Typical Girls Aloud

While most of the original U.K. girl-punk bands only reappear on reissues, it's no surprise the Slits mounted a reunion tour. Singer Ari Up has been playing in Gotham tirelessly, still approaching reggae like a wacky kid—the same way the Beastie Boys approached rap. Re-teaming with original bassist Tessa Pollitt, she's solidified the use of the group's brand name even though guitarist Viv Albertine and drummer Palmolive declined. But a half-Slits is still legit: Up is the group's brains and brawn, while Pollitt supplies the soul, her nimble dub lines driving the songs at this sold-out CMJ showcase. While Up—dressed in a Day-Glo shirt, short shorts, and multicolored socks—tirelessly bounced around like the 14-year-old kid she was when she started out, Pollitt innocuously stood by her side, booming away. Though the rest of the almost all-femme new members (including Pistols drummer Paul Cook's daughter) hadn't been born when the original Slits started in '76, they could still re-create the sexy, mysterious skanking vibe from long ago.

photo: Willie Davis/Veras

Atypical hairstyles

Related Content

• Clip Job: The Voice's First Impressions Of The Beastie Boys' Back Catalog
  May 4, 2012
• Adam Yauch, R.I.P.
  May 4, 2012
• The Clip Of Kids Re-Enacting The "Sabotage" Video Is The Best Thing You Will See Today
  May 15, 2012
• Madonna (2) And The Beastie Boys (10) Fight For Their Right To Call Themselves The Greatest New York Musician
  March 21, 2012
• SOTC's March Madness: Sonic Youth, Miles Davis, Neil Diamond, And The Rest Of The Round Of 16
  March 27, 2012

More About

• Tessa Pollitt
• Ari Up
• Viv Albertine
• Paul Cook
• The Beastie Boys

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: (Sent out every Thursday) Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

As on other recent reunion gigs, the group was haunted by sound gremlins disrupting the mix. But Up overcame such problems with her good cheer, play-fighting with her bandmates, toasting dancehall-style, twirling her mile-long dreads like a lasso, applying her wobbly howl, and eliciting bird sounds from the crowd. And while oldies like the creepy "Man Next Door," the defiant "Shoplifting," the ready-made anthem "Typical Girls," and the joyously snotty "Vindictive" got the most cheers, newer material like punky anthems-in-the-making "Hated by Many" ("Loved by a few") and "Grown-Ups" (turns out they're s o corrupt) slotted into the set well. "This is the sound of the Slits: reggae mixed with punk," Up announced. And while they still lean more toward Kingston calm than U.K. anarchy, Up and Pollitt can still channel their inner brats.