Girl Trouble

Girl Trouble connected the high-octane Pacific Northwest garage rock of the 1960s, exemplified by the Sonics, the Wailers, and Paul Revere & the Raiders, with the later grunge explosion by delivering raucous performances steeped in punk spirit and attitude. The group coalesced in Tacoma, Washington, during 1983 when drummer Bon Von Wheelie (born Bon Henderson), guitarist Kahuna (Bill Henderson, Bon’s sibling), and bassist Dale Philips joined forces. Vocals and saxophone arrived via Kurt P. Kendall, originally from Spokane, who had recently moved to Tacoma; after a handful of parties, the quartet made its official bow on March 9, 1984, at a Battle of the Bands held at Fort Steilacoom Community College, finishing second and thereby avoiding an encore obligation.

The band quickly established itself regionally through its vigorous yet playful approach and its commitment to theatrical live presentations that regularly incorporated go-go dancers, giveaways, and concept-driven events. Its first recording appeared in 1987 on Olympia’s K Records with the single “Riverbed” backed by “She No Rattle My Cage.” A follow-up 7-inch, “Old Time Religion” b/w “Tarantula,” emerged months later on the same imprint. In 1988 the quartet entered the studio with producer Steve Fisk for a weekend session that yielded the album Hit It or Quit It; issued as Sub Pop Records’ inaugural full-length release, the LP marked the beginning of an enduring association with Fisk, who would helm additional projects and occasionally contribute keyboards both live and on record. Girl Trouble’s third single, “When Opposites Attract” b/w “Gospel Zone”/“Homework,” also launched the band’s own Wig Out Records label, an extension of its self-published fanzine.

Homage to 1960s Pacific Northwest influences surfaced in 1990 via the EP Stomp and Shout and Work It on Out, while PopLlama Records released the second album, Thrillsphere, before year’s end. Frequent touring ensued alongside kindred acts including the Mono Men, Crackerbash, Beat Happening, Phono-Comb, and the Woggles. In 1992 the band issued an EP devoted to theme songs from four favorite Elvis Presley films; the following year New American Shame, its third album, appeared, a title later adopted by a Seattle rock group. (Bon himself had taken the phrase from an old scandal sheet.) Extensive touring across the United States, Canada, and Europe supported the release, capped by an EP drawn from a Chicago performance. Girl Trouble featured in the 1996 documentary Hype! chronicling the Pacific Northwest scene, and the fourth album, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, arrived in 1998. As everyday responsibilities mounted, the group curtailed its schedule without ever formally disbanding, limiting both touring and new studio work to occasional compilation tracks.

Nevertheless, memorable Northwest performances continued, and when Sub Pop omitted the band from its 2008 twentieth-anniversary festival lineup in Seattle, Girl Trouble staged a short acoustic set in the adjacent park. For the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hit It or Quit It in 2013, K Records reissued the album and the group mounted several celebratory shows in the Seattle area. Beyond maintaining the band’s website, Bon Von Wheelie also operates neverpaytoplay.com, which supplies musicians with guidance on the drawbacks of “pay to play” booking practices.