On Oct. 25, musical powerhouse Girl Gordon will be presenting the second-annual Ghoul Gala at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine. Decked out in Halloween attire, this local quartet will fill the room with their aggressive and melodic original songs, shaking the foundations of one of Cincy’s favorite venues.
In 2022, Jerika Hayes (bass), Hannah Blanchette (guitar), Patrick Mitchell (guitar) and Cory Linman (drums), met while attending the University of Cincinnati and decided to form Girl Gordon as a way to help relieve some of the stresses of university life. Then, in 2023, the band began playing live shows in and around the Cincinnati area. It was during this time that their focus began to shift in another direction.
“We realized the band was becoming something more than just a hobby meant to blow off steam,” Girl Gordon tells CityBeat. When it became clear to the band members that Girl Gordon was evolving into something more, they turned their attention towards writing their own material.
In 2024, the band released their first collection of original songs, an EP entitled “Corruptor.” From the opening track, “Corruptor,” with its wails of feedback, to the EP’s atmospheric and heartfelt finale, “Blood’s Dried,” Girl Gordon takes the listener on a multifaceted journey that is designed to keep the listener engaged. Songs like the straightforward, upbeat rocker, “Peripheral Heaven,” the introspective and noise-fueled “The Need,” the punk-inspired “Great American Speeches” and grungy “Chicago Gyros and Dogs 2” all make for an epic and deeply personal story worth hearing.
Recorded in the Girl Gordon basement by Linman, the group embraced the luxuries of limitless time and freedom not found in a professional studio, and in doing so felt their relaxed, DIY approach helped them develop the songs in a more organic and rewarding manner.
Girl Gordon, with soaring vocals, wielding their various Fender and Gibson guitars bathed in distortion and delay, all propelled forward by powerful Gretsch drums, will fill MOTR Pub with a rich, sonic sound that’s perfect for this Halloween-themed show.
Girl Gordon plays the second-annual Ghoul Gala at MOTR Pub on Oct. 25 at 9:30 p.m. More info: motrpub.com.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Oct. 16 print edition.
This article appears in Oct 16-29, 2024.
