READY TO ROCK

Hardly your typical cover band, Gurlfriendz debuts this month with a rooftop show

by Collin D. McClure

When you think of rock cover bands, what comes to mind? Starved college guys dressed in torn and tattered jeans and thrift store T-shirts, practicing diligently in one of their parents’ garages, perhaps. Their attempt to imitate the greatest rock bands of the last 25 or so years fails to yield them a record deal, but they continue on as their break just may one day come. Typical, right?

Enter Gurlfriendz, a not-so-typical cover band whose coming-out party this month will change the way you think about one particular, generally soft-spoken part of the community. While tearing down barriers and stereotypes, the group just wants to play good music. What makes this band so different than any other cover band? As the first and only transgender rock band in Texas, Gurlfriendz is ready to turn some heads when it debuts on Pride parade night on June 26.

I first meet Krystin Herrington of Gurlfriendz on a rather chilly evening. I walk into a local Montrose hangout not knowing what to expect. One of the beautiful bouncers swings open the double doors, and I see a group of girls peering over the outsize furniture. One of them gestures to me. “I’m Krystin, over here.” As I walk over, the band members stand up, and my first impression of Krystin is Wow, she’s really tall and what great legs.

Wearing stiletto black boots, Herrington stands about 6-foot-4. She has style and a grace about her that even some genetic women lack. A male-to-female pre-op transsexual, Herrington hopes that this new type of cover band impresses her hometown Pride revelers.

As the band’s spokesperson and rhythm guitar player, Herrington reveals her love of music and the newly formed Gurlfriendz as she sits with her beautiful multicolored guitar. She is the strong one of the group, the one who takes care of business and who you would go to if you have a problem. Before giving up music for a while (prior to Gurlfriendz), Herrington kicked up her boots in a country-western band on the north side.

Next to introduce herself is Jenifer Baker (lead guitar/vocals), who I come to realize is the funny one, the girl you want at the party. Her love of heavy metal music has grown over time, and the passion of playing the guitar for 21 years has led her to the band. A techie by day, Baker is a loving husband and a proud parent of two children. Baker credits Van Halen, Evanescence, and The Edge of U2, arguably one of the greatest guitarists of all time, as musical influences.

Tall, thin, and blonde: That is how you would describe Kelly Carson, the Gurlfriendz bass player. Like the rest of the group, Carson is a techie by day. Meeting Herrington and the rest of the group on the Houston Cover Girls web discussion group, Carson joined the band for the same reason they all did—the simple love of music. That love shows with all of them and their willingness to do whatever it takes to please the fans. They just want to play and make people happy.

Lori Sette, the drummer, is just 20 but has already been playing for six years. She comes from a family of drummers, so maybe the talent is genetic. Sette has worked in Austin and Houston—in styles that range from punk to industrial to modern rock. A cross-dresser with a supportive girlfriend, she is the newest Gurlfriendz member.

Shy and reserved, lead singer Jersey sits dressed all in black. Her reserved demeanor counters the girl from Jersey City caricature, but breaking stereotypes is what Gurlfriendz is all about. The other male-to-female pre-op band member, Jersey (who also met Herrington on the Houston Cover Girls group) maintains a quiet attitude that doesn’t hint at the fact that she is the lead singer of a rock band.

Gurlfriendz is a new band. Still, the members are music-world veterans with over 40 years’ combined playing experience. They are ready to rock Montrose with a live show on the Mary’s roof on the night of the parade. As usual, Mary’s will sell a limited number of tickets for rooftop access. And on the roof with Gurlfriendz is a perfect way to rock into the night.

And the band definitely rocks, performing covers from heavy metal to the all-encompassing rock ballad. The gamut of rock is truly covered from Bush, the hard Godsmack as well as Audioslave. Throw in fan favorites like “When I’m Gone” by Three Doors Down and Nickelback and you’ll be jumping and moshing in no time.

Sure they’re a cover band. But, honestly, how often do you see members of the transgender community in a band, much less a rock band? Although Gurlfriendz is the only transgender rock band in Texas, they are not alone in the nation. The San Francisco underground group Lipstick Conspiracy boasts being the first in the trans community to form a rock band. The debut album from Lipstick Conspiracy, which will perform on the main stage at the San Fran pride festival this month, recently hit stores.

No album is in the works as of yet from Gurlfriendz, but one thing is for sure. They rock. Watch out babes, Gurlfriendz is coming out!

Collin McClure is a music journalist. This is his first contribution to OutSmart.

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