GoldylockS: A Nashville Rock Band with a Golden Opportunity

I’m friends with a musician named Booty, and Booty has a new band. I’m generally skeptical about friend’s bands because I’m always afraid I won t like them. If I don’t like friends’ bands, I won’t go see them, and then I have to come up with a creative explanation as to why I never show up to their shows. I used to be able to say, “I had other plans” or “It was too short-noticed.” But those excuses would never work on Booty. I’ve known him for eight years and he knows my schedule. Not that Booty isn’t a superb bass player; it’s just that I’m a chicken. I’m used to him being in a hard-ass, loud, obnoxious rock-n-roll band. Nothing could measure up to that. Now, he plays with GoldylockS, whose lead singer, Goldy’s, real name (no joke) is Moon Shadow and is a wrestler by trade and rock singer by hobby. I thought, “Great, so if I don’t like her band, she’s gonna beat me up.”

Well, lucky me. I thought she put on a stellar rock performance, and I’m not just saying that because I fear for my health. We got to the venue and there was this tiny, muscular woman running around the bar asking patrons if they would be offended if she swore on stage. I’ve been to tons of rock shows and heard tons of people swear, and this was the first show any singer was courteous enough to ask the audience before she climbed on stage. Of course, it was a bar and no one objected.

Then all of her wrestler friends walked in. I never realized how big people can get. They had forearms bigger than my head and I’m just talking about the women. Booty’s parents also showed up, and the concert kicked off. We pulled our chairs to the front of the room and, within two minutes, I must admit, I was a bit embarrassed. I was sitting beside Booty’s dad, and Goldy was singing this fairly sexually explicit song. Luckily it got better, much better. And I’m told if people object, she doesn’t perform those types of songs and abstains from swearing on stage.

Much of the rest of her show is empowering girl rock. I thought it was splendid to see a strong, confident woman on stage, not afraid of who she is or the fact she is female. She has a lusty, solid voice, and she doesn t attempt to make herself appealing by appearing fragile. She also has a sense of humor that s apparent on stage, and she’s well in tune with the band. They work well as a team, and Goldy is more than willing to share the spotlight with all the members in her band.

In the end, I could honestly have done without the explicitness of the first couple of songs. But at the conclusion of the show, I walked out of the venue proud to be a woman. So I’m happy Booty’s playing for a new talented band. Booty’s happy because now he gets to ride on private jets, do record signings at Tower Records, open for Nickelback, film a DVD, and, most importantly, record with procucing legend Michael Wagener. I think it s great, as long as Booty still makes time for margarita night, and maybe now with the new band he could pick up the tab.

For more information on GoldylockS, including upcoming tour dates and to hear music samples, log on to www.goldylocks.net or www.myspace.com/goldylocksband