7 YEAR BITCH have been an undeniable influence for many bands around the world. Even though many people tend to forget the Seattle-based punk rock band that was active for seven years in the ‘90s, released three important records and a shitload of great songs. One thing that was missing in the band’s discography was a live album. Live at Moe is the piece that was missing and we talked with bassist Elizabeth Davis and guitarist Valerie Agnew to talk about that important document of punk rock history.
Live at Moe is 7 Year Bitch’s first live album. Why did it take so much time to such thing to be released?
Valerie and Elizabeth: We had no knowledge of these live recordings until about 1.5 years ago when Scott Blum contacted us to say that he had discovered the tapes while moving. It never occurred to us to do a live release for some reason. So really, the reason why it took so long is because we had no idea these recordings existed!
What prompted you to revisit the past and release Live at Moe?
Valerie and Elizabeth: The strength of the recording and our performance were the main reasons that we wanted to put this out. As soon as we heard it, the emotions were so strong. It was an instant yes. No hesitation at all. We wanted to release this for our fans and for ourselves, like as a document to mark our experience. If this release introduces our music to people who have never heard us before, that’s cool too.
How was it to listen to something made 20 years ago? I mean, one thing is listening to an album that was recorded in a studio, but listening to a bunch of old songs in a live setting… It must be a completely different feeling.
Elizabeth: I never listen to old 7YB recordings ever or Google us, search on YouTube, none of that. But when Valerie told me that the recordings were really good, I listened to it. The experience was something I wasn’t expecting at all. It’s really powerful and emotional, which I’d never felt from our studio recordings. Maybe I was too involved in the minutiae and work of writing and recording to really be able to get a good perspective. So the live recording, yeah, it’s a completely different feeling. The crowd’s energy is like an extra track that adds so much to the listening experience. Lisa Faye, our longtime soundwoman, did front of house sound on this recording and her stamp is on the music as well. She died in a motorcycle accident a few years ago, so this record is also reflective of her creative input to the band.
“The experience was something I wasn’t expecting at all. It’s really powerful and emotional, which I’d never felt from our studio recordings.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but having a live album that was recorded at Club Moe holds a special meaning for you, right?
Elizabeth and Valerie: You are not wrong. This was an important club for our band. We played and attended a lot of shows at Moe and it was basically across the street from our rehearsal space and The Comet Tavern. It was the third point in our Bermuda Triangle.
What kind of work was required from you for Live at Moe to be released?
Elizabeth: So much work. I will not labor you with the details. It was worth it because we are so happy with the sound and look of the record and also because we really discovered how much our original crew was ready and willing to jump right back in and help us. Some new connections were made and some old connections were re-started. Ultimately super positive, but we’d forgotten how many decisions need to be discussed, dissected and delivered.
7 Year Bitch was active for seven years and from that three full-length albums saw the light of day. Now with distance that only time can offer, what do you make of those seven years, which are considered by many as magical?
Elizabeth: Seattle in the 90’s was probably like San Francisco in the late 60’s. Tightly-knit, lots of youth and creativity, lots of drugs and alcohol,everyone had a band. It didn’t feel unique or magical at the time because it was our day to day. But looking back, it’s easy to see how special it was. We were in the middle and pretty caught up in shit that was rapidly changing so we didn’t have time to take stock in what was happening. Now we can look back and see it as the peak experience that it was – making music, travelling, collaborating with friends, being surrounding by creative people who were intent on expression and living life with a lot of passion and purpose.
You’ve been undeniably influential for countless of bands and artists. What are your thoughts on the current state of music and punk rock in particular?
Elizabeth: There’s tons of awesome music more than ever and obviously accessibility is pretty much unlimited now. I feel really positive about the current state of music in general. In terms of punk rock in particular, that’s the only style of music where I will reach back and put on Poison Idea or Zeke when I want to hear some punk rock.
Valerie: This weekend while we were in Seattle for the EMP event, we saw lots of bands: Lucky Boys, Communist Eyes, TSOL, Stag. You can still go out in Seattle and see great bands at really good clubs.