YER 1990

David designs his first theatre poster.

Jean co-founds weekly poetry series (Vancouver)

“Cardboard Box House of Love” 7” is released on K Records.

Jean moves to Tucson, Arizona.

Jean’s video for “20 Years / No Escape” wins the experimental video award at Pima Community College (Tucson, Arizona).

Mecca Normal sign contract with K/Matador Records while in Seattle.

Mecca Normal plays CBGBs in New York with Lubricated Goat.

Mecca Normal plays Seattle with Chumbawamba and Eve Libertine (Ex-Crass)

Mecca Normal plays with Fugazi in Olympia.

Mecca Normal plays with Viva Knieval (Kathleen Hanna’s first band) in Olympia.

Jean designs cover for Ottawa band Scarlet Drops 7” (Harriet Records, Boston).

Village Voice

By Jen Fleissner, Village Voice, 1990

“Smith is small and scholarly looking, but onstage she matches her vocal outbursts, rocking back and forth with possessed fervor, between sudden, frightening lunges forward.”

“I don’t know of any other rock ‘n’ roll so closely attuned to the reality of women’s rage.”

Photo caption: “Better at screams than solutions”

It was interesting to us that the photo caption was negative while the review was positive. Both David and I worked in the newspaper industry for years before Mecca Normal, so we know that photo captions are written by editors and not the writers of the column.

Water Cuts My Hands (K Records, 1990)

LA 1990 – 94

1990:
8121 Club (LA)
“Cardboard Box House of Love” 7” released by K Records
35 shows played in 1990
16 interviews in 1990

1991:
Rhino Records (LA)
Raji’s (with Distorted Pony and Slug)
Shamrock (with The Enemies)
“Water Cuts My Hands” released by K Records
“Narrow” on Kill Rock Stars compilation
“Bright Like Ice” 7″ released on Smarten UP! Records
“I Can Hear Me Fine” 7″ released on Smarten UP! Records
“Orange” 7″ released by Harriet Records
52 shows played in 1991
20 interviews in 1991

1992:
Munchies (Pomona)
Rhino Records (LA)
live set on Andrea ‘Enthal’s 12 O’Clock Rock on KPFK
Jabberjaw
Club With No Name
Jean turned down interview offers from the Maury Povich Show (talk show format)
and Esquire Magazine
Jean on Jane Whitney Show
Jean produces Cub’s first release “Pep” a 7” EP for Mint Records
“Rose” 7″ released by K Records
Armchairs 7″ released by K Records
“Dovetail” LP released by K Records
split 7″ with Kreviss released by Sub Pop singles club
“Carboni Angel” Jean Smith solo 7″ released on Kill Rock Stars
USA Today interviews Jean on Riot Grrrl
LA Times interviews Jean
Spex (Germany) interview with Jean
47 shows played in 1992
38 interviews in 1992

1993:
UCLA
Munchies (Pomona)
Jabberjaw (with Distorted Pony, Morning Champ)
“I Can Hear Me Fine” Jean’s first novel, published by Get to the Point Editions
“Jarred Up” compilation of singles LP released by K Records
“Flood Plain” LP released by K Records

Rolling Stone photo shoot – photo by Robert Karpa
The New York Times interviewed Jean
56 shows played
30 interviews

1994:
Jabberjaw
Alligator Lounge
Rhino Records (Pomona)
71 shows played in 1994
? interviews

Reviews, articles and interviews between 1990 – 94:
Flipside, Option, LA Weekly, Seventeen Magazine, Raygun and Rolling Stone.