Illustration courtesy of Ava O’Connor.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that God sends her shitty men until she chooses me. Amen!”
That’s the universal prayer of Girlfriend From Hell, Savannah Georgia’s beloved, bratty, punk trio. Made up of Bassist Nat Durham, guitarist Jaida Maceyko, and drummer Alix Lemiere, the Sav locals are kicking off the month of April with their killer debut EP, Get a Grip.
Girlfriend from Hell incorporates tongue-in-cheek lyrics similar to modern girl bands such as Dazey and the Scouts and Mommy Long Legs with the defiant outrage of classic riot grrrl groups like Bikini Kill. The songs showcase a mix of meaningful activism and dark humor, drenched in the band’s bombastic and fierce personality throughout the record as a whole. Durham’s verdriven bass lines, Maceyko’s deep, crunchy guitar riffs and Lemiere’s energetic drum rhythms create a classic, hardcore punk tone, while Durham’s shrieking vocals call a certain audience out on their bullshit (No Respect) as well as tell stories of drunk decisions (Shots) and forgotten birthday presents (Kitty Flask).
While a comic tone is present in some of their songs, they’re not to be listened to through that lens exclusively. For example, take Bikini Car Wash, a tirade about the absurd cost of living, with a twist. The tune begins with grievances about paying bills and the overpricing of basic human necessities such as groceries. The band then proceeds to chant, “Overworked and underpaid, my hips deserve a raise!” encouraging the audience/listener to sing along. The chorus, “Capitalism has stripped me down, all I have is my bikini now,” is as thought-provoking as it is playful, a mere wink to the listener mid-mosh.
Before the release of Get A Grip, Girlfriend teased the EP with their first single, AMEN!, in July 2023. According to Girlfriend, the song is a rebellious reclamation of all the vulgar comments men have said to them. Every single line is drawn from some sort of misogynistic statement, resulting in a fed-up two-minute tune that any femme-presenting listener could relate to. The song features quick, engaging tempo changes between the verse and chorus, with a nasty breakdown kicked off by the clever line “rock, paper, let me watch you guys scissor.” What’s even more brilliant about AMEN! is that by singing along, not only are you releasing frustration towards the disgusting comments, you’re also participating in them. The song raises the question of how you, the listener, might contribute to the patriarchy, while simultaneously allowing you to stick your middle finger in its ugly, stupid, face.
What’s most important about this EP, however, is the sheer volume of their voices when declaring, “We’re Girlfriend from Hell, and we want revolution Savannah style now!” in their song, To The Front. The song is fast and furious, and, in the fashion of Kathleen Hanna, invites traditionally less welcomed communities to get the fuck up to the front: queer folks, trans folks, anyone “punished by the police state,” those fighting against poverty or for sobriety. In essence, Girlfriend From Hell has everyone’s back, and if they must revolt, so be it.
Get a Grip is bold, unapologetic, raw, and original. Girlfriend From Hell acknowledges the collective anger of queer, trans, BIPOC, and other marginalized communities, and makes art with it, while allowing themselves to have fun with their craft. So whether you’re whipping out your handle of Tito’s and jamming to Shots, or getting out your frustration to No Respect, there’s no denying Get a Grip is bound to connect with any punk rocker that stumbles upon it. Amen to that!
