Sissy Bar

Sissy Bar emerged in 1994 as a childlike lo-fi pop sextet originating from an impromptu set by the foundational pair Joy Ray on vocals and Courtney Holt on guitar, whose father Will Holt penned the Peter, Paul and Mary smash "Lemon Tree," at a private gathering in Los Angeles. The lineup expanded with the addition of Brad Kluck handling banjo, Anne Kadrovich on bass, Mary Ellen Mason at the keyboards, and Patrick Simpson behind the drums. Guided by Holt's directive for each musician to follow their own instincts, the ensemble crafted an eccentric blend incorporating country, new wave, and waltz elements. Their first full-length album, Statutory Grape, arrived in 1996 and stood out for its unconventional rendition of Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Gin and Juice," which later found its way into tracks by the Dogg Pound posse. The follow-up, Songs for Peeps, came out in 1999.