Girls (band)
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founder | Christopher Owens, Chet "JR" White |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Girls was an American indie rock group established in San Francisco in 2007. The ensemble was primarily composed of two members: Christopher Owens, who served as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter, and Chet "JR" White, who played bass and managed production duties. Their musical style was heavily influenced by sounds spanning the 1950s through the 1970s, incorporating elements from genres such as lo-fi, surf rock, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, pop rock, country rock, and garage rock.
Their first album, Album, launched in 2009, was met with widespread critical praise. The follow-up record, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, released in 2011, also received favorable reviews. On July 2, 2012, Owens publicly announced his exit from the band to embark on a solo career.
Origins and Album era (2007–09)
Owens grew up within the fundamentalist sect known as the Children of God but departed at age sixteen to move to Amarillo, Texas. There, he experimented with diverse musical genres and began performing on the streets, which helped him connect with a wider musical community. During his time in Amarillo, he spent four years employed as a personal assistant to Stanley Marsh 3. At 25, Owens relocated to San Francisco where he began creating music and faced challenges related to substance abuse.
In California, Owens became part of Holy Shit alongside Ariel Pink and Matt Fishbeck before crossing paths with Chet "JR" White, a Bay Area native who had been involved in recording local bands since his teenage years. United by shared musical tastes and punk influences, Owens and White collaborated on producing their debut album.
The release of Album was met with significant acclaim; Pitchfork ranked their track "Hellhole Ratrace" among the top 500 songs of the 2000s and awarded the album a 9.1/10 score, placing it tenth among the best albums of 2009.
Father, Son, Holy Ghost period (2010–2011)
In 2010, Girls introduced the EP Broken Dreams Club, which Owens described as "a preview of what’s ahead." On July 20, 2011, they offered "Vomit," a single from their forthcoming album, as a complimentary download; this was followed by a music video released in August. The track "Honey Bunny" was issued as the second single. Their sophomore full-length record, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, debuted on September 9, 2011 in UK/Europe and on September 13 in the United States. In November that year, Girls released an exclusive single titled "Lawrence" on heart-shaped vinyl—a tribute to Felt's lead vocalist Lawrence.
Much like their debut effort, Father, Son, Holy Ghost attained critical success. The singles "Vomit" and "Honey Bunny" earned Pitchfork’s "Best New Music" distinction. The album received a 9.3 rating from Pitchfork and secured fifth place on their Top 50 Albums of 2011 list. Billboard commented that this release represented a leap forward equivalent to three albums for the band, while Spin awarded it a 9/10 score for its refined melodies and musicianship.
The album’s subject matter centers on themes of love alongside Owens’ battle with drug addiction; he disclosed undergoing detoxification prior to tours to manage his dependency.
From a commercial standpoint, Father, Son, Holy Ghost reached number 37 on the Billboard 200. The tour supporting the album featured appearances at events such as the St Jerome's Laneway Festival and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Additionally, the band performed selections from the record on television programs including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Conan.
Breakup and aftermath (2012)
On July 1, 2012, Christopher Owens announced through Twitter his decision to leave the group in order to focus on a solo career. Owens explained that the frequent changes in the band's lineup were a key factor in his departure, revealing in a Pitchfork interview that over time, 21 different members had come and gone, causing ongoing frustrations. The departure of guitarist John Anderson, one of Owens' closest companions, ultimately prompted his exit.
In a March 2013 feature for Paste magazine, Chet "JR" White shared his thoughts on the band's dissolution, describing initial surprise following Owens' announcement but recognizing signs during the recording of Father, Son, Holy Ghost that the breakup was approaching. After the band ended, White chose not to participate in interviews.
Owens released his first solo project, Lysandre, on January 15, 2013, followed by A New Testament in September 2014. He has also voiced displeasure about sharing the band's name with HBO's television show Girls.
Chet "JR" White died on October 18, 2020, in Santa Cruz, California.
Musical style
Girls’ sound was deeply influenced by music from the 1950s through the 1970s, combining elements of lo-fi, surf rock, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, pop rock, country rock, and garage rock. Their debut record, Album, reflected inspirations such as The Beach Boys, Elvis Costello, Buddy Holly, Spiritualized, Galaxie 500, Felt, and Ariel Pink. Their sophomore effort, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, maintained much of the surf rock influence while incorporating touches of metal and gospel music. Christopher Owens identified Suede as a significant influence, with critics frequently comparing his vocal delivery to Brett Anderson’s style.
Albums
- Album (September 22, 2009), True Panther Sounds – Reached No. 136 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums
- Father, Son, Holy Ghost (September 13, 2011) – Peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 and No. 119 on the UK Albums Chart
EPs
- Broken Dreams Club (November 22, 2010), True Panther Sounds
Singles
- "Lust for Life"/"Morning Light" (July 1, 2008), True Panther Sounds TRUE008
- 7" vinyl limited edition of 500 copies
- "Lust for Life" – 2:25
- "Morning Light" – 2:36
- "Hellhole Ratrace" (July 6, 2009), Fantasytrashcan FANTASY001
- 10" vinyl release
- "Hellhole Ratrace" – 6:57
- "Solitude" – 3:44
- "Lust for Life" (September 7, 2009), Fantasytrashcan FANTASY002
- 7" vinyl format
- "Lust for Life" – 2:25
- "Life in San Francisco" – 2:21
- "Laura" (November 9, 2009), Fantasytrashcan FANTASY004
- 7" vinyl edition
- "Laura" – 4:52
- "Oh Boy" – 2:41
- "Morning Light" (February 22, 2010), Fantasytrashcan FANTASY005
- 7" vinyl release
- "Morning Light" – 2:36
- "End of the World" – 3:35
- "Lawrence" (November 28, 2011), Fantasytrashcan FANTASY005
- 12" red heart-shaped vinyl limited to a run of 1000 copies
- "Lawrence" – 4:00
- "My Ma" (March 22, 2012)
- 7" vinyl limited to 1000 copies
- "Love Life" – 2:28
Music videos
- "My Ma"
- "Honey Bunny"
- "Vomit"
- "Hellhole Race"
- "Lust for Life"