Premiere: Sex Stains, ‘Oh No Say What’

Daiana Feuer on June 26th, 2015

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Looking up Sex Stains on the web leads to various gross things you will never be able to erase from your mind. That’s the only bad thing about this band, and perhaps it’s not so bad. Some folks might actually enjoy scrolling through photos of mattress stains that look like the Virgin Mary, among other things. This post-punk-inspired band consists of original riot grrrl Allison Wolfe (Bratmobile) and esteemed dancer/choreographer Mecca Vazie Andrews sharing lead vocals, David Orlando on drums (known for his weekly parties, Dub Club and Punky Reggae), guitarist Sharif Dumani and bassist Pachy Garcia. While the band has only been around a year, they keep booking awesome shows left and right. The individual members’ street cred helps, but the band is also really good live. If you can pull yours eyes away from Wolfe and Andrews’ charming and beguiling stage personas long enough to zoom in on the boys hiding in the shadows, Dumani is (figuratively) licking all over that guitar and the rhythm section sinks down some punky/dub/Halloween vibes that are simply delectable. Sex Stains recently finished recording a to-be-titled album and they offered yours truly the option of choosing which song to share with the world. I took this honor seriously and my favorite song is this one, “Oh No Say What.” The bass line hits first, and feels like it could fit the soundtrack to your favorite creepy cult horror TV show and/or an old European spy film. The song features the band’s signature call and response singing between the gals, which is half-spoken, half-wails. After a few listens, you can figure out that the lyrics describe an interaction on an elevator where some rude strangers don’t hold the door open. I see it almost as a cartoon. Imagine Mecca Vazie Andrews, who is tall, strong, and usually the nicest person in a room, ripping the elevator doors open, and calling out these assholes. Wolfe chimes in because she’s got her back. It’s such a playful image, a bit surreal, and perfectly sums up Sex Stains’ idiosyncratic charisma.

||| Stream: “Oh No Say What”