The music heard on the Lean the F*ck Out podcast (with the exception of the intro music) is from co-host Gretchen DeVault’s various bands:
The Francine Odysseys
LA-based The Francine Odysseys embraces the thrill and the fear of indie pop at midlife as a siren call to everyone else who might have believed that they should have it all figured out by now.
The Francine Odysseys draws inspiration from a new generation of indie pop bands like Jay Som, The Beths, and Alvvays with a nod to the bands of their youth: Throwing Muses, The Lemonheads, and Bettie Serveert. The cumulative effect of these influences is clearly felt as the band pushes the boundaries of indie pop to make meaning out of life’s bittersweet and messy juxtapositions. Jangly guitar hooks, catchy melodies and bright vocals deliver a beautiful sound that invites repeat listening. The result is a fresh take on indie pop that synthesizes loss and uncertainty with comforting melodies that unfold to reveal an intense depth of emotional complexity.
The Icicles
The Icicles are a melodic indie pop ensemble fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Gretchen DeVault and her longtime musical partner, the ethereal keyboard alchemist Joleen Rumsey. Lead guitarist Rebecca Rodriguez, who joined for 2007’s Arrivals and Departures, offers an increasingly emphatic reverb-drenched counterpoint to Joleen’s spaced-out sounds. The band was joined on Renegade Parade by a new rhythm section — Zane DeVault and Aaron Ekins (making it a family affair — Zane is Gretchen’s hubby and Aaron is her brother-in-law).
Voluptuous Panic
Voluptuous Panic is a sonic exploration of a series of realizations: life is change. Dreams are real. The present is an artifact of the past and a premonition of the future. Beauty is connected to pain, while pain holds beauty in its heart. We are connected to the sky, and the only direction is forward. Or in shorthand — a shoegazer band. This project began when band co-founder Brian J. Bowe moved to Paris for a year and he and I started recording transatlantically using GarageBand and DropBox.
Licensing
For information on licensing, please visit gretchendevault.com/licensing/