the present at 7. For extra data, go to wadsworthsquare.org or name 330-485-3477.

The group has scheduled exhibits for July 25, Sept. 12 and Dec. 18 at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron and can carry out Aug. 15 on the PorchRokr competition at Highland Square. More occasions are deliberate. For updates, go to thecronesmusic.com or TheCronesAkron on Facebook.

The Crones started as a lark however shortly found that that they had tapped into an underserved viewers. Women of a sure age are coming to the exhibits. Some hadn’t gone to a membership shortly. They are singing, dancing and having enjoyable.

“It’s hit a nerve for a bunch of women who were really just not given anything to do,” Thomas stated.

There is not any expiration date on music — or musicians.

“As long as you can still do what you do, why go to pasture?” she stated.

Mark J. Price might be reached at  mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

Details

Concert: Silver Springs with The Crones

When: 7 p.m. May 30

Where: Celestia Theater, 151 Main St., Wadsworth.

Tickets: $25

More information: 330-485-3477 or wadsworthsquare.org

More: Former Unit 5 singer Tracey Thomas goes from punk-rock Barbie to Rust Belt balladeer

More: ‘The unusual is the usual for us’: 5 questions with Mary Plazo of Akron’s public library