Death Valley Girls have released a new video for their song “I’m A Man Too” — along with two new reissues of their debut and sophomore album’s Street Venom and Glow in the Dark via Suicide Squeeze. The new video, directed by Cherry, unfolds as a bizarre makeup tutorial soundtracked by the song’s anthemic statements on gender fluidity and thunderously punkish temper. On-screen the woman applies makeup across her face, smearing it, drawing a mustache only to wipe it all off, and all the while the group’s infectiously jittery thrusts of blistering rock burn it all down. Drawing from the rallying cry of the song’s title, howled from beneath the grumble of noisy riffs by singer Bonnie Bloomgarden, “I’m A Man Too” pummels away at the unquestioning ideals of what it means “to be” a man or woman and the terrible harm those conceptions can have on our mental health.
“Everyone is a unique combination of feminine and masculine energy. It’s constantly changing,” Bloomgarden said of the song. “Somebody outside of you telling you how to be yourself is the most ridiculous and harmful thing I can imagine. You are a beautiful combination of many different things. Get to know yourself, be the most authentic you can be. Label yourself if you wanna, don’t if you don’t, respect yourself and who everyone else is; that’s who they are!”
Death Valley Girls was formed after Bloomgarden, who’d just moved to Los Angeles to get clean from drugs, was introduced to Hole drummer Patty Schemel and her guitarist brother Larry. After the addition of bassist Rachel Orosco the group was itching to play live but decided to grind out an album over the course of two days — the result was their nine-track, riotously rocking Street Venom. The new deluxe version of Street Venom comes with two new tracks in the form of “Gettin’ Hard” and “Electric High,” while the previously out of print Glow in the Dark will be now available digitally as well as in vinyl format (limited to 2,000 copies so get them quick!).
Street Venom and Glow in the Dark are available now. Death Valley Girls will be playing The Wiltern in Los Angeles on October 29 along with Mariachi El Bronx, opening for Tiger Army. Visit the band’s website, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Watch the video for “I’m A Man Too” below!
