w/Guitar Wolf, the Popular Shapes
Mon Feb 24, Crocodile, 8 pm, $8.
Everyone remembers when he or she first heard the Pretenders, whether it was in 1980 or 1990. Frontwoman Chrissie Hynde's heavy-lidded, sneering appearance and powerful vocals belonged nowhere other than front and center, flanked by men rather than shrinking behind them in the background. Once heard, the snotty urgency of "Tattooed Love Boys" and the naughtiness of "Bad Boys Get Spanked" became a rallying cry for women who were born to take the lead, women who knew where to put the men.
In 2001, mere days after she hit Seattle from New York, Peels singer Robyn Miller was overheard saying she was going to take this town by storm and become Queen of the Scene. Such a bold remark might sound arrogant coming from someone who wasn't a full six months ahead of Seattle's hippest fashions from the day she arrived. It didn't take too much practice time before Miller was rumored to have started a band and began to get slots on local bills. But her first few performances were less than impressive. Lately, however, Robyn has shed some of her nervous traits--her downcast eyes are more expressive and her curled spine finds itself arched these days more than bowed. Last time the Peels took the stage opening for the D4 at Graceland, Miller and her backing band members (guitarist Lane Rider, bassist Josh Viau, and drummer Ken Small) seemed less worried about conveying hipster attitude and more concerned with having a great time, and finally everything fell into place. Song titles like "You Talk Too Much," "Leave Me," and "Young Boys" could go head-to-head with those found on the Pretenders and Pretenders II as they snarl and spit with attitude and Miller's newfound ability to stalk the stage with bravado in a none-too-overt manner.
Miller's not quite far enough from that shy frontwoman audiences encountered early on to come off as arrogant just yet, but she appears to be working on it with every practice and appearance. It may take a few more months before she can truly crown herself Queen of the Scene, but once she does, good luck trying to pry the headpiece off before her eye is on to newer fashions.
