Pulsallama

Pulsallama

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1981
Founder	Ann Magnuson
Defunct	1983
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	United States, United Kingdom
Key people	Ann Magnuson, Wendy Wild, April Palmieri, Jean Caffeine, Kimberly Davis, Lori "Bubbles" Montana, Stacey Elkin, Judy Streng, Min Thometz
Products	Singles: "Ungawa Pt.II (Way Out Guiana) / The Devil Lives In My Husband's Body" (1982), "Oui-Oui (A Canadian In Paris) / Pulsallama on the Rag" (1983); EP: Pulsallama (2020)
Number of employees	7–17 (varied over time)

Pulsallama was an all-female no wave ensemble based in New York City. Often described as "13 girls battling over a cowbell," this post-punk group centered around percussion, featuring two bass guitars alongside multiple vocalists. The band originated in early 1981 from the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lower East Side, a performance art collective that began at Club 57. Notable members included Ann Magnuson, Wendy Wild, and April Palmieri.

The group toured both the UK and the U.S. East Coast, notably supporting The Clash on their Combat Rock tour. Their 1982 single "The Devil Lives in my Husband's Body" was featured on MTV. Pulsallama released two singles through Y Records in 1982 and 1983. Although they recorded a full-length album, it was never officially issued. The band concluded their activities with a final performance in July 1983. In 2020, a seven-track self-titled EP, recorded for French radio, was made available.

Origins

Pulsallama took shape within New York City's downtown cultural scene, particularly at Club 57, a cabaret located in the basement of the Holy Cross Polish National Church. The club’s manager, Ann Magnuson, together with other women from the East Village, established the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lower East Side, a performance art group that organized themed events such as debutante balls and wrestling nights.

Their first appearance as a 17-member percussion ensemble occurred in April 1981 during the Rites of Spring Fertility Bacchanal, an event produced by the Ladies Auxiliary. The name Pulsallama, created by Magnuson, merged Pulse-Matic (a blender brand) with llama, which served as the band’s mascot. They performed dressed in 1950s-style cocktail dresses and incorporated unusual instruments like kitchen tools and discarded objects.

The original lineup featured founder Magnuson, Palmieri, and Wild. Drummer and vocalist Jean Caffeine brought experience from her previous involvement with San Francisco punk band The Urge. Additional members included vocalist Kimberly Davis; bassist Lori "Bubbles" Montana; bassist and percussionist Stacey Elkin; along with Dany Johnson, Katy K, Diana Lillig, Charlotte Slivka, Min Thometz, and Andé Whyland. Their sound was engineered by Mark Kramer, who later partnered with Magnuson to form Bongwater.

Pulsallama’s energetic performances gained acclaim at parties and rock venues alike, receiving favorable critiques from publications such as New York Rocker and SoHo Weekly News. They played prominent locations including Mudd Club and Danceteria. Dee Pop of Bush Tetras characterized their early shows as "13 girls fighting over a cowbell."

First single

After drummer Jean Caffeine connected with the manager of The Pop Group, Pulsallama recorded a 12-inch single titled "Ungawa, Pt. II (Way Out Guiana)" backed with "The Devil Lives in My Husband's Body." Released in 1982 on the British independent label Y Records, the single attracted positive reviews and received airplay on alternative and campus radio stations.

Following this release, several members departed: Charlotte Slivka, Diana Lillig, Katy K., Andé Whyland, Dany Johnson, and Ann Magnuson left the group. Judy Streng replaced Lori Montana on bass.

Tours

Building on their single’s momentum, Pulsallama embarked on a UK tour performing alongside Public Image Limited. They also collaborated on a holiday-themed single with fellow Y Records artists Pigbag. Guitarist Mick Jones from The Clash invited them to open for his band during the American leg of the 1982 Combat Rock tour. Their performances took place across East Coast venues such as Asbury Park Convention Hall. According to member Min Thometz, initial audience resistance gave way to enthusiasm by their second night on stage.

Second single, EP, and unreleased album

In 1983, Pulsallama issued their second single through Y Records, titled "Oui-Oui (A Canadian in Paris)" with the B-side "Pulsallama on the Rag." The ensemble, consisting of seven members, recorded a full-length album at Blank Studios under the production of Mark Kamins. Unfortunately, financial difficulties faced by Y Records resulted in an unpaid $15,000 studio bill, which led to the master tapes remaining inaccessible. Consequently, the album was never made public. Discontent with their management and booking representatives contributed to the group's dissolution following a final performance in July 1983.

Decades later, in July 2020, Pulsallama released a self-titled EP containing seven tracks via Modern Harmonic records. This collection features a live studio session from 1983 in New York that was originally recorded for a French radio broadcast.

Music, reception and legacy

Pulsallama was created as a counter-response to the male dominance prevalent in rock music. Their sound was characterized by heavy percussion, complex polyrhythms, raw energy, and piercing vocals. Critics likened them to Bananarama and described them as a "more disorderly, disorganized, quintessentially New York iteration of Rip, Rig and Panic." Magnuson, a band member, pointed out that their work parodied the English group Bow Wow Wow as well as the 1980s trend of incorporating Burundi beats into new wave music. Known for their blend of "primal yet glamorous absurdity" and noisy live performances, Pulsallama lampooned typical girl talk, aspects of American culture, and rock legends while challenging the polished female image.

Their track "The Devil Lives in my Husband's Body" served as a "post-new wave social satire" and was described as an "art-damaged tribute to suburban unrest." The song tells the story of a husband afflicted with Tourette's syndrome who emits nightly howls, satirizing an article from True Romance magazine. The accompanying music video, co-produced with Paul Dougherty, gained early rotation on MTV.

Pulsallama was included in the 2017 exhibition Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983 hosted by the Museum of Modern Art. Furthermore, rapper Danny Brown sampled Pulsallama’s "Ungawa Part II (Way Out Guyana)" in his 2016 song "Dance in the Water" from the album Atrocity Exhibition.

Singles

• "Ungawa Pt.II (Way Out Guiana) / The Devil Lives In My Husband's Body" (1982)
• "Oui-Oui (A Canadian In Paris) / Pulsallama on the Rag" (1983)

EP

• Pulsallama (2020)

External links

• Pulsallama at Discogs
• Interview with bandmembers April Palimeri and Kimberly Davis on Videowave, June 12, 1982
• April Palmieri's Pulsallama archive
• Pulsallama performing in 1981