SEPTEMBER 13, 1996 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 19
EVENINGS OUT
Band is now a foursome with new lead guitarist
by Eric Hunter
Cincinnati "Without tight leather and sleaze you're not gonna make it." That is what Carol Just was told when she was busy fronting bands just out of high school..
"You will never be any good because you're a girl," people have told Pam Beaty for years.
Together Just, Beaty, Rita Green, and Lee Calswell have proven their critics wrong. The foursome are “Just the Band,” and they can rock with the best of 'em.
Originally a trio, Just the Band got together to play a benefit concert for Lavender Lights, a gay and lesbian group which serves primarily the hungry and homeless in Cincinnati, in mid 1994. The concert sold out
New name marks new vision for bookstore
by Doreen Cudnik
Columbus-A feminist bookstore that has served the Columbus and Central Ohio area for more than 21 years underwent a name change in the hopes that the new name will more adequately represent the changing image of the bookstore.
Fan the Flames Feminist Bookstore on 3387 N. High Street in Clintonville will now be known as Women's Words: Gifts, Books and Gatherings.
"What we're doing is changing our name and revitalizing ourselves for the future," said manager
Judith
MurphySmits. Independent
putting a new coat of interior paint on the walls, and added 17 new volunteers who will assist with all aspects of the store's operation.
One of those volunteers is working on developing a young women's collection for women in junior high and high school. "There's been very little for them," MurphySmits said. She also has plans to expand the women's health section, making it a stateof-the-art resource center, and similarly de-
"What we're doing is changing our name and revitalizing ourselves for the future."
"
and feminist bookstores are having a difficult time surviving in the '90s due to larger chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble now carrying titles by gay, lesbian and feminist authors, Murphy-Smits said.
"In order to survive," Murphy-Smits said, "we need to expand beyond our traditional customer base-which has been a wonderful and loyal lesbian-feminist customer base and begin speaking to all women. The feminist agenda has something to say to all women."
Murphy-Smits came to the store in the winter of 1995. Her résumé includes work as an educator, and a stint as a developer of programs for the visitor center at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Prior to that, she and her husband operated a multicultural book and bake shop in Wisconsin. “We had books and bakery together before anybody else did," she said.
Since becoming manager, Murphy-Smits has introduced some new ideas in an effort to improve the store's environment, merchandise, customer service, and in-store activities and events.
In the spring, the bookstore's board conducted several focus group meetings to get customer feedback and suggestions. They recently spruced up the store's image by
velop the spirituality section. "The spirituality section will be diverse, and will respect all the different manifestations of women's spirituality in the '90s," she added. The mission of the woman-owned and operated bookstore has always been to empower and inspire the women of Central Ohio by offering women's literature and related activities within a welcoming environment. Other programs currently in development include a lesbian video night, and series on journaling, great women in history, and story-telling for all ages that Murphy-Smits hopes will include many elder women and young women.
Fall will be a busy time for Women's Words, with a calendar that includes book discussions, workshops., and author appearances and readings. The store is currently in the midst of a membership drive, and they are offering special events and other rewards to those who help "rekindle the flame" by becoming a member of the collective.
Murphy-Smits acknowledged that the changes won't take place overnight, but will instead be a continuing process of evolution. "Watch us change and grow!" she said.
For more information about Women's Words and the fall calendar of activities, or to volunteer or become a member, call the bookstore at 614-447-0565, or stop in. Hours are 11-7 Tuesday through Friday, and 12-6 Saturday and Sunday.
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and launched the group that has come to be known as Just the Band.
Classical guitar teacher. Business manager. Factory worker. Entrepreneur. The members of the band come from all walks of life. Each member contributes her own talent to the group.
As a whole, the band members are committed to making their work enjoyable and producing a quality product. "The agreement the three of us had," Cadwell told me, “was we would do this as long as it was fun. If something happens that's great. That's like icing. But if it isn't fun we're not doing it. That has kept us together."
In their two years together the group has played many Cincinnati venues, including the Courtyard Cafe, Tommy's, York Street International Cafe, A Day in Eden, and the Cincinnati Womyn's Festival.
The group considers itself unique in that they play to perform and not just to gig. Their goal is to play out at least once a month. On September 14, Just the Band will be playing the Old Street Just the Band Saloon in Monroe. On October 5, they
will be back on their home turf at Bullfish's Tavern in Cincinnati.
Beaty, the band's newest and only straight member, has been playing lead guitar with the group for about two months. She placed a newspaper ad billing herself as a lead guitarist in search of a band. No mention of her gender. Just was shocked the first time she spoke with Beaty on the phone to find that she was indeed a female lead guitarist.
Just, Caldwell and Green had been looking for a lead guitarist to expand their sound. "As a three piece group we were more like an acoustic act with a bass and drums," Just said. The new member could have been male
BRAD MCCELLAND
or female. The only requirement was that the new member be comfortable with playing in both gay and straight places.
Just the Band has been called "a delicate blend of rock and blues."
"We don't want to be just some chick folk group," Green said. "We want to have a bit of an edge."
No chance of confusion there. Sit in on one of their shows or take a listen to the two tracks by Just the Band on the compilation CD Another Day, which benefits AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, and the Just the Band bug will be in your ear.
WHERE THE BROADWAY MUSICALS NEVER STOP
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