The last four years have been a wild and eventful ride for Nashville’s teenage rock’n’roll machine, Queens of Noise. Formed in 2017, as a tribute band to the original 1970s teenage rockgrrrls gang, The Runaways, the quintet quickly moved beyond imitation as they found their own voice and panache combined with 21st-century girl power and activism.
In addition to an EP, an album, and a swank 7-inch single, Queens of Noise — bass player Kyra Cannon, vocalist Zoë Dominguez, guitarist Robin-August Fritsch, guitarist Gwen Holley, and drummer Lola Petillo — helped to spark a growing teen DIY scene. Their annual all-ages Noisefest event has tapped into the growing number of Music City youngsters who first got a taste of the rock life through the Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities’s (better known as YEAH!) rock camps, as well as energetic musical self-starters.
But no revolution lasts forever and the bane of all teenage rock bands has come calling. It’s time for the next chapter of life. With Cannon, Dominguez, Fritsch, and Holley parting ways for college (the younger Petillo is still in high school), it’s time to hang up their crowns, at least temporarily, but not without two final celebrations.
Noisefest III will take place this Saturday, Aug. 7, at The End, starting at 6 p.m. In addition to Queens of Noise, the bill features Caleb Reeves, Caro Lucent, Sales Tax, Cheer Up, Pacific Sunsets, and Sergio’s Backpack. Tickets are available through The End.
One week later, the band will say its official farewell at the 2021 Tomato Art Fest. They’ll appear at noon, Saturday, Aug. 14, on the 11th Street Stage. Considering the heat, black leather is not required but bad attitudes and reputations are encouraged.
For more on the Queens of Noise, check out the feature story from our September/October 2017 issue.
