Julia Cafritz
| Julia Cafritz | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 5, 1965 |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Genres |
Noise Music Alternative rock Punk rock |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Associated acts |
Free Kitten Pussy Galore STP Velvet Monkeys Action Swingers |
| Notable instruments | |
| Guitar | |
Julia Cafritz is an American musician and guitarist[1] who was a member of Pussy Galore and Free Kitten. She is regarded as a cult figure from the New York City noise music scene of the 1990s.[2][3]
Early life
Cafritz was born in Washington, DC, the daughter of Jennifer Cafritz (née Stats) and real estate developer, Conrad Cafritz.[4][5] She has a younger sister named Daisy von Furth, and two brothers, Eric and Matthew Cafritz.[5][6] Her grandfather is Morris Cafritz.
Cafritz has a B.A. and M.A. from New York University.[7]
Pussy Galore
In 1985, guitarist Julia Cafritz and fellow Brown University classmate, Jon Spencer on vocals and guitar, and John Hammill on drums, formed the punk noise band Pussy Galore. In May 1986 they moved to New York City.
STP
In 1989, Cafritz left Pussy Galore and formed the short-lived all-girl group STP. STP released one single and toured with Nirvana and Sonic Youth. Cafritz joined fellow CBGBs Record Canteen clerk Ned Hayden's group, the Action Swingers.
Free Kitten
In 1992, she formed Free Kitten, a musical collaboration with Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, drummer Yoshimi from the Boredoms and Pavement bassist, Mark Ibold.[8] They released records and toured on and off through 1997.[9]
In 2008, Cafritz, Gordon and Yoshimi recorded and released Inherit on Ecstatic Peace Records after a ten-year hiatus.
Free Kitten discography
Albums:
- 1994: Unboxed (Wiiija)
- 1995: Nice Ass (Kill Rock Stars)
- 1997: Sentimental Education (Kill Rock Stars)
- 2008: Inherit (Ecstatic Peace)
EPs
- 1992: Call Now (Ecstatic Peace)
- 1996: Punks Suing Punks (Kill Rock Stars)
Singles
- 1992: "Yoshimi Vs. Mascis" split (Time Bomb)
- 1993: "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
- 1993: "Lick!" (In The Red)
- 1993: "Special Groupie" (SOS)
- 1994: "Sex Boy" (Radiation)
- 1994: "Harvest Spoon" (Wiiija)
- 1997: "Chinatown Express" (Kill Rock Stars)
- 2008: "Seasick" (Ecstatic Peace)
Solo work
In 2012, Cafritz released a track called "dash dash dash" on a Thick Syrup Records Comp Called '78 LTD.
Julie Cafritz solo discography
- 2012: "dash dash dash" on Album '78 LTD (Thick Syrup Records)
Personal life
Cafritz was married to Bob Lawton[10][11] of Labor Board and Twin Towers Touring,[12] who was a booking agent to bands like Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo and Superchunk, among others.[13] In 2000, Cafritz and Lawton relocated to Florence, Massachusetts, where they ran a furniture store called Artifacts 20th Century.[14] They have two children, daughter Alice and son Ollie.[14][15][16]
While still playing music, Cafritz has taught English at Holyoke Community College.[15][17]
See also
Notes and references
- ↑ Schoemer, Karen (January 31, 1992). "Sounds Around Town". New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
Kitten is the side project of the Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon and the guitarist Julia Cafritz from the band Pussy Galore.
- ↑ Critcheloe, Cody (April 2, 2009). "Julia Cafritz, She Ain't No Bitch". Vice. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "Julia Cafritz, Free Kitten". NPR. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "Executive Team: Conrad Cafritz, Chairman". Cafritz Interests. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- 1 2 Bernstein, Adam (January 26, 2010). "CIA officer and art museum chairman Laughlin Phillips, 85, dies". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
four stepchildren, Julia Cafritz and Daisy von Furth, both of Northampton, Mass., Eric Cafritz of Paris and Matthew Cafritz of the District
- ↑ Browne, David (2009). Goodbye 20th century : a biography of Sonic Youth (1st pbk. ed.). [New York]: Da Capo. ISBN 9780306816031.
- ↑ "College Catalog 2011-2012" (PDF). Holyoke Community College. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "Free Kitten". Kill Rock Stars. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ Gordon, Kim and Julia Cafritz (May 29, 2008). "Guest Lists: Free Kitten". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media LLC. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ Peters, Bill (January 31, 2008). "Saving Pleasant Street". MassLive. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "Listed: Cornershop + Widowspeak". Dusted Magazine. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ LeBlanc, Larry. "In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc: Tom Windish, owner of The Windish Agency". Celebrity Access: In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "win CBGB Festival passes; check out the updated schedule (films, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. & more added)". Brooklyn Vegan. June 21, 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
The Labor Pool . . . include Superchunk/Yo La Tengo booking agent Bob Lawton as a member.
- 1 2 McDermott, Brian (Fall 2010). "Rock The House: A former music-industry insider gets domesticated". Boston Magazine. Metrocorp, Inc. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- 1 2 Ayers, Michael (September 2, 2008). "Interview: Julia Cafritz of Free Kitten". Village Voice. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ Brownstein, Carrie and Julie Cafritz (November 19, 2009). "This Is England: An Essay In Song Form". NPR (Monitor Mix series). Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "DCE/MCCC Adjunct Seniority/Reappointment List" (PDF). Massachusetts Community College Council. August 15, 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2014.