L'Assassins was a Surf/

Garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...

band from Minneapolis, Minnesota that formed in 2010 and has released 3 EPs, toured in Europe and played several festivals, including the "Girls Got Rhythm" festival and the "Memory Lanes Block Party". The band members have previously played with artists such as XOXO Judy, the Shortcuts, and Brittani Senser and have a "common love of bad ass rock'n'roll, big hair, and sassitude!"

History

The band formed in late 2010 and played their first show in April 2011. They originally performed without a name before eventually settling on the name L'Assassins, a name which they describe as being not grammatically correct in any language. Lead singer Tea Simpson is a fan of

rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western music ...

, punk rock and outlaw country, she is also influenced by old

B movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

such as

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! ''Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!'' is a 1965 American exploitation film directed by Russ Meyer and co-written by Meyer and Jack Moran. It follows three go-go dancers who embark on a spree of kidnapping and murder in the California desert. The fil ...

and

Vixen! ''Vixen!'' is a 1968 American drama film and satiric softcore sexploitation film directed by Russ Meyer and starring Erica Gavin. It was the first film to be given an X rating for its sex scenes, and was a breakthrough success for Meyer. The f ...

. The band is influenced by artists such as

The Cramps The Cramps were an American rock band formed in 1976 and active until 2006. Their lineup rotated frequently during their existence, with the husband-and-wife duo of singer Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy the only ever-present members. ...

Thee Headcoatees Thee Headcoatees were an all-female garage band formed in Chatham, Kent, England in 1991. They were part of the Medway scene. The members were Holly Golightly, Kyra LaRubia, Ludella Black and "Bongo" Debbie Green. Formation Thee Headcoate ...

and

The Sonics The Sonics are an American garage rock band from Tacoma, Washington that formed in 1960. Their aggressive, hard-edged sound has been a major influence on punk and garage music worldwide, and they have been named inspirations to the White St ...

. The band was last active in 2015. In 2016, Ariel Dornbush and Monet Wong started a new band, with Madalyn Mae on drums, called The Toxenes.

Reception

*"a quartet of buxom women with a mean look about them and an even meaner, vintage rockabilly sound." (Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune) *"Taking cues from Suzi Quatro, Dum Dum Girls and Joan Jett, L'Assassins have created a series of propulsive songs that exude confidence." (Jon Schober, Andrea Swensson,

89.3 The Current KCMP (89.3 FM band, FM, 89.3 The Current) is a radio station owned by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) that broadcasts a Adult Album Alternative, AAA music format including a significant rotation of songs by local artists. Licensed to Northfield, Mi ...

) *"The four women from Minneapolis featured a throwback vibe in sound and dress. Chugging, rockabilly rhythms, colorful tattoos, sharp guitar, and flowers in hair proved a perfect match for the club. Singer Tee Ann Simpson connected with the crowd with her irrepressible energy." (Dave Miller, Chicago Concert Goers) *"this foursome brings an edgy style and even edgier sound to our music scene." (DeDe Ruger, MN Ups Magazine>

Members

*Tea Ann Simpson — Vocals *Monet Wong — Guitar/Vocals *Ariel Dornbush — Bass/Vocals *Angela Clark — Drums/Vocals

Discography

Singles

* "7pm", "Go" b/w "Backseat Bomp" 2012 * "Fire of Love" b/w "Liar" 2015

EPs

* ''L'Assassins'' 2012 * ''Lovin' On The Run'' 2013 * ''Kill Kill Kill! Bang Bang Bang!'' 2014

Videos

* "Backseat Bomp" 2012 * "Gonna Git That Man" 2012 * L'Assassins in "Dressed To Kill: Tonight The devil dances in hell!" 2012 * "Lovin' On The Run" 2013 * "Psycho Beach" 2014 * "Fire of Love" 2015

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Assassins Musical groups from the Twin Cities Musical groups established in 2010 Musical quartets from Minnesota 2010 establishments in Minnesota