The Blackouts
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The Blackouts

Denver, Colorado, United States | SELF

Denver, Colorado, United States | SELF
Band Rock Punk

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"April 12 Feature – The Blackouts"

Photos and Interview by Sheila Broderick

SBroderick@coloradomusicbuzz.com

Let us introduce you to the Blackouts, a Denver group that is fast becoming one of Colorado’s premiere all-female, in-your-face hard rock bands.

Shaped by Kate Innes (lead guitar) in 2008, the band consists of Innes, Ali Frankfurt (lead vocals), Hope Bertsch (drums), and newest member, Susan Phelan (bass).

Phelan joined the group last December; Frankfurt began as a guitarist, then became the lead vocalist in 2010; Bertsch joined in 2008, and was responsible for bringing them together; while Innes is an original member and co-founder of the Blackouts.

CMB: How did you come together as a group?

Ali: I grew up surrounded by music; my dad’s mom was a touring singer in the 1930s and 40s, and my dad’s dad was a piano player. My father was a working musician from the time he was 13 through college. He played drums, piano, guitar, and any instrument he picked up, he could just play by ear.

When I was 13 years old, I went to my first rock-n-roll concert, Bon Jovi in 1986. It was at that moment, I found my self and my passion. I bought my first electric guitar, and began to learn metal tunes of the ‘80s, and classic rock tunes of the ‘60s and ‘70s. I am self-taught and like to dabble with the drums and bass as well.

I spent the next few years dreaming of becoming a rock star. By the time I was 18, I became distracted with boys and emotions, etc. and my parents began to discourage the rock-n-roll lifestyle. Regretfully, I put my dream, and my guitar, aside for the next 15 or so years. In 2008, I was in my daughter’s preschool class. The teacher was also a local musician, and we made a connection; I told her that I played guitar years ago, and she mentioned that her friend, Kate Innes, was putting together a chick band just for fun.

Although I hadn’t taken my guitar out of its case in years, I felt compelled to check it out. It was instant religion; the universe had brought this magical connection together. I was alive with the energy and passion of a teenager again! Kate hadn’t played guitar since college, and we began to relearn from the beginning.

We started learning some easy covers and Jenn (the teacher) sang, and attempted to teach herself the bass. Jenn’s sister, Amber hadn’t played the drums since her days in a high school marching band, but decided to give it a go. Eventually, Jenn brought in her friend, Darci, to sing lead while she focused on the bass. After a few months, Jenn left the group. Kate’s long-time friend Jenn Brown joined the band on the bass. Brown could barely play a note. We played our first few shows with Jenn (the teacher) singing harmonies and back ups, but she left soon after. At the same time, Amber decided she wasn’t in it for the long haul.

Hope responded to Kate’s Craigslist ad for a new drummer. She auditioned, and the rest is history. We went on a 2-year run with Darci as our lead singer. We improved slowly and began writing more and more original songs. Again, personal differences caused Darci to leave the band.

Still flying on pure passion, I decided to give it a shot as the front woman. I had a whole new aggressive and gritty style that gave us more of the sound that we had been looking for. After a few months of regrouping, we came back onto the scene. We got a great response to the new sound. Six months later, Jenn Brown decided to leave the band and pursue a new project with her then soon-to-be husband. At that moment, I thought to myself, Hell, what do we have to lose at this point? I am going to ask the bad ass Susan Phelan to fill in for a few shows, until we find a new bass player. I was praying that Susan was going to ultimately sign on, and she did!

Susan: I am the newest member of the band – performing with the Blackouts since December 2011. [I grew up] in Indiana, my family owned a music instrument store, and my father was a professional upright bass player. I started playing ba - Colorado Music Buzz


Discography

"Getaway Driver" - EP released 2012 (6 songs)
CD release show at Herman's Hideaway April 2012

Title track "Getaway Driver" received airplay several times on 106.7 KBPI.

Several tracks ("Trainwreck", "Getaway Driver", "Infatuation", "Timebomb") are receiving airplay on local internet radio stations - Clampdown Radio and Mile High Meltdown.

The Blackouts were interviewed in-studio on KBPI in February and on Mile High Meltdown in April.

The Blackouts appear on the upcoming release of "Mile High Lowlife Compilation CD" with two tracks, Timebomb and Getaway Driver.

"Rough Six" - EP released 2011 (6 songs)

Photos