HERstory Rocks at the Parkside Lounge – A Decade of NYC Women Rock

The Val Kinzler Band (photograph by Sue Lashley)

For decades, Val Kinzler has been a fixture in the New York City rock circuit. Living downtown, she has played just about every music club within walking distance of her apartment. For the past decade, in addition to booking her own gigs, Kinzler’s NYC Women Rock has been a powerful advocate for promoting a network of local women musicians.

“Ten years ago, as a new mom of a certain age, I was told to stop playing rock gigs,” reflected Kinzler. “In response, I wrote ‘Rock and Roll Women.’”

Takes all my strength to be sweet.

All my feminine mystique.

I’m the queen who threw her throne.

Don’t tell me to watch my tone!

The Patti Rothberg Experience (photograph by Val Kinzler)

The Record Players NYC (photograph by Sue Lashley)

Rew Starr (photograph by Val Kinzler)

Sue Lashley (photograph by Val Kinzler)

On International Women’s Day, NYC Women Rock marked its 10th anniversary with an awareness and community-building concert, HERstory Rocks. Co-produced with local drummer Mick Oakleaf, HERstory Rocks celebrated Women’s History Month with 10 female-fronted bands performing at the Parkside Lounge. The Val Kinzler Band, the Record Players NYC, the Ruminators, Sue Lashley, Rew Starr, Violizzy & Friends, Exit 99, the Miss J Experience, the Patti Rothberg Coincidence, and QueenPins performed from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The HERstory Rocks event championed gender equity in music and the men who support strong female artists. The event also celebrated the launch of We The She NYC Ltd., a new grassroots nonprofit co-founded by Liz Taub (Violizzy), Michelle Fury, and Kinzler. We The She NYC Ltd. is dedicated to uplifting female artists and fostering an inclusive creative space. For more information, visit www.wetheshe.org. Follow and support the cause @valkinzler | @nycwomenrock | @wetheshenyc.

Exit 99 (photograph by Val Kinzler)

QueenPins (photograph by Sue Lashley)

The Ruminators (photograph by Val Kinzler)

Violizzy & Friends (photograph by Val Kinzler)

The Miss J Experience (photograph by Val Kinzler)

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The Manhattan Beat reports on New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.

For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the The Manhattan Beat home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."

For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's March calendar.