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Mecca Normal is an influential two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. Formed by Jean Smith and David Lester in 1984, Mecca Normal is considered one of the archetypal, pioneering leaders of the riot grrrl movement.^{[citation needed]} Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with feminist themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals. Merging the personal with the political in their songs and art-related activism, they helped define the sound and spirit of the early diy/ indie rock/riot grrrl movement alongside bands such as Beat Happening and Bikini Kill. Indeed, they are perhaps the only band to have full-length releases on three of the largest indie labels of the '90s: K Records, Kill Rock Stars and Matador Records. They also had a 7" single released by Sub Pop. In 1985 they formed their own record label, Smarten Up!, which later merged with Lester's small press publishing company Get To The Point to form Smarten Up! And Get To The Point. Smith is a novelist and painter, and Lester is a graphic designer and painter whose work includes "Inspired Agitators" - a series of posters profiling specific left-wing activists. Smith also formed 2 Foot Flame with Peter Jefferies. 2 Foot Flame released two LPs on Matador Records, 1995's self-titled LP, and 1997's Ultra Drowning. Smith has also performed and recorded as a solo artist.

Their 2006 album The Observer is inspired by Smith's experiences using online dating services.

Discography

self-titled Smarten Up! 1986
Calico Kills The Cat K Records 1989
Water Cuts My Hands K Records 1991
Dovetail K Records 1992
Jarred Up K Records 1993
Flood Plain K Records 1993
Sitting On Snaps Matador Records 1995
The Eagle And The Poodle Matador Records 1996
Who Shot Elvis? Matador Records 1997
The Family Swan Kill Rock Stars 2002
Janis Zeppelin Smarten Up! 2003
The Observer Kill Rock Stars 2006

External links

Mecca Normal homepage
Mecca Normal news blog
Mecca Normal on MySpace
Mecca Normal at Kill Rock Stars
Mecca Normal at Matador Records
Mecca Normal on Epitonic
PUNKCAST#965 Live video @ Union Docs, Brooklyn, May 7 2006. (Realplayer,mp4)
Mecca Normal interview from 1991

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 {{Refimprove|date=February 2007}}[[Image:96523mecca08.jpg|thumb|right|Mecca Normal in 2006]]
-'''Mecca Normal''' is an influential two-piece [[indie rock]] band from [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]] formed by [[Jean Smith]] and [[David Lester]] in 1984. Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with [[feminist]] themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals. In 1985 they formed their own record label, [[Smarten Up!]], which later merged with Lester's [[small press]] publishing company [[Get To The Point]] to form [[Smarten Up! And Get To The Point]].  Smith is a novelist and painter, and Lester is a graphic designer and painter whose work includes "Inspired Agitators," a series of posters profiling left-wing activists. Smith also formed [[2 Foot Flame]] with [[Peter Jefferies]]. [[2 Foot Flame]] released two LPs on [[Matador Records]], 1995's self-titled LP, and 1997's ''Ultra Drowning''. Smith has also performed and recorded as a solo artist.
+'''Mecca Normal''' is an influential two-piece [[indie rock]] band from [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]].  Formed by [[Jean Smith]] and [[David Lester]] in 1984, Mecca Normal is considered one of the archetypal, pioneering leaders of the [[riot grrrl]] movement.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}  Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with [[feminist]] themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals. Merging the personal with the political in their songs and art-related activism, they helped define the sound and spirit of the early [[diy]]/ [[indie rock]]/[[riot grrrl]] movement alongside bands such as [[Beat Happening]] and [[Bikini Kill]].  Indeed, they are perhaps the only band to have full-length releases on three of the largest indie labels of the '90s: [[K Records]], [[Kill Rock Stars]] and [[Matador Records]].  They also had a 7" single released by [[Sub Pop]]. In 1985 they formed their own record label, [[Smarten Up!]], which later merged with Lester's [[small press]] publishing company [[Get To The Point]] to form [[Smarten Up! And Get To The Point]].  Smith is a novelist and painter, and Lester is a graphic designer and painter whose work includes "Inspired Agitators" - a series of posters profiling specific left-wing activists. Smith also formed [[2 Foot Flame]] with [[Peter Jefferies]]. [[2 Foot Flame]] released two LPs on [[Matador Records]], 1995's self-titled LP, and 1997's ''Ultra Drowning''. Smith has also performed and recorded as a solo artist.
 Their 2006 album ''The Observer'' is inspired by Smith's experiences using online dating services.
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 [[Category:K Records artists]]
 [[Category:Feminist artists]]
+[[Category:Riot grrrl]]
 [[Category:Vancouver musical groups]]