Sara Landeau (The Julie Ruin)
SPB: Did joining The Julie Ruin feel like a new band, or like you were joining one with an already-established identity?
Landeau: It felt like a brand new band, which it was. In retrospect, we probably should've changed the name because it’s the same name as Kathleen's 1998 solo moniker (Julie Ruin), but then again I'm proud to be part of it. And it’s a good name! And we do songs from that early album in our live set. As far as joining an already established identity, well, of course Kathleen and Kathi are famous figureheads of a movement that so many of us have been involved in for the some 20 years. I had all-girl trashrock bands in the mid ‘90s, then started a business teaching girls and women music for the past 10 years. Kathleen's call to start a band brought me back to performing, which I didn't know I was going to do again! So we all bring different experiences to the table. We're not trying to rehash old ideas, reuse any slogans, or give a makeover to something that's been undressed. We are a completely different jumpsuit. We're a 5-piece aiming to create new ideas, start new revolutions, and shout new, louder slogans. But sometimes being in a girls-rock-camp bubble can make it hard to see outside the store window. For example, it wasn't until we started touring that I noticed the hardcore Kathleen fans, those audience facial profiles -- that is, from the stage all I see are heads in the first 6 rows forming a direct angle that points to Kathleen. Burning stares. I could be doing ANYTHING and those people wouldn't see me. She has fans that really love her! So although it is a new band, there will always be an element of already established politics in place.
