{image1}Combine David Lee Roth's acrobatics, Ozzy Osbourne's expressions and Deborah Harry's attitude and you almost end up with Suzy Barnett, lead singer for the ska/funk/rock/punk band, Out of Line.
According to Barnett, it is rare for female artists to appear in her style of music, especially as the lead vocalist. These days, she says it seems the majority of females in mainstream music fall into the "pop princess" genre.
"Of all the shows I have played in the last seven years, there has only been one other band with another female singer," says Barnett. "The advantage of this is being able to stand out from the rest of the bands. One disadvantage is not having many female mainstream representatives, therefore trying to survive the critical eye of the 'boys club.'"
The band's seven-piece set-up is somewhat unique to Milwaukee, a city glutton with four-piece bands consisting of drums, guitar, bass and vocals.
All the same, six of the seven members are Wisconsin natives and this summer they are going on a few mini-tours around the Midwest and plan to tour California in the fall. Over the past few years they played all over the Midwest, citing St. Louis and Chicago as two of their favorite out-of-town venues.
"Since our signing with Jump Up! Records, we have been getting a higher level of recognition and playing larger venues with national touring acts," says Barnett.
Out of Line was signed to Jump Up! Records, one of the most prominent independent ska and punk labels in the United States, in March. Consequently, they were added to the Reel Big Fish Coast to Coast Roast show at The Rave on July 29, and will play Chicago's 10th annual Jump Up Ska Throwdown at the Bottom Lounge on July 23.
They play at Treats, 2221 N. Humboldt Blvd., on Friday, May 21 and will promote their new record, "Channel Surfing."
"Word around the campfire is that Milwaukee is a place where the cover bands thrive and the indie bands die," says Barnett. "Milwaukee hosts one of the most impressive music festivals in the country, yet there are people who don't like to pay the $3 cover charge to support the local musicians. I think this can change with more clubs focusing on supporting local musicians."
Out of Line's Web Site is outoflineska.com.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
