Interview Transcript Q: So Rebel Girl, the name came from the song, right? Rose: No, we do get asked that question, asked if we were named after the song that Bikini Kill wrote, it is a great song – but no. No, the name came actually from our combined personalities and attitudes, Holly, Danielle, and myself are pretty much rebels in every sense of the word and it seemed natural to call us Rebel Girl... more...?
Cleveland Free Times
The Cleveland Free Times (volume 14 / issue 32 - published 11/29/06)
In addition to winning the Myspace Finals Battle in its first year as a band, this '80s-influenced girl rock group has been hard at work recording its full-length debut, Old Enough to Know Better, Too Young to Care. The first track, "U Got It," is accompanied by gypsy-like music and vocals suggestive of Joan Jett. Tracks like "All of My Life" and "Any Other Fool" are piano-based pop-rock gems and show the band's ability to cross genres. Throw in the fact that Warrant's Jani Lane produced the album and Jack Ponte of Alice Cooper fame wrote one of the tracks and what you've got is rock history in the making.
--Stephen Tompkins
Not quite the Donnas, and more Ramones than Bikini Kill, the all-female rock trio Rebel Girl play off two disparate sounds on their debut album. The first few songs come across as their name might suggest--light Riot Grrrl with heavy drums and guitar--but by the fifth track something unexpected happens: their sound goes unmistakably pop (complete with a string of "na-na-nas"). Once playing under the name Sugar, the ladies of Rebel Girl offer the saccharine side of rock rebellion with no excuses or apologies................Though a sexual pun at this point might be amusing, let's just say that Kuhel's resemblance to a tattooed Chrissie Hynde, Zilke's punked out bobbysoxer look, and Manning's tomboy appeal all give male listeners plenty of superficial reasons to attend live shows. But thankfully, Rebel Girl's act is more than an image. With songs focused heavily on harmonizing (each member provides vocals) and unafraid to write catchy hooks supported by solid playing--or slowing things down in songs like "Any Other Fool"--Rebel Girl is a strong act that lives up to their several influences."
Len Sousa
The Plain Dealer
Friday, February 09, 2007
Three chords and the truth: After briefly dropping out of the Northeast Ohio music scene when her early '90s band Cherry Bomb called it quits, singer-guitarist Rose Kuhel experienced a rejuvenated rock spirit when she hooked up with bassist Danielle Zilke and drummer Holly Manning to form Rebel Girl. In the past year, the trio has remained active, incessantly performing and recording their debut effort, "Old Enough to Know Better, Too Young to Care." Produced by erstwhile Warrant frontman Janie Lane, the punk-based album, which was released in December, is a cross between Joan Jett and Tom Petty. "It's basic rock 'n' roll," said Cleveland native Kuhel, who now lives in Akron. "Everything has been very positive. I'm more into songwriting than anything else. As far as saying what kind of music we are, I'd say a modern Johnny Cash-type. We're more storytellers." Rebel Girl, which already has started writing material for its next album, is scheduled to play at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at The Lime Spider, 203 S. Main St., Akron.
John Benson
Akron Beacon Journal
Thu, Feb. 08, 2007
Saturday night at the Lime Spider will be a triple bill of area bands, including estrogen-fueled power trio Rebel Girl, whose independent album co-produced by Jani Lane is called Old Enough to Know Better, Too Young to Care. On the dozen-track CD, the band traverses arena rock territory from Joan Jett (a nice cover of the Runaways' Cherry Bomb), Cheap Trick and the big ROCK sound the Donnas have been trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to capture on their last few albums.
The Cleveland trio is made up of guitarist and lead vocalist Rose Kuhel, bassist Danielle Zilke and Holly Manning on drums. Its songs, written primarily by Kuhel, all have a strong melodic base and are packed with power chords, peppy key modulations and layers of backing ooohs and aahhs.
Musically, Rebel Girl screams 1980s (I Need You could be a lost Poison song and for once, I mean that as a compliment) and Kuhel's songs cover the usual topics, such as screwy and obsessive love, but also serious subjects such as isolation and suicide on the midtempo Runnin' Scared and the self-loathing of Animal.
The CD is fairly slick production-wise, with layered guitar and vocals, but I'll assume that live, the group is much more power trio than arena rock band. Also on the bill will be the aptly named Lake Effects and the Kellys.
By Malcolm X Abram
Noise Zone Magazine
by Bill Samaras
Brace yourself for an adrenaline surge! Rebel Girl are about to inject their music into your veins and pump you up with a heavy dose of energetic rock and roll. They play heady rock and roll reminiscent of 80's style glam rock drawing with the energy and vibe of Social Distortion, Joan Jett and Hanoi Rocks. They are reinventing chick rock and bringing it to a new level. Open your ears and it won't take long for these rebels to jump in your heart and make it pound with wreckless abandon. Truth is, they are for real and will rock you with their music and personna--a totally refreshing and energizing blast that is going to satisfy your passion for rock and roll music to the fullest....more...?
Cleveland Scene
Cleveland Scene 2006-11-29
For its debut, Rebel Girl recorded its former band’s album, Sugar 11 After. Giving it a rockier edge, Old Enough works if you can ignore the manufactured punk attitude: misplaced f-bombs and one too many “let’s go” chants. Nevertheless, the band laces its ‘80’s rock with decent harmonies and indelible hooks, enhanced by producer and ex-Warrant vocalist Jani Lane. The problem: he cranked the vocals and guitars but buried the drums, driving the immediacy out of rockers like “Animal”, which aims to be a tiger but purrs like a kitten.
Matt G Horey
