Recent Female Rock Vocalists

[mrjim123]

I'm in a cover band with a female singer who does really well on hard-edged Melissa Etheridge, Susan Tedeschi and Janis Joplin type material. She's committed to doing POPULAR (is/was on the charts) songs and bemoans the fact that there are not a lot real female rock singers at the forefront today.

We do all of the afore-mentioned singers, as well as some Pink and (shudder) Lady Gaga, but we need more songs. I'm open to song and/or artist recommendations - should be fairly recent (within last 10 years or so) and not obscure, so hit me with them, and thanks.

 

[254 stringer]

They play Halestorm almost every hour on our local rock station. Maybe The Donnas and The Dead Weather but I don't really know many female fronted bands either.

 

[P-oddz]

Nothing wrong with Lady Gaga

Some off of the top of my head (rock and pop with good female vocals) - Paramore, Alabama Shakes, Fiona Apple, Florence and the Machine, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Some others that may be a little more questionable, but fall in a POP or ROCK category but are well known: Alanis Morisette, Katy Perry

 

[rolandm]

With a little imagination, anything can be rock. Kesha, Nicki Minaj, Lady GaGa, etc.

From strictly a rock/pop rock vein, I'd recommend Orianthi, Flyleaf, Paramore, etc.

 

[GregC]

Some of Lucinda Williams' rockier material may fit the bill. Also, +1 on Alabama Shakes in particular.

 

[elgecko]

How about some Adele?

 

[NightTripper]

One word: Garbage.

 

[Toptube]

I'm not completely in love with this band, but "Dead Sara" is very promising as far as Female fronted mainstream rock goes. And they have two or three songs that I really do like, without reservation.

Such as this one:

"Time" Blues"

 

[skwee]

Brandi Carlile might have a few songs. How about St. Vincent (that music would be tough though)? Also, I love Lily Allen. Otherwise, go backwards to Pat Benetar or Heart.

 

[Fair Warning]

Halestorm

 

[elgecko]

I got it...Gin Wigmore!

 

[mcblahflooper94]

I'm not completely in love with this band, but "Dead Sara" is very promising as far as Female fronted mainstream rock goes. And they have two or three songs that I really do like, without reservation.

Such as this one:

"Time" Blues"

Saw them open for Muse, they were fantastic.

Beach House's Victoria LeGrand has a very interesting mid-range vocal style that I personally don't enjoy much, but is different, and she has fantastic vocal control.

And, of course, The Dead Weather.

 

[Arial Bender]

Alexis Krauss

 

[Toptube]

Company of Thieves is a great band that I love. They do have a harder edged song, called "Gorgeous/Grotesque" from their excellent second album "Running From a Gamble":

 

[MRDOOM]

Ritzy Bryan of The Joy Formidable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yplafBpVTNo

 

[Major Softie]

If you're into the Rockabilly thing, I think Emelda May is amazing. But, that's not all she can do. She kicks ass on this standard too (live, with some guitar player).

 

[jaxom]

find songs that she sounds good on, male or female vocals. Avril's cheap trick cover came to mind.. No doubt is another one.

 

[hrodbert696]

Well, part of the problem is that there isn't a lot of actual ROCK on the charts today in the first place. Still less with female singers. I like a number of the bands that have been suggested but I'm not sure how well they fit the criteria. The Joy Formidable are fantastic but are they really all that popular? Halestorm is more of a pop-metal band, not sure I'd put them on a steady continuum with the likes of Melissa Etheridge and Janis Joplin.

How about No Doubt? Some of their stuff is more poppy, but some works well as rock songs.

Another factor: how old are you guys? Paramore definitely is one to bear in mind, but I think they are teen-oriented and a band of 30-to-40-somethings might seem kind of odd doing a Paramore song. If you're 20-somethings, go for it.

Grace Potter, though, I think is a definite act to take a look at. I'd second Alabama Shakes too - very hot right now. Do you have a male singer too, at all? You might try Of Monsters and Men, a lot of theirs bounce between the male and female vocalists. Pink translates to rock cover bands pretty well.

 

[aguacateojos]

What about The Distillers?

 

[kanonfodr]

Joan Jett - plenty of material right there and everyone knows her stuff.

I also second Garbage - awesome 90s pop music that is actually good And for some reason, metal bands nowadays have taken to covering Katy Perry songs...ick.

Peace,
Greg