Everyone loves Tah Tahs: Denver’s favorite queer cover band

Powerhouse vocalist Nicole Benton says cardio is a must in gearing up for shows with her band, The Tah Tahs.

The all-female group’s performances are high-impact in both energy and message- these girls take the stage to prove chicks can rock… hard.

Out Front sat down with The Tah Tah’s Nicole Benton (vocals), Monique Guette (guitar), and Jess Marrone (drums) to talk about their forthcoming debut album, bra throwing, and the tour that took them to the US’s “most hardcore bar.”

Let’s kick off with the basics — who are The Tah Tahs and how did the band come together?

Nicole Benton: I formed the band two years ago, and the whole idea was to have women who are really good at what they do come together and make music. I wanted to make my own little super group. I know it’s sad to say, but like the Spice Girls meets rock and roll.

Jess Marrone: I think each of us wanted to be Sporty Spice since 1998.

NB: Crazy Spice! Or Scary Spice! Crazy Scary Spice! (Laughs) Anyway, we used Craig’s List to find everybody for the group, except for the bass player (Forest Lambert) who I knew from my previous band. So, the magic of Craig’s List- bringing musicians together.

JM: It’s for more than just finding relationships, it’s for finding bandmates! It’s for more than just finding casual encounter’s, it’s for finding bandmates! It’s for more than just finding your next lawsuit!

Being an all-female rock band is still an anomaly. How do you feel you’ve been received on both a local and national level?

JM: I think it’s played out very well due to the fact that there’s not a lot of chick bands
in Denver.

Monique Guette: There’s actually not a lot of chick bands, period. So, we’re kind of unique.

JM: We opened up for Hell’s Belles last New Year’s Eve at the old Grizzly Rock, and I’ve loved them for years and always looked up to them, but besides them, what bands actually tour through Denver who are all-female? Not a lot. We are trying to fill in that gap.

MG: I think there’s a general opinion that girls don’t play rock and can’t play their own instruments, and we know that’s not true at all because we play rock. And we play rock well. A lot of people are surprised when they see us because they think, “Who are these girls? There’s a band named after boobs here.”

JM: We do pretty much just talk about boobs all day. Before the show we talk about boobs, on our breaks we talk about boobs — that’s what we do. But we play music, too!

MG: You know, we have topless practices. We’re just really trying to empower young women… through boobs.

JM: That’s why we welcome bras being thrown at us. I collect them and put them on my drum set.

How many bras have you acquired this way?

JM: I have nine.

So, are all of you some variation of “LBQ” identified? And has this added an extra layer to your experiences as artists?

MG: I think the “Q factor” in this band has let us into the gay community because we are, in some form or another, part of it already. And the gay community has given us opportunities to play PrideFest in Denver — where we opened up for Taylor Dayne, which was just an amazing experience; we headlined Colorado Springs Pride; and we headlined Boulder Pride at Boulder Theatre, which was another incredible experience! We are super grateful to the gay community for pushing us out there and being so supportive.

Though The Tah Tahs rose up as a cover band, you gals are working on your debut EP. Was original material always the end goal or did something else provoke this transition?

NB: Yes, definitely! Being a cover band gave us a way to have a little bit of an income. Now we will be able to record an EP. Since we have a little bit of savings, we can take the time to go in a write, look for producers, find that right song. So there is a shift — we’ll do some original shows, and we’ll still do some cover shows.

What influences will we hear on the album?

NB: Right now we are really exploring our sound and trying to find what defines us as a group. That’s an ongoing process.

MG: Everyone is bringing their own personal experience…

JM: …that’s why we’re like a supergroup. I grew up with punk and ska.

MG: Metal.

NB: I’m pop, rock, jazz, and musical theater.

JM: Exactly. We’re a Colorado supergroup, bringing rock to the sunshine state.

As mentioned, The Tah Tahs have opened for Taylor Dayne and Hell’s Belles. If you could perform with any artist, who would it be?

MG: Billy Corgan.

NB: Pink.

JM: No Doubt.

You gals took to KickStarter early this year to raise funds for your spring 2013 tour. You made your goals, with a few bucks to spare. How has KickStarter changed the landscape for independent artists like yourselves?

NB: It’s been great as far as funding albums without having to rely record labels. It creates so many opportunities. We wouldn’t have been able to go on tour if it wasn’t for KickStarter.

And how did that tour go?

JM: Oh, please let me start! To set the scene — Salt Lake City, on a weeknight, the scariest metal bar ever. Everyone had Anthrax [popular 80s band] goatees, some had implanted horns, and jackets with metal studs.

MG: This place was really hardcore, and I was wearing this white jacket with a gigantic unicorn with a rainbow on it, and I thought, “I just need to rock this like I know what I’m doing.” I felt at home when they played Metallica, but they changed it two minutes later. Metallica isn’t hardcore enough for that bar. Metallica was like Britney Spears.

JM: We start playing for these metal heads. One guy is in a wolf mask and everyone is in Doc Martens looking like they want to beat the sh*t out of us. We start playing, and everyone is totally into it. We played the best show for the best crowd in Salt Lake City at this scary metal bar. They just needed a wholesome chick band from Denver to hit the scene and give ‘em a does of girl rock.

Finally, best place to catch or play a show in Denver? Go—

MG: I love The Ogden.

JM: The Marquis is the best.

NB: I’m going to go Bluebird.

MG: Red Rocks. Every time you go it’s an incredible experience, not just a concert. And Blush. Blush and Blu has been super generous to us.

JM: Okay, yeah, Blush is our favorite place to play. Hands
down. Duh.

Thanks so much, ladies! Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?

JM: We would like to cordially invite every guy and gal in Denver to come out and have some fun with us. And throw bras all over the venue. Just come get down and dirty with The Tah Tahs!

For more information on The Tah Tahs, check out their website at thetahtahs.com or find the Tah Tahs on Facebook.